Our immigration services in Dublin are created to help both foreigners who simply want to relocate here for work purposes, but also those who are interested in expanding their business activities in Ireland. Our immigration lawyer in Ireland is ready to provide legal representation on a wide range of immigration matters to persons who arrive here from an EU/non-EU country.
It must be noted that, although EU citizens do not need to obtain a visa for immigration in Dublin, they will need to apply for a permanent residence permit if they want to become permanent residents of this country. Third-country nationals have to comply with complex regulations, including the obligation of obtaining a visa for the purpose of their stay.
The difference on residency in Ireland for EU/EEA nationals and third-party nationals is that the latter are required to apply for a visa in order to have the right to reside here. For EU/EEA nationals, visa requirements do not apply, but for any stays longer than 90 days, they will also have to initiate the steps for obtaining a residence permit.
For both categories it is also allowed to apply for citizenship in Ireland. The manner in which this can be done varies on the circumstances of the foreigner (related or not related to Ireland). The process can be simpler in the case of those who apply for citizenship by descent and for those who are married to Irish nationals. Outside of these, the rules for citizenship by naturalization will apply.
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What are the main services for immigration in Dublin?
Dublin is the most important city of the country, and here one can find numerous foreigners who have relocated to Ireland for employment or business purposes. This is why our services on immigration in Dublin are created to fit the needs of all foreigners relocated into this city.
Our immigration lawyer in Ireland can help any foreigner in the process of obtaining a work permit and a work authorization and can provide legal representation to expats who have arrived here under an employment contract established through an intra-company transfer.
The latter refers to the procedure through which the employee of a company operating in a given country is transferred to a branch or a subsidiary of the said company that operates in Dublin, Ireland.
Although the procedure may be simpler than in the case of a standard work permit application, it still requires a large set of documents, and the process may also vary based on the country from which the employee arrives in Dublin (meaning, EU or non-EU country).
In order to make sure that the process for immigration in Dublin works as smoothly as possible, our immigration lawyers in Ireland will also verify all the documents you prepare for your application. That way, when the papers are submitted, the procedure will not be interrupted by various problems, such as incomplete or unauthenticated documents, etc. Our immigration services generally refer to:
- the issuance of one of the visas prescribed by the law on immigration in Ireland;
- the issuance of a residence permit (for short-term stays or for permanent stays);
- the procedure applied when requesting Irish citizenship.
Citizenship can be obtained in specific situations and if you are interested in the process on immigration in Dublin for the purpose of becoming a citizen of this country, we invite you to request more details on the legal framework applicable in this sense from our immigration lawyer in Ireland. We are also at your service if you want to apply for an investor visa in Ireland.
How can we assist in business immigration?
While any type of immigration to Ireland can be complicated, the relocation for business purpose can be more complex, as foreigners must comply with additional legal formalities than individuals who arrive here for employment, study or family reunification.
Businessmen must make proof of having a large capital to invest in Ireland, must set up a company and obtain a variety of authorizations, permits and other mandatory documentation and this is why the visa application process can entail stricter policies and regulations.
Our immigration lawyers in Ireland have helped, over the years, many clients interested in developing a business and this is why you can rest assured that the visa application process will be completed with the utmost care. In this sense, some of our immigration services in Dublin are:
- legal assistance on the requirements of the visa program;
- counselling on whether the investor can meet the basic requirements (after analyzing his or her investment plan, capital, source of income, etc.);
- full representation during the visa application formalities;
- assistance in commercial law, tax law and other rules and procedures concerning the incorporation of a business in Ireland.
Through the power of attorney, our lawyers can represent foreign businessmen in the relationship with local institutions involved in the immigration process and the company registration formalities. Our clients can rely on us in drafting and signing contracts and agreements (for renting an office space, employing workforce, etc.).
We can also guide our business clients in the process of relocating with their close family members to Dublin, Ireland.
What are the main visa categories in Ireland?
There are several categories of visas, organized based on the duration of stay and the number of entries in the country. According to the Irish immigration law, foreigners can apply for the following:
- transit visa – necessary for the nationals of certain countries who use Ireland as a place of transit from their departure to their destination (this situation appears in the case of those who have connecting flights);
- short stay visa – required for most of the non-EU/non-EEA nationals, unless exempted, for stays of up to 90 days (the visa is known as the C visa);
- long stay visa – it is known as the D visa and it is issued for those who stay in Ireland for more than 90 days and who, therefore, need a residence permit in Ireland;
- multiple entry visa – persons who have been issued with their first visa receive a single entry document and upon the exit from Ireland, the document will not be useful anymore (those who have been previously issued with single entry visas in Ireland and have respected the visa conditions can receive a multiple entry document, which grants free travel to and from Ireland during the validity of the document).
The transit visa is required only for the nationals of several countries (only 25 nationalities must have a valid transit visa if they arrive in Irish airports). Please know that it is mandatory to have this document even if you arrive only for a few hours and even though you do not leave the airport. Not having this document can result in serious legal issues (deportation), therefore it is advisable to make the necessary verifications prior to your trip.
The transit visa is required for the nationals of countries such as Sri Lanka, Moldova, Georgia, Dominica, Cuba, etc. Our immigration lawyers in Ireland can assist with more information on how to obtain this document.
Visa fees charged by the Irish authorities
Individuals who immigrate to Ireland must pay visa processing fees, if they are legally required to obtain a visa. Please mind that these fees are charged for the processing of the application, therefore, if the outcome of the application is a negative one, the Irish authorities will not refund the fee. The current fees are:
- EUR 25 – transit visa;
- EUR 60 – single entry short stay visa;
- EUR 100 – multiply entry long stay visa.
For those who plan to immigrate to Ireland on a long-term basis, other costs must be calculated to their overall immigration process (accommodation, residency, the services of a notary public, certified translator, lawyer, etc.).
Special Irish immigration procedures for British nationals
The procedure for immigration to Ireland mainly depends on your country of residence. Thus, it is necessary to know that persons who are British citizens can arrive in Ireland without any particular conditions, even though the UK is no longer part of the EU and Ireland is.
This is possible due to the fact that the two states have signed a Common Travel Area Agreement, which grants British citizens the right to arrive in Ireland. They can also work here without applying for specific work visas.
However, in order for this to be applicable, the persons arriving from the UK have to be British citizens (for British permanent residents different rules apply, based on their nationality).
Immigration in Dublin and other demographic data
Given that Dublin is Ireland’s capital city, it has the largest population and a very complex ethnic structure, although most of the city’s inhabitants are Irish citizens. A large population representing immigrants in Dublin is made of British and Eastern European citizens. Some of the highlights of the Dublin population are presented below:
- the largest group (81%) is comprised of White Irish individuals, while the rest is represented by foreigners, according to the Council of Europe;
- the city has a population of 1,5 million inhabitants, which represents almost 30% of the country’s entire population;
- the largest non-Irish ethnic groups were represented, in the 2022 Census, by Brazilians (more than 11,000 persons) and Indians (10,000 persons);
- in the Southern region of the city, the most important immigrant communities were represented, in the 2022 Census, by Polish and Romanian nationals (approximately 5,000 individuals for each ethnic group).
If you need more details on immigration in Dublin, we invite you to contact our immigration lawyers in Ireland for legal advice.
