What is the change?

It has been announced, that from 8 March 2022, doctors who have been working in Ireland for more than 2 years will immediately be able to access a Stamp 4 permit and spousal work rights.

Implementation time frame:

• The change is to take effect from 8 March 2022.

Who is affected:

• Non-EEA national doctors employed in Ireland on a General Employment Permit
  

Key points:

The changes will give most doctors with General Employment Permits the same rights as doctors on the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme.

From now on, most non-EEA doctors already in the State for between 2-5 years with a General Employment Permit may apply for a new permission granting them the right to work without a permit. Their spouses or partners will also receive a permission allowing them to work. Currently these doctors must have been present and working in the State for 5 years to qualify.

Prior to December 2021, all General Employment Permit holders, including doctors, had to complete 5 years’ residence and work before becoming eligible for a Stamp 4, which offers the right to work without preconditions.

A) New Stamp 1H for Doctors

The Department of Justice is now creating a new stamp category called Stamp 1H for doctors in HSE and HSE funded agencies (i.e. the Section 38s/voluntary hospitals) and private hospitals. This includes those who have recently received a 2 year multi-site General Employment Permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Spouses of these doctors who currently have a stamp that does not allow them to engage in employment will be able to apply for a Stamp 1G as part of this new system, which will give them unlimited work rights.

Doctors who complete two years’ service under Stamp 1H will then become eligible for a Stamp 4 support letter from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. A Stamp 4 offers the right to work without preconditions.

For doctors in HSE and HSE funded agencies (i.e. the Section 38s/voluntary hospitals) and private hospitals on a General Employment Permit, but not a 2 year multi-site General Employment Permit, arrangements will be made to allow them to transition to a Stamp 1H in the coming months.

B) The Stamp 4 waiting period is reduced to 2 years, from 5 year, for doctors who already have over 24 months’ service in Ireland

Doctors in HSE and HSE funded agencies (i.e. the Section 38s/voluntary hospitals) and private hospitals who had already completed 24 months’ service in Ireland will be entitled to apply for a Stamp 4 support letter from The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. It is estimated that up to 1,800 doctors are in this cohort. Their spouses will become eligible for Stamp 1G, allowing labour market access once the Stamp 4 is granted to the doctor.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment will soon open an application process, available until the end of April only, for these doctors to apply for a Stamp 4 support letter. Once assessed the information will be electronically shared with the Department of Justice who will then issue the Stamp 4, with a target date of completion by end May.

Analysis & Comments:

Deloitte welcomes the change to the immigration permissions for non-EEA national doctors in Ireland. It will mean that Ireland will become a more appealing country for doctors to relocate to and work in. We are hopeful that the changes will reduce the burden of heavy workloads on existing healthcare staff. More doctors will have greater immigration rights from the beginning of their employment permit in Ireland and will have more benefits.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Deloitte immigration team if you have any queries and we will be happy to assist.