Ireland
Introduction
Ireland has come a long way in the last few decades. Before its entry into the European Union, most of its citizens were leaving Ireland. However, that's far from the case, now. The island nation's strong economy, fueled by liberal tax and immigration laws, has caused a rebirth in Ireland's prosperity.
It's strong economy, sometimes called the "Celtic Tiger" of the EU, is driven in no small part to its relatively open-door immigration policy. When ten nations joined the European Union in 2004, Ireland was one of only three EU-member nations to open its labor market to these new member states (the other two being the United Kingdom and Sweden).
However, Ireland, along with the UK, underestimated the amount of migrant labor from these new member states. Thousands of Poles, Latvians, and other nationals from the Central and Eastern European members states now work in Ireland.
In response to these numbers, the country instituted temporary restrictions to its labor market for nationals of Bulgaria and Romania when both nations joined the EU in 2007.
For third country nationals from outside the European Union who wish to live and work in Ireland, a few immigration programs were instituted in 2007. These include the Irish Green Card program for highly skilled workers and the Work Permit program for skilled workers.
The main criteria needed for a third-country national to work in Ireland (who does not have family that are Irish citizens or other such routes to residence) is a job offer with an appropriate salary levels. While there are no schemes such as the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) or the Danish Green Card scheme, both of which allow a migrant to gain temporary residence in the country for the purpose of finding work, it is at least possible for a person to apply for the Irish Green Card or Work Permit themselves. Many other countries require the employer to apply for a work permit, discouraging businesses from dealing with the hassle.
Living and Working in Ireland
Different rules apply for those wishing to live and work in Ireland depending on whether they are an EU/EEA citizen or not. Also, if a person is a national of Bulgaria or Romania, transitional rules apply until, at the latest, 2011. Bulgarian and Romanian citizens must come under the same rules as third-country nationals until then, if they wish to work in Ireland.
For information on immigrating to Ireland for EU/EEA citizens, click the following link.
Non-EU/EEA citizens
For third-country nationals, to live and work in Ireland when there is no other alternative to residence such as family-based immigration, they must come under a few various schemes outlined below:
The Irish Green Card
The Irish Green Card scheme came into effect in 2007 and is meant to facilitate the employment of third-country nationals for relatively highly skilled employment for those with a job offer with a salary above 30,000 euros a year. Depending on the salary level, the job may need to be on a list of strategically important occupations. No labor market assessments need to undertaken before granting an Irish Green Card.
The Irish Work Permit Scheme
The Irish Work Permit scheme is meant to facilitate the employment of third-country nationals with a job offer with a salary above 30,000 euros a year in a position that is deemed to be in shortage in Ireland.
Intra-Company Transfer Scheme
The Intra-Company Transfer scheme was put in place to give foreign employees of international companies a way to work or train at Irish branches of the business. It is meant for top-level positions, for postions important to the running of the company, and trainees. There are base salary requirements that must be met.
Spouse/Dependant Scheme
Ireland also has a scheme in place to allow the spouses and dependants of employment permit holders to work without the need for a labor market needs test.
Third Level Graduate Scheme
The Third Level Graduate Scheme allows foreign graduates of Irish educational institutions to remain in the country for six months after completion of their studies. The purpose is to allow them to look for work and switch into the Irish Green Card or Work Permit scheme. The Third Level Graduate Scheme is a one-time deal and cannot be renewed.