Yes, dependents can work in Ireland but must have a separate employment permit. The dependent visa allows non-EU or EEA citizens' children and family members to reside in Ireland with their families. Around 65,200 immigrants, including family members and dependents, move to Ireland yearly.
A non-EU/EEA national must opt for an employment permit to work in the country. If an applicant has moved to Ireland to work with an employment permit, your family can apply to join you.
Family members can join you in Ireland immediately for Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and doctors with a Stamp 1H. After one year, the family can apply to join them for General Employment Permits and other employment permits.
The Irish immigration authority has a family reunification policy, which has different rules for families outside the EEA, UK, and Switzerland who can join people and live in Ireland.
The policy includes applicants who live in Ireland as holders of an employment permit. If the family member has an employment permit and satisfies the conditions of the license, they can sponsor their family to join them in Ireland.
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Types of Employment permits for dependants
There are different visas for spouses and other dependants who want to work in Ireland, such as:
Holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP)/ researchers on Hosting Agreement/doctors with Stamp 1H (Spouses)
The spouse or de-facto partner of the Critical Skills Employment Permit or a Hosting Agreement holder won’t need an employment permit to work in Ireland as long as they have the 1H stamp.
Dependant, Partner, Spouse Employment Permit
A dependant, partner, or spouse employment permit is for them who wants to explore the Irish job market, making it more accessible to the labor market.
General Employment Permit and Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) Permit holders
General Employment Permit (GEP) holder or an Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) permit holder spouse or de-facto partner can reside in Ireland with Stamp 3 immigration permission and work without an employment permit.
All other employment permits
- Older Children’s
Older children (over 18) may be able to join you in Ireland if you can show that they are completely dependent on the applicant.
- Dependent parents
Dependent parents, or the parents of your spouse or partner, can only join the applicant in Ireland if an applicant can support them financially. They must have earned more than €60,000 (or €75,000 for two parents) after tax and deductions three years before their application.
Eligibility criteria for dependants to work in Ireland
Here are the eligibility criteria for dependants to work in Ireland:
- Holder of Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP);
- Researcher working for Hosting Agreement
- Dependent/partner/spouse work permits are free to apply for and renew
- Aged between 16-18 years
- Aged under 23 years
- Sponsor must be an Irish national
- Must live with the sponsor for a full-time
- Must possess a D-Join Family visa
- Must be a family member of the family member of their sponsor
- Proof of sufficient funds is required
- Clean criminal record
Requirements to work as a dependant in Ireland
Below are the given requirements to work as a dependent in Ireland:
- Valid passport
- D-Join Family Visa
- Sponsor passport
- Birth certificate
- Proof of relationship
- Proof of accommodation in Ireland
- Sponsor's current employment status
- Proof of medical certificate
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