Mary welcomes the announcement from Government confirming opening date of 31st of January for applications for this scheme and the criteria for eligibility.
- Scheme will open for online applications on 31 January for those who don’t have a current permission to reside in Ireland
- Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022
- Primary applicants must have a period of four years undocumented residence in the State, or three years in the case of those with children
- Successful applicants will receive immigration permission, access to the labour market and can begin path to citizenship.
Primary applicants who are eligible under the scheme will:
- Have a period of 4 years residence in the State without an immigration permission, or 3 years in the case of those with minor children, immediately prior to the date on which the scheme opens for applications.
- Be permitted to include a spouse, civil partner or defacto partner and eligible children aged 18 – 23 years who must have been living with the principal applicant for 2 years immediately prior to the date on which the Scheme opens for applications.
- Be granted an immigration permission that allows for unrestricted access to the labour market; and
- Have years of residence with that permission reckonable for the purposes of pursuing citizenship by way of naturalisation.
- Those with an existing Deportation Order can apply if they meet the minimum undocumented residence requirement. Applicants must meet standards regarding good character and criminal record/behaviour and not pose a threat to the State. Having convictions for minor offences will not, of itself, result in disqualification.
- People with expired student permissions will also be able to apply if they meet the minimum undocumented residence requirement.
Further details regarding the qualifying criteria and the required documentation for the scheme are available on the Department’s immigration website at www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme