For those who had been living in the country without any visa, Ireland opened a one-off regularisation scheme. Announced in late 2021, the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme accepted applications from 31 January 2022 to 31 July 2022 — a six-month window. Before it closed, it was estimated that around 17,000–20,000 undocumented people could qualify for residence permission under the scheme. The Minister for Justice brought the scheme to Cabinet to regularise long-term undocumented migrants. Successful applicants were granted Stamp 4 permission for two years, giving unrestricted access to the labour market, with that residence reckonable toward citizenship by naturalisation. The scheme ran for six months, closing on 31 July 2022.
Under the scheme’s published criteria, eligible applicants received:
- Have a time of 4 years residence in the country without immigration permit or 3 year time in case of those with children;
- Be allowed immigration permission that permits unrestricted access to the labour market; and
- Have years of residence with that authority accountable for the motive of pursuing citizenship by way of naturalization
She also stated,
“Who has established a life here but regrettably still live in the legal shadows there are thousands of individuals across the state. They are energetic members of our communities: contributing to our civilization, improving our culture, and aiding in our economy. We in Ireland must indicate the equal liberality concerning undocumented migrants living in our state as we question other states, especially the United States, to show Irish people who have established a life elsewhere but who are still undocumented in their new homes”. I mightily think that.
Ahead of the launch, a consultation webinar was announced with stakeholders, trade unions, employment bodies, NGOs and other organisations. Applications were time-limited to the six-month window. The scheme was administrative, established under the Minister’s executive powers. Applications were submitted online only between 31 January and 31 July 2022. The application fee was €550 for single applicants and €700 for family applications (non-refundable).
Over three-quarters of undocumented migrants surveyed have been living in Ireland for five years or more, current research from the Migrants Right Council of Ireland (MRCI) and Justice for the Undocumented (JFU) quoted that.
Before launch, the scheme was expected to reach almost 17,000 undocumented individuals. A quarter of the migrants get lower than the legal income threshold and they work allowed to 40 hours per week. They have been staying in the country with their families and nearly all working. The legalization procedure will not just assist to put forward these individuals into the government’s record but also escalate the tax and revenue. The crime rate will decrease and the children of these people will also have a secure future.