Irish Working Holiday Visa
Recent decades have seen an unprecedented growth in immigration to Ireland, the result of strong economic conditions in the country, an excellent quality of life, and a comparatively liberal structure of immigration visa services. Where those who apply for a UK visa, Canada visa, Australian visa or US visa may experience a complex raft of different immigration options, those migrating to Ireland benefit from a more streamlined system.
However, ensuring that you submit an application for the most appropriate Irish visa for your requirements is an essential step in immigrating to Ireland. Whether you require an Irish visitor visa to visit family and friends or a longer-term solution leading to permanent residence in Ireland or a grant of Irish citizenship, it is essential to obtain the right class of visa for you. As a specialist Irish immigration consultancy, Global Visas can assist you in assessing your eligibility and determining the most appropriate of the range of Irish visas for your relocation to Ireland. Visas can be monitored throughout the application process and an immigration consultant will be happy to respond to any questions you may have. Our specialist team of immigration lawyers and migration consultants can offer immigration lawyer expertise helping you to relocate to Ireland as smoothly and efficiently as possible.
Benefits
The key benefits of a working holiday visa for Ireland are its duration, when compared to a standard Irish visitor visa, and crucially the ability to work in Ireland. Visas for visitors to Ireland, referred to variously as tourist visas, travel visas and entry visas are issued for a maximum of three months. Unlike longer-term work visas such as the Irish work permit, the Irish Green Card and the Intra Company Transfer, a visitor visa is strictly a temporary immigration solution requiring candidates to return home on or before the expiry of their grant. In addition, Irish visit visas do not permit their holders to engage in employment whilst in the country.
The working holiday route enables applicants to remain in the country for longer enjoying a maximum grant of 12 months. In addition, candidates may seek employment, working in Ireland as they choose in order to help finance their stay. Applicants may also leave and re-enter the country during the validity of their permit, however, it is important to note that time spent outside the Republic still detracts from the overall grant.
Eligibility
In Ireland, immigration via this route requires applicants to satisfy the following criteria:
- All applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 years at the time of making the application.
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate the ability to finance their trip to the country. Although the premise of this Irish visa class is that candidates may work in the country, they must be able to prove at the time of application that they are in possession of sufficient funds.
- Applicants must present a current, valid passport.
- Applicants must disclose any prior criminal convictions or dangerous diseases.
Working Conditions
Whilst successful applicants may seek and undertake employment without restriction on the type of work, it is important to note that conditions are in place concerning working hours. Applicants may not work for more than 39 hours per week and in addition, it is not permitted to work for a period in excess of three months with any one employer.
Spouse Immigration and Dependent immigration
In Ireland, working holiday visa applications may last for a period of twelve months, however, they are nonetheless regarded as temporary immigration services, and applicants will be obliged to return to their country of residence at the expiry of the grant. In Ireland, visas in this class are issued on an individual basis only and applicants may not include their spouse and/or dependent children in their application. Each person will need to meet the eligibility requirements and qualify in their own right.
