In This Section

Introduction
Purpose of scheme
Eligibility
Submit an application

Required documents
If your application is approved
If your application is refused
Contact us

Introduction

The Reactivation Employment Permit scheme is operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

The role of Immigration Service Delivery in this scheme is to grant a permission to remain in Ireland so you can submit your application to DETE for a Reactivation Work Permit. For information on this scheme and to check your eligibility please read below

Purpose of scheme

The purpose of the scheme operated by DETE is to provide to a non-EEA national who holds an employment permit a pathway to re-employment where they have fallen out of employment through no fault of their own, or who has been exploited or poorly treated by their employer.

Please note the information on this page does not apply to EU nationals or to nationals of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway. If you are a national of any of these countries you are not required to apply to this department for permission to remain in Ireland.

Eligibility

You may be eligible for permission under this scheme if:

  • You have held an employment permit to work in the State

  • You are currently in the State and your immigration permission has run out or will run out in the next three months

  • You have fallen out of employment through no fault of your own, have remained in the State

  • You have in the past 6 months held valid immigration permission and an Employment permit issued by the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment

  • You are the holder of a Reactivation Employment Permit and wish to change employer. (You should note that, except in exceptional circumstances, employment permit holders are expected to remain with their initial employer for a period of 12 months before moving to a new job).

You are not eligible under this scheme if:

  • You are subject to a Deportation Order or have been given notification of a proposal to deport you under Section 3 of the Immigration act 1999

  • You are subject to a Removal Order under EU law

  • Entered Ireland as a student or visitor and were never the holder of an Employment Permit

  • Previously had an Employment Permit, but you subsequently left Ireland

  • Previously had an Employment Permit and a Stamp 1 permission but changed your status to another immigration Stamp.

Submit an application

You can submit your APPLICATION FORM with all the required documentation, for a Reactivation Employment Permit Scheme through the dedicated Customer Service portal. You can register for an account or log in to your existing account. Submitting applications via the Customer Service area ensures more efficient and speedy processing.

Select ‘Submit Query’ and choose the correct options from the following categories:
‘Domestic Residence and Permissions>I want to submit an application>Reactivation Employment Permit Scheme’

Please attach your signed and fully completed application form in PDF format

Required documents

In addition to the application form please supply the following documentation:

  • Copy of biodata page of your national passport

  • Copy of entry stamp page of your passport

  • Copies of all work permits held to date

  • Copy of current or expired IRP card

  • Letter from your employer or from DETE explain why you cannot renew your employment permit

If your application is approved

If your application is approved you will be given a temporary Stamp 1 permission to remain in Ireland. If you are given permission to remain under this scheme you must then make an application for a Reactivation Employment Permit with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Further information on that process can be found Reactivation Employment Permit – DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

If your application is refused

If your application under the scheme is refused, depending on your circumstances, we may grant you an alternative permission to allow you to make an application for a General or Critical Skills employment permit to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

If this is not granted, we may inform you that you should leave the State, failing which we may issue you with notification of the intention to deport you under Section 3(6) of the Immigration Act 1999.

Contact us

Queries should be sent through the dedicated Customer Service portal. You can register for an account or log in to your existing account.

This page was last updated on December 18, 2024