EU/EEA/Swiss jobseeker or retained worker

Countries in the EU and EEA are part of a single market that allows free movement for their citizens. Switzerland has an agreement that extends the single market to include it, though it is not part of the EEA.

6. (1) A person to whom Regulation 3(1) applies may reside in the State for up to 3 months on condition that he or she— ( a )(i) where the person is a Union citizen, holds a valid national identity card or passport, (ii) where the person is not a Union citizen, holds a valid passport, and ( b ) does not become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the State.

(2) A Union citizen to whom Regulation 3(1)( a ) applies who has entered the State seeking employment, and his or her family members, may continue to reside in the State for a period that is longer than 3 months where the Union citizen concerned can satisfy the Minister that he or she continues to seek employment and has a realistic prospect of being engaged in employment.

Where a person to whom subparagraph ( a )(i) applies ceases to be in the employment or self-employment concerned, that subparagraph shall be deemed to continue to apply to him or her, where— (i) he or she is temporarily unable to work as the result of an illness or accident, (ii) he or she is in duly recorded involuntary unemployment after having been employed for more than one year and has registered as a job-seeker with a relevant office of the Department of Social Protection, (iii) subject to subparagraph ( d ), he or she is in duly recorded involuntary unemployment after completing a fixed-term employment contract of less than a year, or after having become involuntarily unemployed during the first year, and has registered as a job-seeker with a relevant office of the Department of Social Protection, or (iv) he or she takes up vocational training and, unless he or she is involuntarily unemployed, the training relates to his or her previous employment.

shall be deemed to apply to the person concerned for 6 months after the cessation of the employment concerned only, unless the person enters into employment or self-employment within that period.

In general, citizens of countries in the single market do not need a visa or other special permission to come to or stay in Ireland.

4. (1) A Union citizen who is in possession of a valid national identity card or passport as evidence of his or her nationality and identity may not be refused permission to enter the State unless he or she— ( a ) is suffering from a disease specified in Schedule 1, or ( b ) represents a danger for public policy or public security by reason of the fact that his or her personal conduct represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society.

Qualifying family members may be: The spouse or civil partner of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen Direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s spouse or civil partner. These include children or grandchildren up to 21 years of age Dependent direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or dependent direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s spouse or civil partner. These include children or grandchildren aged 21 years or more Dependent direct relatives in the ascending line of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or the EU, EEA, Swiss Citizen’s spouse or civil partner.

is in employment or in self-employment in the State, (ii) has sufficient resources for himself or herself and his or her family members not to become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the State, and has comprehensive sickness insurance in respect of himself or herself and his or her family members, (iii) is enrolled in an educational establishment accredited or financed by the State for the principal purpose of following a course of study there and has comprehensive sickness insurance in respect of himself or herself and his or her family members and, by means of a declaration or otherwise, satisfies the Minister that he or she has sufficient resources for himself or herself and his or her family members not to become an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the State, or (iv) subject to paragraph (4), is a family member of a Union citizen who satisfies one or more of the conditions referred to in clause (i), (ii) or (iii). ( b ) Subject to paragraph (4), a family member who is not a national of a Member State may reside in the State for a period longer than three months

17. (1) Subject to this Regulation, a person who is residing in the State in accordance with these Regulations shall be entitled— ( a ) to the same rights of travel in or to or from the State as those to which Irish citizens are entitled, ( b ) to carry on any business, trade or profession and to have access to education and training in the State in the like manner and to the like extent in all respects as Irish citizens, and

a Union citizen who has resided in the State in conformity with these Regulations for a continuous period of 5 years

(5) The following shall be considered as periods in employment or self-employment for the purposes of this Regulation: ( a ) periods in involuntary unemployment which are duly recorded; ( b ) periods of absence from or cessation of employment or self-employment for reasons not of the person’s own making; ( c ) periods of absence from or cessation of employment or self-employment due to illness or accident.

(5) For the purposes of these Regulations, continuity of residence in the State shall not be affected by— ( a ) temporary absences not exceeding 6 months in a 12 month period, ( b ) absences of a longer duration for compulsory military service, ( c ) one absence of a maximum of 12 consecutive months for important reasons such as pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training, or a posting in a Member State or a third country.

(6) Without prejudice to Regulations 20 to 23, where a person has acquired the right to remain permanently in the State pursuant to these Regulations, that right shall cease to exist only where the person concerned has been absent from the State for a period exceeding 2 consecutive years.

The Permanent Residence Certificate is valid for ten years