The Researcher's Mobility Office of the IUA is playing a vital role in dissemination of information on the Third Country Directive Scheme. The Directive provides for a fast track procedure for admitting Researchers who are non EEA country nationals for at least three months to carry out a defined research project in Ireland. The entry of researchers from non EU countries into Ireland has up to now been administered through a work permit system. The new scheme being established under the Directive puts in place a more researcher-friendly, free of charge and straightforward alternative mechanism for entry to the State for scientists who arrive to the country for research purposes.
Under the new Directive researchers will be admitted to Ireland on the basis of a hosting agreement signed between an accredited research organization and a researcher. The Hosting Agreement is a document containing a researcher's details and a short description of a research project to be conducted by the researcher within the hosting institution. To keep the procedure simple there is no approval process or fee for hosting agreements. Researchers from visa required countries make their visa application on the basis of their hosting agreements. Once a hosting agreement is in place, the researcher will be admitted to the State subject to normal immigration requirements.
All Irish research organisations of both private and public sectors, who wish to avail of a new hosting agreement scheme in order to employ non EU researchers, must first be subject to an accreditation process (administered by the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) confirming that they conduct research.
A big advantage of the hosting agreement scheme is that the Directive supports the protection of the family unity of a researcher going abroad. On the basis of hosting agreements, spouses and children may accompany a researcher on their admission to Ireland.
The Research Mobility Office plays a crucial role in managing the hosting agreement scheme in Ireland. The Department of Justice and immigration authorities receive updates of hosting agreements through our office for verification purposes.
If you wish to know more about the Hosting Agreement or if you require assistance with Work Permits and Visas please contact Magdalena Wislocka via the helpdesk mobility@iua.ie or telephone 01 7996023.
Visit the portal at www.researchcareersireland.com