Applying for Irish work authorisation in London

[Reinette]

Hi,

Is it possible to apply for an Irish work authorisation in London if you are not a UK citizen? Do they offer work authorisation services there? The Irish embassy in London's website doesn't really contain a lot of information. I know you have to apply in your country of permanent residency - just want to find out if anyone that's not a UK citizen/doesn't have a British passport has tried and maybe succeeded? I am South African and an IT professional.

Thanks,
Reinette

[Dawie]

Yes, as long as you are legally resident in the UK and qualify for the Irish work authorisation scheme, you can apply for it at the Irish embassy in London. You may have to phone them personally though to find out what forms etc to get.

You won't be the first South African to apply for the work authorisation scheme from London.

[Reinette]

Thanks for the reply.

I phoned the Irish embassy in London and they told me the same thing - you have to be a resident of the UK - thus have a visa. Bad luck for me though as my working holiday visa expired and I have since been in the US. So I will enter the UK now as a tourist, so I am not actually legally a resident anymore. Which means I probably will have to apply in SA.

[jes2jes]

If you are a legal resident in the US then you can apply from there. I doubt it from the tone of your email. Why not call the Irish embassy in the US and explain your situation and they might be able to help you in the US. If not spend your money on going to SA.