Citizens of numerous countries have grown an interest to relocate to Ireland, as this is one of the most dynamic economies in the European Union. With the UK leaving the EU, Ireland represents a great option for English speakers from all over the world seeking to emigrate to Europe. Among these, there are also many persons who want to move to Ireland from Canada.
Ireland and Canada have several bilateral agreements that provide for quick immigration procedures for their citizens, but also trade conventions that have strengthened Irish and Canadian economic relations.
If you are a Canadian citizen and are planning to immigrate to Ireland from Canada or another country of current residency, our immigration lawyers can help you. If you need information on the Irish residence permit, our lawyer can offer advice on the applicable immigration procedures.
Foreigners relocating here can obtain permanent residence in Ireland or long-term residence, if they are interested in living here for a longer period of time. For these types of residency they must comply with different rules, based on the purpose of the arrival (such as employment).
Please mind that the application for a residence permit implies the payment of various fees.
Fees are also charged for other matters concerning immigration. This is also the case of citizenship in Ireland. There are 2 types of fees – one fee applied for the processing of the application, and another fee, charged for the issuance of a citizenship certificate.
The fee for the issuance of the certificate varies from EUR 0 to EUR 900, depending on the particularities of the new citizen.
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No visa requirements for Canadian citizens immigrating to Ireland
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the two countries have very strong ties thanks to which the persons who want to move to Ireland from Canada do not need visas to enter this country. However, this is not the case for Canadian residents who want to immigrate to Ireland. These are not Canadian citizens, therefore, they will fulfill the relocation procedures applicable to their home countries.
Our immigration lawyer in Ireland can help you move here from Canada with various services.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Immigration requirements for short stays |
Canadians can arrive in Ireland for short stays simply by having a valid passport. They aren’t required to apply for a visa. |
|
Immigration requirements for long stays |
The visa free exemption is granted only for short-term arrivals, therefore, for long-term stays, Canadian passport holders must apply for suitable visas if they move to Ireland from Canada. |
|
Visa exemptions for Canadian nationals |
Only for stays with a duration of maximum 90 days. |
| Reasons of arrival for which visa exemptions are granted | Tourism, visiting family or friends, business. |
| Can Canadians travel to other European states visa-free? |
Yes, as long as the respective states are Schengen/EU states. European states outside these structures can have different immigration policies applicable to Canadians. |
| Obligation to apply for a residence permit |
Canadians who will move to Ireland from Canada for a period longer than 90 days (3 months) have the obligation to obtain the Irish Residence Permit (IRP). |
| Reasons for which Canadians can relocate to Ireland for long stays |
Canadians can move to Ireland from Canada for employment, business, investment, family reunification, study, and any other reason stipulated by the Irish law. |
| Visa designed for Canadian nationals |
The Working Holiday and Internship Programme, addressed to young (18-35 years old) Canadian passport holders. |
| Visa processing fees |
EUR 60, EUR 100. |
| Residency permit fees (yes/no) | Yes. |
| Where to apply for an Irish residence permit |
the Garda National Immigration Bureau , the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. |
| Requirements to become an Irish permanent resident |
After 5 years of living in this country. |
| Minimum residency for citizenship |
After 5 years of reckonable residency or 3 years of reckonable residency for foreigners married to Irish nationals. |
| Ways to acquire citizenship in Ireland |
By naturalization, by being married to an Irish national, by being a refugee under the International Protection Act, or as a minor whose application is made by the parents (who can be naturalized parents or parents of Irish descent). |
| Fee for citizenship formalities | EUR 175 – the application fee, EUR 950 – the issuance of the citizenship certificate. |
| Visas for employment | Individuals who move to Ireland from Canada can apply for various employment visas, such as: the Critical Skills Employment Permit, the Sports and Cultural Employment Permit, the General Employment Permit, the Internship Employment Permit, the Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit, the Exchange Agreement Employment Permit, the Contract for Services Employment Permit. |
|
Family reunification visas |
Join Family visa (it can be obtained by spouses, de facto partners, children, parents or other close family members of the Canadian residing in Ireland). |
|
Business visas |
Start-up Entrepreneur Program |
| Reasons for which a visa can be denied | Failure to submit complete paperwork, incorrect documentation/information, late submission, safety issues detected by the Irish immigration officers (criminal records, previous visa issues, financial issues, etc.) |
| Visa appeals |
Provided that an application is denied, the applicant is entitled to appeal the decision or to initiate a new visa application. |
| Deadline to submit a visa appeal |
In maximum 2 months since the decision was issued. |
| Student visas |
One can move to Ireland from Canada for education purposes by applying for the Long-Term Study visa. |
| Registration obligations upon arrival in Ireland |
Visa holders must register, upon arrival, with the Immigration Office and obtain a permission to remain in the country. |
| Overstaying a visa |
It is illegal to overstay a visa. Provided that this happens, the individual could face prosecution and deportation. He or she may be restricted from returning to Ireland for several years. |
| Categories of countries, according to the Irish immigration law |
The Immigration Act 2004 recognizes 5 categories of countries for which there are different immigration policies in force. These are: Schedule 1 countries (Canada is included in this category), Schedule 2, Schedule 3, Schedule 4 and Schedule 5. |
| What does Schedule 1 refer to? |
Schedule 1 refers to partner countries whose nationals do not have to apply for a visa for short-term stays. Based on the regulations set out in the above mentioned law, individuals who move to Ireland from Canada are exempt from visa obligations for short visits. |
| How long does it take to obtain a visa? |
Minimum 10 days and up to 6 months, depending on the visa type. |
| Dual citizenship (yes/no) |
Yes |
| Driving in Ireland as a Canadian national |
Foreigners who live in Ireland and who have a Canadian driving license have the right of driving here by using the Canadian document, for their first year of stay. Those who will stay for more than 1 year are required to apply for an Irish driving permit. |
| Reporting on the financial status upon entering the Irish territory | Canadians who have more than EUR 10,000 must report their financial situation to the Irish immigration officers, upon the arrival in Ireland. |
The main reasons to immigrate to Ireland from Canada
Canadian citizens can find many opportunities in Ireland, which is why their reasons for coming can include:
- studies;
- employment;
- business;
- research and development;
- entertainment;
- practicing sports.
While for the citizens of other non-EU states, specific visas are required, the great advantage of those who immigrate to Ireland from Canada is that they do not need to go through visa procedures.
If you are a citizen of another non-EU country, you can also rely on the assistance of our immigration lawyer in Ireland for relocation. In the following link, you can watch a short video presenting the main steps taken by Canadians relocating to Ireland:
Documents required when moving to Ireland from Canada
Even if there is no need for a visa, those who want to relocate to Ireland from Canada must still present a series of documents at the border. Among these:
- a valid passport which is a requirement for the citizens of every country upon arrival in Ireland;
- for students, the acceptance letter from the university should be presented upon arrival;
- for employees, the Irish companies hiring them will prepare the labor contracts;
- for other types of immigrants, supporting documents should be carried on them upon moving here;
- insurance is a mandatory requirement when moving to Ireland from Canada.
Our immigration lawyer in Ireland can advise on the documents to prepare when moving from Canada.
Assistance in immigrating to Ireland from Canada
There are many preparations that should be considered when immigrating to Ireland, no matter the country of origin of the person. For such situations, we can assist with various expat services. Expats who want to remain in Ireland can apply, after living here under a permanent residence permit, for the issuance of the Irish citizenship.
If you plan to move from Canada to Ireland, you should also consider finding a place to stay in the city you will live in. Once you have the right accommodation, we can assist with the preparation of rental or purchase contracts, we can help you register with the local authorities and complete any other formality that will help your relocation.
For those who want to move to Ireland from Canada, our lawyers can provide tailored assistance. They can assist clients in obtaining any type of visa for Ireland, including the spouse visa. Below, our infographic presents some of the immigration steps for Canadians moving to Ireland, so we invite you to read it if you want to relocate here as a Canadian:
How to move to Ireland as a Canadian resident
Canadian residence permit holders can move to Ireland, however, they should note that the requirements of their home countries will apply with respect to visas to be obtained. Unless one is a citizen of a country that does not require a visa, a foreigner will need to obtain an Irish residence permit for the reason of staying when planning to move to Ireland from Canada.
Ireland is an easy country to move to, and foreign citizens of non-EU and non-EEA states can relocate here through the Golden Visa Scheme with the help of our immigration lawyers.
Irish-Canadian relations
Economic relations between Ireland and Canada date back tens of years, and during this time many Canadian citizens have moved to Ireland and the other way around. According to the Canadian Government:
- 4 million Canadian citizens, or 14% of the population, have Irish origins;
- this number makes the Irish population the 4th largest ethnic group in Canada;
- in 2018, the trading relations between Ireland and Canada have reached 3.67 billion USD;
- in the same year, Canada imported goods with a value of 2,96 billion USD from Ireland.
If you plan to immigrate to Ireland from Canada and need more information on the formalities you need to go through, do not hesitate to contact our immigration lawyers. You are welcome to address to us if you need advice on the Irish citizenship formalities.
