Atypical working scheme for locum hospital doctors

All applications for permission to undertake locum work under the Atypical Working Scheme, must be made from outside the State

Doctors intending to find work as a locum must state whether they intend to work (i) in the Primary Care Health Sector (General Practice) or (i) in a hospital. Permission granted will cover one of these categories only. Doctors are not permitted to work in both categories

Locum work may not be undertaken in conjunction with an Employment Permit or a business permission/visa

Doctors holding an Employment Permit may not apply under the Atypical Working Scheme to work as a locum doctor unless they have been outside the State for at least 6 months following the expiry or surrender of the Employment Permit. An application under the Atypical Working Scheme must be submitted and approved before the doctor re-enters the State

Doctors must be registered with one Agency only. The responsibility rests on Agencies to ensure compliance with this requirement

Agencies may not register a doctor who holds an Employment Permit on their books

Agencies must possess a valid license from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) allowing them to engage in employment or recruitment work. For more information, see the WRC’s website.

A doctor must be in receipt of an offer of employment from a hospital before an application is submitted

One “block” permission of 6 months will be granted during which time the doctor may undertake work as a locum as required in the Hospital Sector only

Only one “block” 6-month permission will be granted in a 12 month period. On expiry of the 6-month permission the doctor must either leave the State for 6 months (from expiry date of the 6 month permission regardless of how long within that timeframe the doctor was actually present in the State), or apply for an Employment Permit. The Employment Permit must be applied for and received within the 6 month timeframe (Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) Letter of Approval should be included with the Employment Permit application – allow 3 weeks’ application processing time)

On expiry, or surrender, of an Employment Permit a doctor must either apply for a subsequent Employment Permit or, if he or she wishes to undertake work as a locum under the Atypical Working Scheme, leave the State for a minimum of 6 months before submitting a new application under the Atypical Working Scheme and, if approved, returning in that capacity. The Atypical Working Scheme application seeking permission to do so must be made and approved before the doctor re-enters the State. A letter of approval issued under the Atypical Working Scheme will remain valid for 90 days from date of issue. If the letter of approval is not used within 90 days, a new application will be required under this Scheme and a new application fee will also apply.