In December 2021, the Department of Justice announced that a Regularisation Scheme for Long-Term Undocumented will be opened for applications in early 2022. Applications can be submitted when the scheme opens on Monday, 31 January 2022.
We are receiving many queries about the Scheme. Here is what we know so far:
(FAQs last updated Thursday, 13 January 2022)
Individuals who have been undocumented (i.e. without an immigration permission) for at least 4 years when the scheme opens on 31 January 2022 will be eligible to apply.
Individuals who have dependent children living with them will be eligible to apply after 3 years of being undocumented in the State when the scheme opens.
International protection applicants who have been in the international protection process for at least 2 years will also be eligible to apply.
Applications will open on 31 January 2022 and stay open for 6 months until 31 July 2022.
You apply online when the scheme opens on 31 January 2022. The online application will be available through the Immigration Service Delivery portal.
Applications can only be submitted online. They cannot be submitted by post.
NOTE: It is necessary to have a valid email address in order to apply.
Yes. It costs €550 for each individual to apply.
Alternatively, applications can be made as a family unit (i.e. parents and children). The cost of an application as a family is €700.
The application fee must be paid when submitting the application. This fee is non-refundable, even if your application is refused. The fee for applying to the scheme will not be waived.
There is no application fee for international protection applicants.
Dependent children up to 23 years of age living with their parents can be included in a family application.
Yes.
If your application is refused, then the deportation order will remain valid.
Yes.
As part of the application, you will be asked about any criminal convictions and offences inside and outside the State. You will also be asked to make a criminality declaration.
This will depend on the circumstances and whether your immigration permission was revoked entirely (i.e. revoked from the date it was originally granted) or if your immigration permission was only revoked/not renewed on a particular date.
You may wish to refer to the Department’s guidance on this issue or seek legal advice regarding your specific situation.
In addition to your residence in the State, you will also need to be of ‘good character ’. Minor offences will not disqualify an individual from applying.
Applications may be refused if it is held that the individual poses a national security threat to the State or to another state.
You will need to provide proof of residency, proof of identification and proof of family relationship (if applicable).
To prove your identity, you will be required to provide a full colour copy of your passport andour birth certificate. It is not clear whether both a passport and birth certificate will be required. If these documents are not available, it is likely that you will have to make further representations regarding why these documents are not available in your case. For e.g. you may wish to attach a letter with your own submissions or correspondence from a solicitor making legal representations as part of the supporting documentation for your application.
Examples of proofs of residence include utility bills, statements from Department of Social Protection, tenancy agreements, statements from Revenue regarding employment (e.g. Employment Detail Summary, P60, P45, or P21s), school letters, bank statements, money transfer receipts, and any correspondence from an Irish state agency
If you are long-term undocumented in the State and are eligible to apply for the Scheme, then you can apply for your children by making a family application. If you and your children are granted permission under the Scheme, then you will need to register at the local immigration office and IRP cards will be issued to you and your children aged 16 years or older. Currently under Irish law, only children aged 16 years or older are required to register and to be issued an IRP card. Children aged under 16 years old who are granted permission will not need to be issued an IRP card but will need to apply for a re-entry visa before any travel outside of Ireland.
You do not need to apply for your child under the Scheme if your children are lawfully resident in Ireland (i.e. they were granted D-reside entry visas and/or granted residence permission after arrival in Ireland) but are too young to be issued a residence card. When your child turns 16, they will need to register at their local immigration office , or through the Immigration Service Delivery online portal, if you’re based in Dublin.
You will receive an email from Immigration Service Delivery with an e-vetting online form. You will have 30 days to complete this form.
It is expected that it will take approximately 6 months to process an application after the application has been submitted.
No. A single family application is made at the cost of €700, but each individual family member will be given their own decision letter.
It is possible that some family members would receive a positive decision while others from the same family receive a negative decision, based on the individual circumstances.
If your application is approved, you will receive Stamp 4 permission. This will allow you to work in Ireland without the need for a work permit. This permission will be given to you for 2 years, which you can register at your local immigration office, or through the Immigration Service Delivery portal if you’re based in Dublin. The registration fee is €300 but there will be no registration fee for successful protection applicants. Children are required to register at age 16.
If your application is refused, you can make an appeal. Details of the appeal procedure have not yet been published.
If your application is refused on appeal, then your application will be referred by the Department of Justice to the Repatriation Division of the Immigration Service Delivery.
There will be a new unit in the Immigration Service Delivery to deal with applications under the scheme. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you can contact our Helpline. Full details regarding the Scheme will be published by the Department of Justice. All official information currently published by the Department is available on their website and will be updated.
The Department of Justice has indicated that this scheme is a once-only initiative. Individuals should not assume a future scheme will be offered.
If you are an undocumented person or family residing in Ireland for less than the eligible time period, please contact our free and confidential Helpline and we can discuss the options that are available to you regarding your specific situation. Our Helpline (01-674-0200) is open Monday-Tuesday and Thursday-Friday from 10am-1pm and Tuesday evening from 7-9pm.
For any questions or concerns about the scheme or any immigration matter, contact the Immigrant Council's free helpline on 01-674-0200 Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday and Tuesday 7pm-9pm.