Ireland Immigration Lawyers for Nigerians

Ireland Immigration Solicitors for Nigerians

Moving from Nigeria to Ireland can be challenging due to the complex and evolving laws of Ireland’s immigration process. An expert immigration solicitor can help ensure a smooth and successful application. Varying eligibility criteria and multiple supporting documents are challenges you may face when applying for an Irish visa. Without guidance, you may face refusals or delays due to incomplete submissions or errors. This can be avoided if you employ the services of an experienced immigration lawyer well-versed in Ireland immigration law. They can offer bespoke advice, assist in gathering supporting documents, submit a strong application and represent you in court if needed. With an experienced immigration lawyer managing your case, you reduce mistakes and increase your chances of success, saving you valuable time and resources. 

Ireland Visa and Immigration Process

There are immigration pathways available for Nigerians looking to move to Ireland. These pathways include work, study, business, and family reunification. The pathway to follow depends on what you are going to Ireland to do. Below are some Irish visa options available to Nigerians and their application processes. 

Employment Permit

To work in Ireland as a Nigerian, you must apply for an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) and a visa to enter Ireland. You can apply for an employment permit with a valid job offer from an Irish employer. The DETE issues different kinds of employment permits:

• Critical Skills Employment Permit for skilled professionals working in a field with skills shortage in Ireland. 
• General Employment Permit for other occupations that are not in high demand or need specialised skills. 
• Contract for Service Employment Permit to work for another company in Ireland on behalf of your company in Nigeria. 
• Sports and Cultural Employment Permit if you are skilled in sports or cultural business. 
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit if you are being transferred from the branch of your company in Nigeria to a branch in Ireland. You must be a senior manager, a key personnel, or a trainee to apply for this permit. 
• Internship Employment Permit for full-time Nigerian students who want to experience working in Ireland. The internship must be in partial fulfillment of your course. It must pay the minimum wage, valid for a maximum of 12 months.
• Reactivation Employment Permit if you lost your immigration status in Ireland due to abuse by your employer or due to no fault of your own.
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit if you are moving to Ireland to work under an exchange agreement like the International Association for the Exchange of Technical Experience (IAESTE) and the Fullbright programme.
• Hosting Agreement for Academic Researchers if you want to undertake paid research in an eligible organisation in Ireland. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science issues this permit. 

Eligibility Criteria

To get an employment permit in Ireland, you must meet the requirements below:

• Have a job offer or contract from an Irish employer. 
• Your employer must pass the Labour Markets Needs Tests for some work permits, proving they could not get any Irish, EU, EEA, or Swiss national to do the job.
• 50% of the employees in your prospective company must be Irish, EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals.
• To get the Critical Skills Employment Permit, your salary must be at least €40,904 yearly.
• For the General Employment Permit, your salary must be at least €36,605 yearly.
• To get the Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit, your minimum yearly salary as a senior manager or key personnel must be €49,500 or €36,605 as a trainee.
• For a Hosting Agreement for Academic Researchers Permit, your salary must be a minimum of €23,811 per annum or €30,000 if you are going with your family.

Documents Required

You need to prove you meet the Ireland immigration requirements by submitting the following documents: 

• Job offer signed by you and your employer.
• Details of the contact person in the company, like email address, phone number, and role in the organisation.
• Details of the company like registration number, address and official name. 
• Information about your role, such as your duties, salary, and duration of employment. 
• Valid International passport.
• Two recent passport photographs.

Employment Permit Cost

Employment permits generally cost €500 for 6 months or less and €1,000 for 24 months. 

Application Process for the Employment Permit

You or your prospective employer can submit an application for an employment permit via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). 

• Visit the EPOS website.
• Choose the employment permit you are applying for.
• Input your passport details. 
• Continue to other sections and fill in the correct details as required. 
• Attach supporting documents to the indicated spaces. The documents must be in JPEG, PDF, JPG, or PNG, not larger than 10 MB. 
• After filling out the form, print it out, sign it, scan it, and upload it to the system again. 
• Pay the employment permit fee online with a debit or credit card.
• Submit your application. 

Your application will be processed in 13 weeks. If successful, you must apply for an Irish visa before travelling to Ireland. 

Study Visa

Nigerians need a visa to study in Ireland. There are 2 types of study visas:

• C study visa if you want to study in Ireland for 3 months or less.
• D study visa if you’re going to study in Ireland for more than 3 months.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an Irish study visa, you have to meet the following requirements:

• Full-time enrollment in a course on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP).
• Able to show your competency in the use of the English language.
• Payment of the required school fees. 

Documents Required

To prove your eligibility for a study visa, you must submit the following original documents: 

• Letter of enrolment from an eligible school in Ireland showing that you have been accepted into a full-time programme with at least 15 hours of study time per week.
• Receipt that shows you have transferred your full tuition to your school.
• Bank statement showing you have €10,000 to cover your living expenses.
• Proof that you understand the English language. This requirement is waived if you’re about to study an English language course.
• Private travel or medical insurance.
• Evidence you’ll return to Nigeria after your studies. 
• Explanation of any study gaps in your education history.
• Completed visa application form. 
• Completed application letter outlining when you intend to enter and leave Ireland. 
• 2 coloured passport photographs not older than 6 months. 
• Valid international passport and a copy of your previous passports with visas attached. 
• Resume showing your employment history and explanation for any gaps. 
• Certificates and qualifications showing that you can do well in your course of choice. 

For applicants younger than 18 and travelling to Ireland alone:

• Birth certificate.
• Signed and notarised consent form from both parents or guardians indicating that they agree to the child coming to study in Ireland alone.
• International passport data page of both parents or guardians.
• National ID card of both parents or guardians showing their signatures. 
• Court order showing you have sole custody if this applies.
• Accommodation plans for the child in Ireland. 
• Clearance from the Irish Police in the region where the child will stay. The school can get this clearance. 

Application Process

The AVATS is the platform the Irish government uses to manage study visa applications. To apply for a study visa, you must log in to the AVATS platform and complete the form. Upon completion, you will be directed to print out the application summary. You must print, date, and sign the application form. 

Family Re-unification

You can join a family member in Ireland through the family reunification route. The family member must be an Irish citizen, a UK national, an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, or a non-EU/EEA citizen on the following permits:

• Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• Entrepreneurs.
• Investors.
• PhD students.
• Non-locum doctors with full-time employment.
• Intra Corporate Transfer Permits.
• General Skills Employment Permit.
• Minister of Religion.
• Business Permit.
• Stamp 4 holders. 

You can only join a family member in Ireland as a: 

• Spouse. 
• Child (below 18 years) or a dependent child studying full time and is not older than 23.
• De Facto partner.
• Parent.

Documents Required

You must submit the following documents when applying for an Irish Family-Reunification Visa:

• 2 coloured passport photographs not older than 6 months.
• Valid international passport. 
• Dated and signed application form. 
• Application letter which bears your details, the details of your Ireland-dwelling relative and your reason for moving to Ireland.
• Copy of your family member’s passport as evidence that they have the right citizenship or permit to sponsor you.  
• Marriage, birth, and adoption certificates to prove your relationship.
• Evidence of relationship history like messages, photos and joint tenancy if you are in a civil or De Facto partnership.
• 6 months bank statement of you and your family member.
• Payslips of the past 3 months. 
• Job contract showing your sponsor’s salary. 
• Notice of assessment of income if your family member is a business person.
• Medical or travel insurance worth at least €25,000.
• Evidence your family member has earned €40,000 in the past 3 years if they are Irish.
• Evidence your family member has earned €30,000 in the past 2 years, if they have an employment permit. This amount will increase if you have children. Your family member must prove they earn an extra €521 weekly if you have one child, €622 for 2 children, €723 for 3 children, and €834 for 4 children. 

Application Process

Before applying for an Ireland family visa from Nigeria, your sponsor must send a letter to the Family Reunification section of the Irish Naturalisation & Immigration Service (INIS). The letter must contain their name, address, personal ID, and all the information (name, date of birth, type of relationship, address, and nationality) about the family member they want to bring over. 

The INIS will send your sponsor a questionnaire and a list of documents they must provide. They must fill out the questionnaire and send it to the INIS with the supporting documents. If the INIS approves their request, you can then proceed to apply for a visa in Nigeria. 

How to Apply for an Ireland Visa from Nigeria

The Irish government manages all visa applications through the AVATS platform. To submit your application, follow the instructions on the platform and fill out the application form. Attach the required supporting documents, then print out the application summary, sign and date it, then scan back on to the platform and submit. Next is to schedule an appointment with VFS Global in Abuja or Lagos through their website. They will collect your biometric and original supporting documents.  They will be returned after your application is processed. You must include an address where they will be returned. 

You’ll need to pay €60 for a single-entry visa or €100 for a multiple-entry visa. When you are done with the form, print the application summary and then take it, along with your supporting documents, to the VFSGlobal office in Lagos or Abuja, where your biometrics will also be collected. You must schedule your visit to VFS Global through their website. 

Work and study visa applications are processed within 8 weeks while family visas take between 6 to 12 months. If your application is approved, you can travel to Ireland. A border control officer will add a stamp on your passport indicating the number of days you can stay in Ireland. This is usually 90 days. You have to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau before the 90 days elapse to get your residence permit. 

Permanent Residency

You may be eligible for Irish Permanent Residency if you have lived in Ireland legally for at least 5 years while holding an employment permit. This is otherwise known as Long Term Residency permission. If your application is approved, you can stay and work in Ireland for 5 years without needing a work permit. This permission is renewable. The 5-year legal residency is calculated by checking the stamps (1 or 4) in your passport or residence permits. Any period you don’t have a stamp in your passport or hold an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card does not count towards the 5 years, even if you have a valid visa. 

Eligibility 

You are eligible for permanent residency if:

• You have lived for at least 60 months legally in Ireland. 
• You are currently a legal resident in Ireland. 
• You have not been convicted of any criminal offence or had a brush with the Irish Police.
• You have a job at the time of your application and will still have one after your application is approved. Self-employed applicants cannot apply for permanent residency. 
• You have held Ireland employment permits issued by the DETE.

Documents Required

• Copies of your work permits. 
• Copy of your GNIB card or Irish Residence Permit. 
• Coloured copies of all your passports with all the stamps. 
• Application form. 
• Employment letter.
• P60, bank statements, or P45 showing your address in Ireland

Application Process

Print the application form, complete it, and then add other supporting documents and send it via mail to the address below: 

Long-Term Residence Section

Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division

Immigration Service Delivery

Department of Justice

13-14 Burgh Quay

Dublin 2, DO2 XK70

Ireland.

It takes about 6-8 months for your application to be processed. If the Department of Justice approves your application, you must pay €500 within 28 days of receiving the notice. You will then get a letter giving you long-term residency permission. Then, you can schedule an appointment with the immigration office nearest to you for registration. You’ll have to pay an additional €500 during this registration.

Challenges Faced by Nigerians in Ireland’s Immigration Process

Nigerians applying for an Ireland visa face certain challenges during the immigration process. Some of these challenges are:

Visa Denial

Your visa application to Ireland may be denied if:

• You cannot prove ties to your home country. It would be best if you showed the immigration officers that you have compelling reasons to return to Nigeria. This can be by showing that you have a family or a job to return to after your stay in Ireland. 
• Your purpose for travelling to Ireland is unclear. You need to explicitly show why you want to visit Ireland. 
• You lack credibility or travel history, which can cause the immigration officer to think you intend to overstay. 

Complex Immigration Process

Some Nigerians may be discouraged from applying for Ireland visas due to the complex process involved. One would have to do multiple applications for one permit. For example, to get a work visa, you’ll need to apply to the DETE, apply for a visa, pass the border control check, and then apply for a residence permit. This can be daunting for most people. 

Documentation

Proper documentation is essential during the visa application process. Insufficient documents may lead to a visa denial. You also need to prove that you have sufficient funds to cater for yourself while you are in Ireland.

The Role of an Immigration Lawyer 

To maximize your chances of succeeding in the Ireland application process, you’ll need the help of an immigration lawyer. Below are the roles of an immigration lawyer:

Preparing and Submitting Visa Applications

An immigration lawyer does not just guide you when completing visa application forms; they hold your hand from start to finish to ensure the process is as seamless as possible. The first step is assessing your eligibility. Once you meet the criteria, the lawyer will assist you with gathering supporting documents. Lastly, an application can be made on your behalf with the best of standards. 

Representation in Denial

The job of an immigration lawyer continues even after the visa application has been submitted. You will need their services in case of delays and denials. An expert immigration lawyer can track your application, help you apply for administrative review, and represent you in court if needed. 

Ensure Compliance

The complexity of Ireland’s immigration landscape can make it challenging to keep up with all you need to do. However, with the assistance of an expert immigration lawyer who is well-versed in Irish immigration laws, you can rest assured that you comply with Irish visa laws.

How to Choose the Right Immigration Lawyer in Ireland

Here  are some factors to consider when choosing an immigration lawyer for your Ireland journey: 

Experience

It is of the utmost importance that you choose a lawyer with experience in Irish immigration laws. This will allow them to guide you properly and avoid amateur mistakes that can ruin your chances. 

Client Testimonials

You should also consider clients’ testimonials. This is proof of experience and an assurance that the immigration lawyer you picked is truly an expert, as they claim. Check their websites and other independent review sites for what other clients have to say about them. 

Specialization

For your Ireland immigration journey, you need a lawyer who specialises in Irish immigration law and understands the unique challenges Nigerians face while applying for an Ireland visa.

How IAS Immigration Lawyers Facilitate the Visa Process

At IAS, we have a team of expert immigration lawyers experienced in Irish immigration law. Our immigration counsellors are recognised lawyers in Nigeria and Ireland, and they have many years of experience in both countries. 

Our services include visa application support. We can assist you in filling out the Ireland visa application form, ensuring that you input the correct details. We can also ensure you apply for visas that you are eligible for. 

Our consultants can assess your situation and suggest the best visa route. Then, we can help you prepare supporting documents proving your eligibility.  In the case of a visa denial, you can trust our expert immigration lawyers to represent you in the law court.

Get Ireland Immigration Advice Online or In Our Office

We offer comprehensive support for your Irish immigration needs. Get in touch today to discuss your goals, and we can advise you on the best route to take. We will handle your application process to ensure visa success. Our services also include concierge services that can help you seamlessly move from Nigeria and settle in Ireland. 

We can also help you meet your long-term immigration goal. After staying for the required years, we can help you apply for permanent residency or Irish citizenship. 
Finally, if you are interested in setting up a business in Ireland or opening a branch of your Nigerian business in Ireland, you can also speak to our consultants. For more information on how we can assist you, visit our office at 42 Saka Tinubu St, Victoria Island, Lagos 106104, Lagos, call us at +23413438882, or message us online.