Scheme for undocumented migrants to open at end of month

Thousands of undocumented migrants will be able to apply to regularise their status from Monday 31st January.

The scheme, which will run for six months closing on July 31st, is expected to benefit about 20,000 people who have been living in the State without permission for at least four years, or at least three years in the case of those who have children.

People with expired student permissions will also be able to apply while those with pending deportation orders will be eligible provided they have spent the required amount of time in the State without permission.

Successful applicants will have unfettered access to the labour market and can begin on the pathway towards citizenship if they wish.

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Application fees, which many undocumented may find onerous according to advocacy groups, will apply, set at €500 for single applicants and €700 per family application. There will also be a €300 registration fee for successful applicants.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, said she believed the scheme would “improve the lives of thousands of people across the country who contribute to our society, enrich our culture and work in our economy but unfortunately still live in the legal shadows.

"People come to Ireland to make a better life for themselves and their families and they can find themselves undocumented for many reasons."

Further details regarding the qualifying criteria and the required documentation for the scheme are available on the Department's immigration website at: irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme