Hosting Agreement Scheme for Researchers
Launched in November 2007 the Hosting Agreement Scheme enables approved research active organisations to recruit researchers from outside the European Economic Area to carry out research in Ireland without the need for a Green Card or Work Permit.
This mechanism facilitates researchers and their immediate family for the duration of their contract making Ireland much more attractive than many other European countries.
The EURAXESS Ireland Office based at the IUA is delighted with the number of processed agreements over 4 years into the scheme.
- 1410 hosting agreements processed to date
- 33 research institutions accredited including 8 industrial organisations
- Researchers represent 75 different non EU nationalities
Top 3 Countries of Origin are India; 275 (19%), China; 259 (18%) and America; 157 (11%)
Number of Live Hosting Agreements per institution (April 2012)
UCD – 98, UCC – 78, TCD – 77, NUIG – 71, DCU – 58, UL – 19, NUIM – 19, IBM-13
Under the Hosting Agreement Scheme, contract researchers can undertake employment in an accredited research organization (universities, Institutes of technology and accredited research active organisations including industrial companies) without requiring a Green Card or Work Permit. Permission to avail of this scheme is linked to the accredited organization as with other work permits, and to carry out a specific research role. Funding for that role must come from a recognised national/international public funding agency.
Hosting Agreements are only processed for researchers who receive a contract of employment with the host organisation and contracts must be for a minimum of 3 months. Each hosting agreement issued by an accredited institution has to be accompanied by a relevant employment contract, signed by both a researcher and the research organisation and posted to IUA for processing.
Researchers must be earning a minimum of €25,000 per annum, without dependents, and earning €30,000, with dependents accompanying them in Ireland to qualify for the scheme. Similar to a work permit, the hosting agreement is only valid for the duration of employment. The hosting agreement is non-transferable between employers. However, if the researcher finds employment with another research active accredited association, another Hosting Agreement will be issued by that Host Institution.
Hosting agreements are submitted by the nominated department (generally HR Department) for processing and validation to the Euraxess Ireland office in the Irish Universities Association (IUA) who in turn ensures that the immigration authorities are notified on hosting agreements entered into. This enables visa applications where applicable, entry into the State and immigration registration for researchers and their families into Ireland. Researchers who are citizens of certain countries require a visa for entry to Ireland. Citizens of such countries must successfully apply for a visa to enter Ireland before they travel here. Visa applications for researchers and their dependents are made at the Irish Embassy/Consulate in their country and apply for their entry
Successful visa applicants in possession of a valid hosting agreement can apply for multi-entry visas when they register in Ireland.
On arrival to Ireland, non EEA researchers must register with their local immigration registration officer. An immigration certificate of registration (GNIB Registration Card) is issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau to a non-EEA national who registers. A fee of €150 is charged in respect of each immigration certificate of registration (residence permit) issued to a non-EEA national. Those on contracts for 18 months or less will be granted a GNIB card for that total duration of Hosting Agreement, which is normally renewable after 12 months, subject to immigration rules. This scheme is applicable to non EEA researchers who are currently on/ previously had work permits.
Researchers who have worked on Hosting Agreements for at least 2 years can now apply for immigration stamp 4.
The Scheme was extended to include non EEA academics who are significantly engaged in research with effect from July 2011.
Information on immigration arrangements for Hosting Agreement holders and their dependants can be found on INIS website: http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Researchers
There is no fee for accreditation of organisations or administration of hosting agreements in Ireland.
These arrangements have been drawn up in consultation with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Irish Universities Association.
MORE INFORMATION
Information on the accreditation process for organisations can be accessed at the Department Enterprise, Trade & Employment
Website: www.entemp.ie/science/technology/accreditation
The IUA EURAXESS Office and portal, euraxess.ie, provides practical advice and assistance to researchers and their families wishing to move to Ireland or move abroad to continue a career in research.
For detailed information and application procedures for the scheme, or if you have any queries relating to the services provided by the IUA EURAXESS Ireland Office, please email mobility@iua.ie or visit the hosting agreement page on Euraxess.ie
Alternatively you can contact Jennifer Cleary or Magda Wislocka directly at + 353 1 676 4948
