Ireland Permanent Residency for Nigerian Citizens

Do You Want to Become a Permanent Resident in Ireland?

Nigerian nationals can obtain Irish permanent residency when they meet several eligibility criteria. If you qualify for Ireland permanent residency, our immigration lawyers at IAS can help you secure it. We can guide you in preparing a comprehensive application to remain in Ireland permanently.

What is Ireland Permanent Residency?

The Ireland permanent residency, also called Long-term Residency, is granted to non-EU/EEA nationals who have lived and worked in Ireland for 5 years. Those individuals must have been issued an Employment Permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) with a Stamp 1 or a Stamp 4 on their passports. Permanent residency permits individuals to live and work in Ireland indefinitely.

Your Employment Permit’s start and end dates do not determine your residency status in Ireland. It is determined by the validity of your expired Irish Residence Permit (IRP) cards or the stamps in your passport. Residency will not be calculated for any period you did not have a stamp on your passport or a valid IRP card.

When your application for permanent residency is successful, you will be permitted to live and work in Ireland without another Employment Permit and remain indefinitely. If your dependent spouse has also stayed for 5 years in Ireland, they can apply for permanent residency with you. Depending on your Employment Permit, they may be granted either a Stamp 1G or Stamp 3. They can work with Stamp 1G but not Stamp 3 in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Nigerians must meet the eligibility requirements before applying for Ireland permanent residency at the Immigration Service Delivery. You must:

• Complete the reckonable residence requirement: Nigerian nationals intending to remain in Ireland indefinitely must fulfill the reckonable residence (minimum stay requirement) in Ireland. You must stay in Ireland for 5 years (60 months) without long absences to qualify for permanent residency application. General Employment Permit holders with Stamp 1 or Stamp 4 in their passports or valid Ireland Residence Permit cards must complete this reckonable residence requirement. The Critical Skills Employment Permit holders are exempted from the 5-year reckonable residence requirement. They can apply for it after staying in Ireland for 2 years.
• Be Employed in Ireland: You must have been offered an eligible Employment Permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). You must maintain the employment until you receive your permanent residence card.
• Be gainfully employed: You cannot qualify for permanent residence in Ireland if you’re self-employed.
• Be of good character: You must not have broken any law in Ireland that has put you in the bad book of the An Garda Síochána (The Irish Police).
• Fulfill the conditions of your previous Irish visas.
• Not be an undue burden to Ireland. You must not recourse to public funds or receive social welfare payments unless it’s related to your PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) contributions.
• Be residing in Ireland legitimately at the time you applied. Your valid IRP card and immigration stamps in your passport will attest to your current residence in the country.

How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Ireland

You can apply for permanent residency in Ireland by taking these steps:

Consult an Immigration Lawyer

Before applying for permanent residency in Ireland, seek legal counsel from an immigration lawyer. At IAS, our immigration lawyers can assess your eligibility for permanent residency. If you qualify to remain indefinitely in Ireland, our lawyers can help you make a comprehensive application to obtain permanent residency.

We can help you gather all the required documents and apply for a permanent residence permit on your behalf. Call us at +234 2013306361 or message us online for immediate assistance.

Complete the Application Form

You must complete the “Application for Permission to Remain in the State on Long-term Residency” form. You must complete all sections of the application form in block capitals and in black ink. Note that incomplete application forms will be returned as they will not be processed. If you can’t provide all the requested information in the application form, you must include an explanation for that in section 4 of the form.

Gather all Required Documents

Provide all the documents required for your permanent residence application. The documents you must compile include:

• Completed permanent residency application form.
• A copy of your GNIB (Garda National Immigration Bureau) or Irish Residence Permit card.
• Full colour copies of your past and current IRP cards or passport with all your immigration stamps.
• A copy of your employment contract or letter from your employer stating your start date and terms of work.
• Full colour copies of all Employment Permits you received from DETE.
• Documents that prove you’ve been residing in Ireland continuously such as State-issued documents, bank statements, and copies of tenancy agreements.

Apply Through Mail

After gathering your documents, you must file your permanent residency application via mail to the INIS’ Long-term Residency Division. Submit your application at:

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.

Await a Decision

After submitting your application, you’ll wait for it to be processed, a decision will follow. If your application is approved, you will receive a letter of approval from the Immigration Service Delivery. You will be instructed to pay €500 Ireland Permanent Residence Permit fee within 28 days of receiving the letter. You can pay the fee via a postal order to the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equity or bank transfer.

Receive Your Permanent Residency Permit

Once you pay the application fee, INIS will send you a letter issuing you permanent residency in Ireland on a Stamp 4 or Stamp 5. You must schedule an appointment with your local immigration office in Ireland to register your permission. You may pay the registration fee (if required) at the immigration office. After that, you’ll be issued your permanent residency permit.

Pathways to Permanent Residency

Nigerians can obtain Irish permanent residency through several pathways, such as an Ireland Study Visa or Employment Permit.

Ireland Permanent Residency After Student Visa

Nigerian students can obtain Irish permanent residency by taking the following steps:

Apply to Study in Ireland

You must enroll into an Irish educational institution after fulfilling all eligibility requirements. You can choose a short-term or long-term study in an Irish educational institution.

If you intend to take a short-term study, you must obtain a C Study Visa valid for 3 months. But if you wish to study for the long-term, you must obtain a D Study Visa valid for more than 3 months.

As a non-EU/EEA national (Nigerian student), you must obtain a residence permit to study in Ireland for more than 3 months. You must therefore apply for a residence permit at the Garda National Immigration Bureau. You’ll pay €300 to obtain the residence permit.

Get an Internship as a Student in Ireland

You can intern for the company you aspire to work for after graduating while studying in Ireland. As an international student studying in Ireland, you can work 20 hours per week during semesters. During holidays and breaks, you can work 40 hours per week.

Obtain a Work Permit

Once you complete your studies in Ireland, you can apply for a Post-Study Work Permit. You can be allowed to work in Ireland through the Third Level Graduate Scheme. This scheme permits non-EU/EEA students to find employment and work in Ireland after completing a degree. This programme grants two types of permission to individuals who have:

• A Level 8 award (a Bachelor’s degree on the National Framework of Qualification). It lasts for 12 months.
• A Level 9 award or higher (PhD or master’s degree). It lasts for 24 months.

Work for 5 Years

After your studies in Ireland, you can also secure a job offer and seek a visa under the General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit depending on your qualifications. If you work in Ireland on a work permit for 5 years after studying, you may be eligible to apply for Ireland Permanent Residency. 

Eligibility

If you intend to work in Ireland after your studies, you must meet the eligibility criteria for a Post-Study Work visa, including:

• Have your postgraduate (PG) or undergraduate (UG) degree from an Irish educational institution.
• Have a valid Irish Residence Permit.
• Complete a PhD course or be enrolled in one.
• Be granted an educational award by a recognised awarding body.

Transitioning from an Irish Study Visa to permanent residency can be daunting. You must track your application submission date to avoid overstaying your study permission. You may also need expert guidance in completing your application for a Post-Study Visa to increase your chances of remaining in Ireland after your studies.

Hence, it’s ideal to consult one of our IAA-certified experienced immigration lawyers at IAS for support and guidance. Our immigration lawyers can advise you on how to get permanent residency in Ireland for international students. We can also help you submit a comprehensive application once you’re qualified to remain indefinitely in Ireland. Call us at +234 2013306361 or message us online for immediate assistance.

Ireland Permanent Residency Through Employment

Nigerian nationals can obtain Ireland permanent residency through employment if they hold an employment permit legitimately for 5 years. If you are not in Ireland already, you must first obtain an Employment Permit from an Irish employer. You can then apply for an Irish work visa from Nigeria to be allowed into the country.

Nigerians already working in Ireland and hoping to obtain permanent residency must have been issued a Stamp 1 or Stamp 4 permit. Ireland rolled out several Employment Permits to cover skills shortages in the labour market. This includes the two major permits, the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is designed for foreign nationals highly-skilled in shortage occupations. These occupations are crucial to the economic stability of Ireland, Hence, Irish employers can bring foreign workers without the Labour Markets Needs Test (LMNT). That is, employers won’t be required to prove that they couldn’t find an EU/EEA citizen to fill the role offered to a non-EU/EEA citizen.

If you are a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder, you may qualify for permanent residency after working in Ireland for 2 years. You can also switch employers in 9 months (previously 12 months) after getting a job with a Critical Skills Employment Permit. You won’t require another Employment Permit if your permanent residency application is approved.

The jobs under Critical Skills Employment Permit for highly-skilled individuals include:

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
• Engineering.
• Natural and Social Science (physicists, biologists, chemists, medical laboratory scientists, and biochemists).
• Health and Social Services (Managers and Directors).
• Health (Medical practitioners, pharmacists, etc.).
• Health Associate (prosthetists, orthotists).
• Design.
• Nursing and Midwifery.
• Orthotics.
• Sales, Marketing, and Related Associates.
• Quality and Regulatory.
• Artistic, Literary and Media.
• Architecture (Town Planners and Surveyors).
• Media (Art Director in 3D or 2D animation).
• Business, Research and Administration.
• Teaching and Education (Academics with Doctoral degree (the level 10 equivalent of an NFQ)).
• Sports and Fitness.

General Employment Permit

The General Employment Permit covers every other Employment Permit excluded from the Critical Skills Employment Permit list. The General Employment Permits, however, exclude jobs under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. The General Employment Permit is initially valid for 2 years and extendable to a further 3 years. If you live and work lawfully for 60 months (5 years) in Ireland, you may qualify for permanent residency.

If you want a seamless permanent residence application through employment, IAS can help. Our IAA-certified immigration lawyers can help you choose the specific work visa that suits the Employment Permit you have. We can assess your eligibility, advise and give you the legal support you may need to remain in Ireland indefinitely. Call us at +234 2013306361 or contact us online.

How Long Does It Take to Get Permanent Residency in Ireland?

Your application for an Ireland Work Visa can take up to 8 weeks. Then, it could take up to 6 months to receive the decision on your permanent residence application. Some reasons that can cause a delay in your Ireland permanent residency application include:

Errors in Your Application Form

If there are errors in your completed application form, it can cause a delay in the processing time. You must complete your application form with accurate information. If you can’t complete a particular part of the application form, you must explain the reason in writing and attach it to the application form in section 4. You must read the application guidelines to complete the form correctly.

Incomplete Documentation

You must provide complete documentation for your permanent residency application. The INIS will need crucial documents to decide whether you should be granted permission to remain indefinitely in Ireland. If you omit certain documents, you may be contacted to provide them. This will further delay your application process. Ensure you include all the required documents before submitting your application to avoid unnecessary back and forth.

High Volumes of Applications

Sometimes, the INIS receives a high volume of permanent residence applications. This can delay your application processing time as they must process applications that arrived before yours. After applying, you must exercise patience, as they will process your application as soon as possible.

Benefits of Securing Permanent Residency in Ireland

Nigerians holding permanent residency in Ireland are entitled to several benefits including:

Access to the Irish Job Market and Social Benefits

When you obtain permanent residency in Ireland as a Nigerian citizen, you can participate in the job market anywhere in the country. You will have opportunities to advance your professional career and access social benefits such as free public healthcare services, and free education for your children.

Opportunities for Family Reunification and Long-term Settlement

You can bring your eligible dependents such as your spouse/de facto partner, and children (if any) when you’re a permanent resident in Ireland. This will help you have your loved ones with you in Ireland. When your dependents complete the reckonable residence requirement, they can qualify for permanent residency in Ireland.

Pathway to Irish Citizenship

One of the outstanding benefits of Ireland’s permanent residency is that it leads to Irish citizenship. The permanent residency is valid for 5 years. You can apply for Irish citizenship if you prove that you have lived in Ireland for 5 years in the last 9 years, including the 1 year before applying. You can apply on behalf of a minor; the route to citizenship for children is different. Therefore, you need to contact a professional immigration lawyer to assist you in obtaining Irish citizenship for your child.

Live and Work Indefinitely

You can stay in Ireland indefinitely when you obtain permanent residency. You won’t be required to renew your permit to remain in the country. Individuals with permanent residency status in the country can travel and return without worries.

Comprehensive Support from IAS for Nigerian Immigrants

Obtaining an Irish visa and permanent residency can be overwhelming for non-EU/EEA citizens. You must meet the eligibility criteria and submit complete documentation to support your application. If you intend to move to Ireland and remain indefinitely, our immigration lawyers can assist you. Our immigration lawyers can help you secure an eligible Ireland visa that offers a path to permanent residency and citizenship in Ireland. 

Our immigration lawyers can help you with moving logistics, and arrange school placements for your children, including other concierge services.We can also assist you in transitioning to a new life in Ireland and advise and support you on compliance with immigration rules.

 For more information on permanent residency in Ireland, Critical Skills, and further clarifications on how many years it takes to get PR in Ireland, IAS can help. If you want to know more about our immigration services, schedule an in-person meeting at our office to speak with one of our expert immigration lawyers. You can contact us via video call, complete our online enquiry form, or dial +234 2013306361 for immediate assistance.