The principles for immigration to Ireland from New Zealand are established based on the duration of stay. Thus, the law distinguishes between procedures for arrivals of maximum 90 days and arrivals of minimum 90 days, which require additional immigration formalities, more exactly, to obtain residency in Ireland.
These 2 main categories of rules are very important, as there are significant differences. For instance, in the case of those who will opt for immigration to Ireland from New Zealand for short-term arrivals, it must be noted that there aren’t any visa obligations.
Immigration to Ireland without a visa for short-term stays is possible for certain nationalities, with which Ireland has a visa waiver agreement (New Zealand is included in this list). Otherwise, foreign nationals must apply for suitable visas, and our immigration lawyer in Ireland can provide all the necessary details.
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Does Ireland have a work holiday program?
Yes, foreigners can opt to migrate to Ireland for a work holiday program, which combines the qualities of a work visa with the ones of a tourist visa. The program is designed for temporary residence and offers the possibility to work, study/train and visit to young foreigners.
The work holiday program in Ireland is established for only 9 countries, one of which is New Zealand. Although the basic requirements imposed to applicants are generally similar, there may be differences from one country to another in matters such as the validity of the visa, the age limit accepted for the applicants and others. For New Zealanders, the following apply:
- immigration to Ireland from New Zealand under this program is possible for applicants with an age of 18 to 30 years old;
- the visa is valid for a period of 12 months;
- there is also a stipulation that requires the foreigner to work for a single employer for maximum 6 months;
- there is a processing fee of NZD$120, which must be paid to the Irish embassy working in Wellington;
- the applicant must prove having sufficient financial funds (at least $2,500 and a return ticket to New Zealand).
What other visas are available for employment in Ireland?
Since most of the foreigners who arrive in Ireland relocate for the purpose of employment, our immigration lawyer in Ireland will present other visa options. According to the Irish Department of Justice, foreigners who want to work here have to obtain an Employment Permit, which is issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).
First, foreign applicants must address DETE, who will analyze the application, after which the foreigner can apply for an employment visa. Regardless of the specific type of employment permit obtained, all foreigners must have a valid employment visa.
The legislation on immigration in Ireland states that foreigners are allowed to start the application process with 3 months prior to their arrival in the country. In general, the processing of the application takes around 8 weeks.
Reunite with family members in Ireland
Immigration to Ireland from New Zealand can also be initiated on account of having close relatives living in Ireland. This can be the case of spouses, parents, children, partners, etc. The legal steps that can be concluded in this case vary on the reason of stay and the quality of the person who is a family member and living in Ireland.
This person can be an individual who has obtained citizenship in Ireland, can be an EU national, or a non-EU national. When the person living in Ireland is a non-EU/non-EEA national, there is the possibility to apply for a Long Stay (Join Family) visa.
If the person living in Ireland has arrived here for employment as a non-EU/non-EEA (third national), their family members can apply for immigration to Ireland from New Zealand once the first person has been residing in Ireland for at least 1 year. We invite you to contact our immigration lawyer in Ireland for further information.
