Temporary Extension of Permissions
On 17 December 2021, Minister McEntee announced a temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions to the 31 May 2022. This extension applies to permissions that are due to expire between 15 January 2022 and 31 May 2022 and includes permissions that have already been extended by the previous temporary extensions.
In essence it means that people who held a valid permission to be in the State in March 2020 are legally permitted to remain until 31 May 2022, even if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are awaiting a new one.
If an employee is required to hold an employment permit, employers should check with the employment permits division of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding the issuing of a new or renewed employment permit.
International Students and Irish Residence Permit Card
International students who have arrived in the State and who wish to engage in employment should be able to demonstrate to employers that they have a valid landing stamp in their passport indicating they are required to register as an international student for a Stamp 2 permission on an approved scheme under the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
Those in the State who are entitled to receive a new Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card may continue to use their current expired card until 15 January 2022. Adult customers who plan to travel abroad beyond 15 January 2022 should apply to renew their immigration permission and receive a new IRP card. Otherwise, they must secure a re-entry visa in Ireland before travelling or in an overseas visa office before returning. The current suspension of the re-entry visa requirement for any minors travelling with a legally resident parent or guardian, a measure which benefits up to 6,000 children and their families, will continue in line with the new extension until 31 May 2022.
International English Language Students who have already completed the maximum number of three language courses may continue to work in line with the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) criteria until 31 May 2022 without enrolling in a further English language course. However, they must register for a new qualifying immigration permission by 31 May 2022 to ensure they can remain in the State after that date.
Non Consultant Hospital Doctors and General Employment Permits
General Employment Permit applications for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHD) in the public hospitals and public health facilities made after 6 December 2021 should be made on a two-year multi-site basis, with the exception of 12 month internship.
NCHD’s include:
- Senior House Officer
- Registrar
- Senior Registrar
- Specialist Registrar
- Intern (but interns will still apply for a 12 month GEP)
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Health have agreed that all General Employment Permits for NCHDs in public hospitals or public health facilities will be based on a two-year multi-site basis. All new General Employment Permits applications should be made for a 2 year basis, irrespective of the length of the initial employment contract. There will be no obligation on the employer to employ the NCHD for longer than the length of the initial employment contract. Subsequent employment contracts with a different Public hospital or Public health facility can be accommodated under this initial two-year Multi-site GEP without the requirement to seek a new Employment Permit.
Cancellation of Permits
In general upon termination of employment, the original permit and the employer’s certified copy must be returned to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment within 4 weeks from the date of termination or cessation. Due to COVID-19, and as an interim measure, currently DETE will accept cancellations where it may not be possible to return the original or certified copy of the permit.
Revised Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations
The role of social workers has now been included in the Critical Skills Occupations List and the following roles have been removed:
- Dispensing Optician
- Construction Sector Occupations
- Electricians
- Masons
- Roofers, roof tilers and slaters
- Plumbers and heating & ventilating engineers
- Carpenters & Joiners
- Floorers and wall tilers
- Painters and Decorators
- Construction and building trades supervisors
In our next bog post, we will review further changes announced by the Department in the last quarter of 2021.