Minister of Religion Permission

For the purposes of this scheme “Minister of Religion” means a person who is a qualified or ordained member of a religious or faith community already established in the State, who has at least one verifiable years’ previous service as a Minister of Religion postqualification/ordination. A qualified member is a person that has at least two years of relevant structured training evidenced by relevant documentation.

5.1. conducting religious ceremonies, providing pastoral care or spiritual leadership, or conducting classes based on a religious ethos to an established congregation in Ireland. 5.2. providing senior administration support of a substantially full-time nature to a religious institution, order, church, or congregation established in Ireland where the work would not qualify for an employment permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 5.3. being a member of a religious community established in Ireland that takes public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. 5.4. Engaging in an established course of religious studies of one years’ duration administered by an established religious institution in Ireland.

6.1. He/she has been sponsored for the position by a religious body or faith community already established in Ireland and having an active membership and congregation in the State, including serving full-time Ministers of Religion, and 6.2. He/she is a national of a country that is not part of the EEA, United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland. 7. The religious organisation must also have a dedicated premises serving that religious body or faith community. Dedicated Premises means a premises that is set aside for the purpose of religious observation. 8. The annual audited accounts or, in the case of religious organisations that have an annual gross income or expenditure of less than €100,000, the most recent six months bank statements, must also be available as required by the immigration authorities. A sponsor must be a body, it cannot be an individual.

10.1. there is a verifiable need for the Minister of Religion applying under this Scheme, and the nature of the proposed work they will be undertaking must be set out in correspondence This need must be demonstrated by, for example, reference to the size of the congregation in the State, the existing cohort of Ministers in the State as well as any other facts that would be relevant to demonstrating such a need; 10.2. the applicant is suitably qualified to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the position; 10.3. the applicant has a clean police record. Documentary evidence, including a current (not more than 6 months old) criminal records check and police clearance certificate from any country the applicant has resided in the last 5 years - or certified Irish or English language translation of a criminal records check and police clearance certificate, will be required of the applicant; 10.4. child protection policies and procedures in line with the Children First Guidance are in place in the religious body or faith community (supporting documentation should be provided); 10.5. the applicant is cleared to work with children and vulnerable adults. This must be obtained from An Garda Síochána by the sponsor; the preclearance will not be granted until a Garda vetting certificate is received;

The applicant (and his or her immediate family) will be supported through the provision from the sponsor of funds or subsistence and accommodation that are sufficient to maintain the applicant throughout the period of his or her permission to remain in the State, under the Scheme. (Evidence of finance/accommodation, for example, the address where the applicant will reside, bank statements of both parties i.e., the sponsor and applicant or, at a minimum, those of the sponsor, must be provided with the application.) This can be achieved through the provision of a traditional salary, a stipend combined with board and lodgings or a combination of these means. Self-funding for Minister of Religion preclearance applications is not permitted. Financial support from outside the State will not be accepted as part of this Scheme.

engage in any paid work in any capacity (including remotely) while in the State other than in the capacity for which they were originally allowed entry, that is, to exercise their functions as a Minister of Religion;

do additional voluntary work, as long as it does not interfere with the primary purpose for being in the State;

13.3. The minimum permitted period of residence under this Scheme is one (1) year and the maximum is three (3) years. This means that any period up to one year will reckon as a full year for the purposes of the Scheme. You may spend three full consecutive years in Ireland (renewable annually) or break the period into separate lots of one or two years, provided the overall period does not exceed three years. 13.4. In the normal course, as a Minister of Religion you may be eligible for one extension of this three-year period of a further three consecutive years. This application for an extension must be made before the current permission expires. It can only be for service with the then current sponsor and will be considered only if the sponsor can demonstrate a genuine need for the continued service of the Minister of Religion. A non-refundable fee of €50 applies to an application for an extension. 13.5. In exceptional circumstances only, a Minister of Religion may be eligible for an additional extension of three further consecutive years, subject to continuing to meet all the necessary qualifying criteria under this Scheme. This application for an extension must be made before the current permission expires. It can only be for service with the then current sponsor and will be considered only if the sponsor can demonstrate a genuine and exceptional need for the continued service of the Minister of Religion. Exceptional need includes continuing significant duties that are crucial to the ongoing functioning of the religious organisation in the State and evidence of same must be provided. This may include, but is not limited to, positions such as dean, archdeacon, vicar or equivalent positions within the religious organisation. 13.6. Further information is available on the Irish Immigration Service website on access to other routes to long-term residency in the State.

15. If an applicant wishes to make a permitted change of sponsor, please note: a) A change of sponsor (in respect of the initial three years only), is permitted, but only if a separate application is made under the Scheme from outside the State. b) A change of sponsor, if accepted, does not alter the overall maximum period of time for which permission under the Scheme is given. c) A non-refundable fee of €50 applies to an application for change of sponsor.

23. A Certificate of Registration (Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card) will be granted for an initial 12-month period. A Minister of Religion may seek further yearly permission(s) without further reference to this office, by applying for further permission from the Registration authorities (GNIB/Immigration Service as applicable) up to a maximum of three (3) years in total, subject to the person meeting all the necessary qualifying criteria under this procedure.

11.5. Bring immediate family members (dependants) with them, meaning in this case spouse and minor children up to the age of 18. This can be extended to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent. The permission granted to the spouse/partner under this Scheme will be dependent on the continued residence status of the Minister of Religion. In cases where the Minister of Religion permanently leaves the State, the accompanying spouse/partner and dependants, if applicable, must also depart.

11. A Minister of Religion admitted under this scheme may: 11.1. Work for their sponsor in the job described in their application; 11.2. do additional voluntary work, as long as it does not interfere with the primary purpose for being in the State; 11.3. Study as long as it does not interfere with the primary purpose for being in the State; 11.4. Travel abroad for short periods of up to 90 days (e.g. holidays and attending conferences) and return to Ireland, subject to any re-entry visa requirements; 11.5. Bring immediate family members (dependants) with them, meaning in this case spouse and minor children up to the age of 18. This can be extended to a maximum age of 23 where the child is in full time education and remains dependent on the parent. The permission granted to the spouse/partner under this Scheme will be dependent on the continued residence status of the Minister of Religion. In cases where the Minister of Religion permanently leaves the State, the accompanying spouse/partner and dependants, if applicable, must also depart. Restrictions 12. A Minister of Religion admitted under this scheme may not: 12.1. change sponsors while in the State under this Scheme – they must be outside the State to apply to change sponsor; 12.2. engage in any paid work in any capacity (including remotely) while in the State other than in the capacity for which they were originally allowed entry, that is, to exercise their functions as a Minister of Religion; 12.3. claim any State benefits, or rely on public funds for services, including health, or other state supports, for themselves or their dependants; 12.4. bring any other family members, apart from those referred to above, with them; 12.5. apply to change their immigration status while in the State. Other important conditions

13.7. A Minister of Religion may not, having spent a period in the State as a Minister of Religion under this scheme, subsequently avail of the Volunteering in Ireland Programme.

Bring your family with you (spouse/partner and children under 18 only*). The permission granted to the spouse/partner/children under this Programme will be dependent on the continued residence status of the Minister of Religion. In cases where the Minister of Religion leaves the country, the accompanying spouse/partner/children, if applicable, must also depart