A new Green Card Scheme is in place in Ireland from Feb 2007.
This is a scheme to help migrants enter Ireland from NON EU countries
who are going to work in occupations where there are strategic skills
shortages.
This new Green Card Scheme replaces the Work Visa/Work Authorisation
Scheme which has been discontinued.
A Green Card Permit is an employment permit issued to an employee
which allows his or her employment in Ireland by the named employer
in the occupation specified on the permit.
It will be valid for an initial period of two years and will normally
be renewed indefinitely after that. The new arrangements allow the
employee to apply for immediate family re-unification and will normally
allow a pathway to permanent residency after two years.
No labour market needs test (e.g. newspaper and FAS/EURES advertising)
is required prior to making an application.
Either the employee or the employer can apply for a Green Card Permit.
It is only possible to obtain a Green Card for certain occupations
or salary levels.
Where the annual salary (excluding bonuses) on offer is €60,000 or
more, the Green Card Permit is available for all occupations, other
than those which are "contrary to the public interest".
Also , Green Card Permits are available for jobs in the annual salary
range €30,000 - €59,999 (excluding bonuses) - but only for a restricted
number of strategically important occupations -
green card restricted occupations shown here
Green
Cards will not normally be issued for jobs paying under 30000 euro
a year.
Regardless of the post - any foreign-national concerned must possess
the relevant qualifications, skills or experience that are required
for the job.
The issuing of a Green Card Permit is dependent on a job offer from
a bona-fide employer registered with the Companies Registration
Office and the Revenue Commissioners and trading in
Ireland. The Job Offer must be on company headed paper, dated
within the previous 60 days, must be of 2 years or more duration and
must specify the following: (i) A full description of the proposed
employment, (ii) Starting date, (iii) Annual salary excluding bonuses,
and (iv) Information in respect of the qualifications, skills or experience
that are required for the employment.
Fees
for a Green Card
Application
process for Green Cards
All
the Occupations for which a Green Card can be applied for
