01/05/2007

On January 4, 2007 Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced on their website that the Working Visa/Work Authorisation program had been discontinued, retroactive to December 31, 2006. Applications received after this date will not be accepted. Foreign nationals currently working pursuant to valid Working Visas/Work Authorisation may continue to work and renew their Working Visas/Work Authorisation. Renewals will be processed by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The Working Visa/Work Authorisation program was established in July 2004 to address acute skill shortages in Ireland. It was a fast-track program designed to facilitate the hiring of highly skilled workers from non-EEA (European Economic Area) countries into selected professions with significant skill shortages. The program enabled prospective employees in these professions to obtain Working Visas or Work Authorisation, as applicable, from Irish Embassies and Consulates in advance of entering Ireland.

Please note that the Work Permit program continues to operate. Individuals who would have previously qualified for Working Visas/Work Authorisation may qualify for Work Permits. Work Permits are issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment to employers as permission to employ a particular non-EEA national for a specific job for a period of time not to exceed one year. Employers must show that they have attempted and been unable to employ an EEA national before a Work Permit will be issued.

Note that the Irish Government is currently reviewing and substantially amending the immigration system. Additional changes are expected. Fragomen is closely monitoring the situation and shall issue updates as further information is released.
 

Source: http://pubweb.fdbl.com/news1.nsf/c8abb103352ef95a86256e3100809438/6cc5febc72e560fb8525725d00569e85?OpenDocument