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UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN Ireland and their families will be able to apply for permission to reside in Ireland from today for the next six months.
The “once-in-a-generation” scheme is open to people who have been living here for at least four years without documentation, or three years if they have minor children.
Applicants will have to meet specific criteria. Spouses, civil partners or de facto partners and eligible children aged 18 to 23 years of the primary applicant are also eligible.
Successful applicants will be granted immigration permission and have their residency status regularised, meaning they have full access to the labour market in Ireland.
From there, they will be able to pursue Irish citizenship by naturalisation.
Online applications for the scheme will be accepted from 10:00am today for six months until 31 July, when the scheme will close. Applications can be made online.
In a press statement, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said: “I am delighted to now be able to open the once-in-a-generation scheme for long-term undocumented migrants and their family members living in Ireland. The scheme has been welcomed by those who have been contributing to our society for years but were seeking a way of regularising their status here in Ireland.
“I firmly believe this scheme will improve the lives of thousands of people across the country who contribute to our society, enrich our culture and work in our economy but unfortunately still live in the legal shadows,” McEntee said. “People come to Ireland to make a better life for themselves and their families and they can find themselves undocumented for many reasons.
“This scheme will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and reside in the State and to become part of mainstream Irish society rather than living on its margins.”
It is believed there could be as many as 17,000 undocumented immigrants in Ireland, including as many as 3,000 children, though there is no reliable data.
Family applications will incur a €700 fee to cover the cost of administration. Individuals will be charged €550.
Successful adult applicants will have to pay a further €300 when registering at their local immigration office.
All successful applicants over the age of 18 will be required to pay a fee of €300 when they are registering their permission at their local immigration office.
A specific scheme for asylum seekers be fee exempt at both application stage and at registration.
Those with an existing deportation order can apply, if they meet the minimum undocumented residence requirement.
Applicants must meet certain standards concerning good character and criminal records or behaviour and “not pose a threat to the State”. Having convictions for minor offences will not, by itself, result in disqualification.
People with expired student permissions will also be able to apply, if they meet the minimum undocumented residence requirement.
McEntee added: “People who are in an undocumented situation are burdened with a great deal of stress and uncertainty regarding their position in society. Unfortunately, they also may be more vulnerable to exploitation due to their precarious legal situation.
“In an effort to reach those migrant communities most likely to benefit from the scheme, my Department will engage in a targeted communications campaign during the six month application window,” she said. “The support of key organisations working directly with people and families who find themselves in these circumstances will also be crucial in encouraging people to come forward and participate in the scheme.”
Further details regarding the qualifying criteria, the required documentation, and how to apply for the scheme are available on the Department’s immigration website.
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Rewarding law breaking like this incentives law breaking and punishes the law abiding
@Podge:
What are your thoughts on the hundreds of thousands of Irish that gained American citizenship through a similar programme?
@Calvin James: and I assume that that program was a one off? It had no effect on illegal immigration to the USA
@Calvin James: I think it’s bad and don’t support it at all.
@Jonathan O’Riordan:
No it’s been around for decades, stay 13 years undocumented then you get temporary residency, then you can go for citizenship
@Calvin James: there is no such thing as temporary residency, you are either illegal. There on a specific visa type , a permanent resident ( green card) or a citizen
@Podge: This scheme also allows people with CRIMINAL RECORDS in Ireland apply to permanent residence.
Rewarding rule breaking.
Many people here revelled in the Australian case against Nadal stating that he should abide by the rules and entry regulations of the country. Absolute agreed. Bet there’s not much said about this. Break the first fundamental rule/law in this country and we give them free citizenship! Who are these people? Have they been vetted at all? Or will it be like the case of a recently infamous immigrant where our gardai sought info from Interpol only after he had committed a murder?
@Declan Edward: and before someone mentions the right of freedom of movement within the EU, the government also has the right to protect it’s citizens, screen inbound persons and the absolute power to send back anyone who cannot prove that they have the means to support themselves. None of this is ever done
@Declan Edward: what an absolute kick in the teeth to anyone who has gone through the citizenship process
@Declan Edward: I thought it was Djokovic .
@Billy McNamara: you’re right, my apologies!
@Declan Edward: can you tell us what law allows the screening of EU citizens arriving to Ireland?
@Bri Lyons: Protocol 20 to the TFEU, Title IV of Directive 2004/38/EC Article 5
Once in a generation….pffft…it’ll be like the tax amnesty and happen again.
@Bri Lyons: They didn’t say what kind of generation.
What does she mean by an amnesty for ‘long-term’ immigrants when the minimum they need to qualify is four years? Fours years is the gap between two general elections! That’s not long term
@AdijazzJohnson: It feels like an eternity right now.
“Ethnic diversity is increasing in most advanced countries, driven mostly by sharp increases in immigration. In the long run immigration and diversity are likely to have important cultural, economic, fiscal, and developmental benefits. In the short run, however, immigration and ethnic diversity tend to reduce social solidarity and social capital. New evidence from the US suggests that in ethnically diverse neighbourhoods residents of all races tend to ‘hunker down’. Trust (even of one’s own race) is lower, altruism and community cooperation rarer, friends fewer -Robert Putnam
Sounds like the “free driving license for all” scheme from many years ago.
“Applicants must meet certain standards concerning good character and criminal records or behaviour and “not pose a threat to the State”. Having convictions for minor offences will not, by itself, result in disqualification.” – Sounds good in theory but who and how will these checks be done, will they actually check or just take the first answer they are given. “Patrick” may have criminal convictions but “Pat” has none, or maybe brother “Peadar” has none too.
We let fine citizens with 100 plus convictions back out to the street to re-offend so it doesn’t bode well.
What about the “Dublin Agreement” is that finished? Under this agreement people are supposed to apply for asylum in the first EU country they arrive in.
You spelled undocumented migrants wrong Minister…. illegal immigrants.
Looks like the Journal are deleting comments again what is wrong pointing out facts like people going through the proper channels obtaining a visa/work permit.
Then you have bogus asylum applicatants giving an amnesty so when they do get citizenship they can apply to bring their families over.
As for McEntee just like Coveney they have never held a proper job they got in with their daddies as assistants then took over their seats.
What about people that paid 1k for the citizenship? Will the government refund these people?
@Fabrício PA: no one is getting citizenship under this scheme, they may be able to apply for citizenship later and will have to pay same as everyone else
Why is the lead picture here, chosen to be Helen Mcentee?
Surely it should be a picture of illegal immigrants sneaking over borders
So reward all the romanian scam artists who beg on our streets
@Ellie Mae: Romanians are EU citizens. Then can live in Ireland. THis is targeting people from 3rd world countries who are outside the EU, come to Ireland and never leave after their visa expires.
@Merlin Lancelot: so what’s the point of a visa?
Fresh unsullied voters…..?!?
Reality is, that humans have always traveled either legal or illegal. I guess it is better to have everyone out in the open and where they can pay taxes rather than hiding in the shadows often exploited
Poor people who have been through so much, I welcome them.
@Daithi De Roiste: This scheme also allows people with CRIMINAL RECORDS in Ireland apply to permanent residence.
@Daithi De Roiste: they may be unfortunates, but we are not obliged tp open our borders to them.
Everyone saying these people should leave the country are the same people conplaning that theres no one to do the jobs they leave behind when they go. Do people jot realise the reason McEnter is doing this? FG dont give a toss about immigrants. Varadkars friend even said so about Varadkar. They are allowing then stay because theres no one to do the jobs theyre leaving behind. And theyre charging them for it too which is lousy.
Dare I mention housing?
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