Non-EU wishing to move to Ireland with EU spouse

[krajwa]

Hi,

A European Economic Area/Swiss citizen, (spouses and dependant children also do not need work permits).

Does this really mean that I won't need to apply for a work permit if I wish to move to Ireland with an EU spouse?

Does anyone have any information/resources that explain the processes? Thanks in advance : )

Ps: I know this may have been raised before, but I've searched and found nothing in the forums : )

[John]

No you will not need a Work Permit, but you will need an Irish-issued EEA Family Permit.

What nationality is your spouse?

As a Moderator here I am able to see the IP address used whenever someone posts a message. Accordingly I can see from where in the world you made your post. Therefore I can say that you have no doubt already been through the procedure for the country in which you are currently resident ..... you now need to do the same but this time applying to the Irish Embassy in the country in which you are now living.

[JAJ]

No you will not need a Work Permit, but you will need an Irish-issued EEA Family Permit.

What nationality is your spouse?

As a Moderator here I am able to see the IP address used whenever someone posts a message. Accordingly I can see from where in the world you made your post. Therefore I can say that you have no doubt already been through the procedure for the country in which you are currently resident ..... you now need to do the same but this time applying to the Irish Embassy in the country in which you are now living.

If that other country is in the EEA it might be quicker/simpler to get citizenship in that country, and then no need for a visa to move to Ireland. Depends on the country, some are much stricter on citizenship than others.

[krajwa]

Hi,

First of all, thanks for the quick replies. As I'm sure John has determined, I'm married to a German, and as such living in Germany. As I've been told, the quickest way I could attain citizenship is after 7 years (or maybe 5, I'm not sure, but at any rate we've now been married just under a year)... and I've recently heard that Germany does not allow dual-citizenships (maybe only for Germans, though?), and I don't really want to give up my original passport.

Returning to the Irish-issued EEA Family Permit suggestion, I've read a bit about it (at least UK-issued), and the process seems to be such:

1. EU national applies for initial permit to live/work in UK. EU national secures job.
2. Once EU national is "qualified," non EU national can apply for EEA Family Permit (I've seen no times listed with regards to how long this may take, but I have read that it SHOULD be issued (under all circumstances) in less than 90 days, making application for a visa unnecessary.

Am I right in this assumption? My basic questions would really be:

1. How early should I apply for the EEA Family Permit (should/must I first move to Ireland along with my spouse?)

2. Should/am I allowed to begin applying for jobs before I have the EEA Family Permit?

Thanks again for all your help, guys : )

[John]

I'm married to a German, and as such living in Germany.

All I could see of course is that you posted your message from Germany.

Using your numbering :-

1. I'm confused! Where does your husband hope to find work? Ireland? the UK? Whatever, he does not need to "for initial permit to live/work in UK". As a German Citizen he already has treaty rights that permit him to live and work in any EEA country, including the UK and Ireland.
2. Once it is clear that the EEA Citizen, your husband, will be exercising his treaty rights in a particular country you should apply to the appropriate embassy for an EEA Family Permit. That is, if he finds work in the Republic of Ireland then the application would be made at the Irish Embassy ... if the job is in the UK then the application needs to be made at the British Embassy there in Germany.

Postings on this Board indicate that Ireland is very slow in dealing with applications for an EEA family Permit. Under EU law they have 6 months to deal with them and postings here indicate that it can take nearly that long.

Conversely applications for an EEA Family Permit at a British Embassy are usually dealt with very speedily.

So has your husband already got a job to come to? If so where is that job based? In which country? Do appreciate that Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and not part of the Republic of Ireland. Is that the cause of the confusion?

Can you apply for a job before getting your EEA Family Permit? Well there is nothing to stop you and whilst, technically, you already have your rights, as a family member of an EEA/EU Citizen, how do you prove that without the EEA Family Permit in your passport?

If you are going to apply for a UK-issued EEA Family Permit then the point really becomes academic given that these are issued quite speedily.