Doctors from third countries who have worked in their profession in Ireland for two to five years will now be permitted to apply to work without preconditions, and also their spouses will be able to work in the country.
The Irish Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee, and the Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly, announced the significant changes in the work arrangement and immigration permits for doctors from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
According to a press release issued on March 8 by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment of Ireland, these changes will give most doctors holding a General Employment Permit the same rights as doctors holding Critical Skills Employment Permits. The changes have been introduced in a bid by the country to become more attractive for doctors, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
“It will help our health service to attract and retain medical staff and increase the number of applications for vacant posts. It will also reduce the administrative burden placed on doctors and their employers by the State,” the statement reads.
All non-EEA doctors who have been in Ireland for two or five years and with a General Employment Permit can apply for new permission, which gives them the right to work without a permit. At the same time, their partners can also get permission which allows them to work.
It is estimated that about 1,800 doctors outside the EEA will benefit from this agreement.
These applications will be accepted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment over a six-week period, from mid-March to the end of April 2022.
Commenting on this agreement, Minister McEntee noted that migrant doctors had played a crucial role in Ireland’s health service for a long time, adding that these changes go towards their contribution.
“Improving the immigration conditions for non-EEA doctors and their partners and spouses is something I welcome and is in line with my commitment to creating a more fair and efficient immigration system,” she also pointed out.
In this regard, Minister Donnelly stressed that these announced changes would give doctors outside the EEA more security regarding their immigration status and provide opportunities for a more extended career.
Moreover, before December 2021, all those doctors who hold a General Employment Permit were required to complete five years of residence and work before qualifying for a Stamp 4, which entitles them to work unconditionally.
The Department of Justice is now issuing these doctors a valid HSE employment contract with Stamp 1, which is certified. Yet, Stamp 1 does not provide automatic employment rights for partners and spouses.