The Department of Justice has announced a Scheme for Long term undocumented migrants in the State to apply to regularise their status.

Applications can be made from the 31st January 2022 and will be accepted for a six month period until 31st July 2022.

The Scheme is in place to enable eligible applicants, and their eligible dependents to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.

Principle applicants must have a period of 4 years residence in the State without an immigration permission, or 3 years of those with minor children prior to the date on which the scheme opens for applications.

Principle applicants will be permitted to include a spouse, civil partner or de facto partner and eligible children aged 18-23 years who must have been living with the principal applicant for 2 years immediately prior to the date of application.

The immigration permission granted allows for access to the labour market without the need for an employment permit and the permission will be considered as reckonable for the purposes of applying for Irish citizenship.

The Scheme is also open to eligible applicants who are subject to an extant unenforced Deportation Order who are living in the State and those who are in the section 3 process (section 3 of the Immigration Act, 1999) and are living in the State, including those who have been issued with a notice of intention to make a Deportation Order or who have applied under section 3(11) of the 1999 Act to the Minister to have a Deportation Order revoked.

Please contact our office for full advice and assistance on your application under the Scheme.

Nikaela Rusk

Immigration Solicitor

Connolly Finan Fleming