Immigration Law in Ireland

Leading Irish Law Firm in Immigration law with Offices in Dublin & Cork

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Immigration law in Ireland is challenging. There are many types of visas and different ways of making an application. You may be coming to Ireland as a student, an employee, or the spouse of a visa holder, but do you know which visa you need?

Sinnott Immigration Solicitors are experts in Irish immigration law, with years of experience in obtaining visas, Irish residency, citizenship applications, and immigration appeals.

If you are looking for an immigration lawyer in Dublin or have a question for an immigration lawyer in Cork, then Sinnott Solicitors has the experts for you.

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Our legal expertise with immigration in Ireland

Our legal expertise in immigration in Ireland ranges from visa applications to asylum law to Irish citizenship applications.

Solicitors in our offices work at all levels, from dealing with officials at the Department of Justice and Migration and on to working with the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Ireland.

Sinnott Immigration Solicitors has also litigated cases before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights.

Our immigration lawyers in Dublin and Cork deal with the following applications:

Sinnott Solicitors is an immigration law firm specialising in obtaining Irish citizenship.

Clients at our offices in Cork and Dublin come to us with Irish citizenship applications through Nauralisation by virtue of living in Ireland for a number of years or Citizenship through their ancestors such as having an Irish grandparent. We also deal with Citizenship applications for minors.

Sinnott immigration lawyers can get you through the very complex rules and laws around international protection or asylum in Ireland.

We work with you when submitting your application to an International Protection Office and on any appeals to the International Protection Applications Tribunal and the Minister for Justice and Equality.

Applications for an Irish Passport can be tricky, but our immigration lawyers can guide you through the process and along the best route to getting an Irish passport.

There are many options when applying for an Irish Passport, and Sinnott immigration solicitors can identify the right one for you.

Employment permits are a complex area, but you must have a work permit to be employed in Ireland.

A Sinnott immigration lawyer can assist with getting Critical Skills Employment Permits, General Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Permits, and the Atypical Workers Scheme, among other permits for working in Ireland.

Family reunification is an important part of any immigration solicitor’s work at Sinnott Solicitors. There are many types of circumstances where an applicant wishes to reunite with their families such as a migrant worker family reunification visa and getting your family the right one is part of our job.

Sinnott immigration lawyers in Dublin and Cork have reunited many families over the years, and we can do so for your family too.

Spouse visas can be applied for if an applicant’s husband or wife is an Irish citizen, an EU national, or resident in Ireland on a valid immigration permission.

Immigration law in Ireland around spouse visas requires expert assistance, but we can provide that for you.

Making an application for judicial review to the High Court in relation to your immigration application is one step towards getting your Immigration status back on track.

The experienced immigration solicitors at Sinnott can take on this complex process to represent an applicant in Judicial Review proceedings by bringing your case to the High Court and, if the circumstances warrant it, to the higher courts.

Non-EEA nationals who are dependents of UK citizens need the skills of an immigration law firm when applying for residency in Ireland.

UK citizens do not have an automatic right for Non-EEA nationals to reside with them in Ireland, and must go through the correct process to obtain the appropriate visa.

EU Treaty Rights guarantee free movement and the right to live and work in Ireland for all EU citizens, but there may be issues with Non-EEA nationals and Non-EU dependent children.

Sinnott Solicitors have the experience to clarify what is required and how to resolve any problems regarding residency under EU Treaty Rights.

Visa applications can throw up many issues, such as who needs one and why you may need one to visit Ireland. Workers, spouses, and their children often fall foul of visa laws when coming to Ireland.

Having the right visa, applying for it in time and turning a visa into a residency application are all part of our immigration law experience, and we can put it to work for you.

Making your immigration status good and allowing you to stay in Ireland as a documented migrant are part of an immigration solicitor’s work. The process can be difficult and take time, but we’ll be there with you.

We can help you put your undocumented migrant application together, including gathering your history since coming to Ireland and completing all forms in full.

A Stamp 0 Visa is one granted to those who can support themselves while staying in Ireland, but you cannot apply for a visa if you are in the State illegally. Many American citizens are currently applying for Stamp 0 visas as a means of retiring in Ireland.

Elderly dependent relatives, those of independent means and visiting academics, researchers and retirees are typical Stamp 0 visa applicants.

Stamp 4 is the most sought-after immigration stamp in Irish immigration law, as it allows the holder to stay in Ireland almost indefinitely, once you stay within the law.

If you can obtain a Stamp 4 permission to remain, you are allowed to stay in Ireland up to a certain date, to work, start a business, be self-employed and study.

You can apply to renew a Stamp 4 permission, provided you followed all the rules during your time.

The Start-up Entrepreneur Scheme allows you to reside in Ireland on a full-time basis and to open up an innovative business. There are many rules around the scheme, but Sinnott Solicitors has years of experience handling successful applications.

With the correct funding, the right idea, and the right immigration lawyer, you can have a successful start-up working in Ireland.

Victims of domestic violence, whose residency in Ireland is dependent on the perpetrator of the violence, can apply for what is known as Independent Residence Permission.

Sinnott immigration solicitors have worked with many domestic violence victims and helped them get the Independent Residence Permission so they can remain in Ireland.

It is not unusual for someone to make a Change of Immigration Status application, as people’s circumstances change all the time.

Our immigration law solicitors can help change the status of your immigration visa after a divorce, a marriage, or when other developments in your life require changes to your Stamp 1, Stamp 2, Stamp 3, or Stamp 4 visa status.

Many churches and religious organisations have used our services in the past to obtain a Minister of Religion’s permission for one of their members to come to work in Ireland.

Sinnott immigration lawyers in Dublin and Cork can advise the applicant on preclearance approval letters for Non-EEA nationals coming to Ireland and on completing the visa process.

Other immigration permissions are possible under Irish immigration law. You can apply for Long Term Residency Permission if you have been legally resident for five years or more, to possibly get a Stamp 4 visa.

Residents who have been legally in Ireland for eight years or more can apply for a Without Condition as to Time visa, which gives them a Stamp 5 allowing them to stay in Ireland and work without the need for a permit.

Sinnott Solicitors have immigration lawyers working in their Dublin and Cork offices who can help with all work permit, visa, and citizenship applications, and are only too happy to advise you today.

Other Immigration Permissions

Other immigration permissions are possible under Irish immigration law. You can apply for Long Term Residency Permission if you have been legally resident for five years or more, to possibly get a Stamp 4 visa.

Residents who have been legally in Ireland for eight years or more can apply for a Without Condition as to Time visa, which gives them a Stamp 5 allowing them to stay in Ireland and work without the need for a permit.

Sinnott Solicitors have immigration lawyers working in their Dublin and Cork offices who can help with all work permit, visa, and citizenship applications, and are only too happy to advise you today.

Learn more about immigration law in Ireland

At Sinnott Solicitors, we want you to know as much as possible about current immigration law in Ireland, any recent changes to legislation and what you can do when looking to come to Ireland as a worker, a spouse, or to study.

In our Practice Area section, we have plenty of articles on Irish Immigration Laws, such as:

  • Family Reunification
  • Spouse Visas
  • Surinder Singh Route
  • EU Treaty Rights
  • International Protection / Asylum
  • Direct Provision

Reading these articles can help you focus on what is needed and how you can work with one of our immigration lawyers in our Dublin and Cork offices.

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Sinnott Solicitors are located in Dublin & Cork

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Why choose Sinnott Solicitors as your Irish immigration lawyers?

People choose Sinnott Solicitors as their Irish immigration lawyers because of our experience, expertise, and success rate in all areas of immigration law.

Sinnott has years of experience in immigration law, and by bringing cases before the Irish courts, we have changed some rules in favour of our immigration clients.

At Sinnott Solicitors, we pride ourselves on our high levels of communication with clients, the excellent quality of our lawyers and in maintaining our strict code of ethics, always.

Contact Sinnott immigration solicitors in Dublin and Cork today and get started with an immigration lawyer you can trust.

Immigration Law Ireland FAQs

An immigration solicitor can help with your application in Ireland by using all of their experience and knowledge of immigration law to get it right from day one.

A good immigration lawyer will know what visa to apply for, what paperwork is needed and will fully prepare you for the application process without any hitches.

You do not need a solicitor for an Irish immigration application, but the majority of successful immigration applications have a solicitor behind it.

Not only will an Irish immigration solicitor know all the ins and outs of making an application, but they may also know the departments involved and how best to approach a particular application.

You may need a solicitor to get an immigration application moving and moving in the right direction for you.

The Irish immigration process can take as long as 12 weeks for an employment permit and up to 12 months an beyond for family visas and other complicated applications.

Applications can be delayed during periods of high activity or around public holidays in Ireland or for no good reason at all. Excessive delays by various State Departments in dealing with applications is not acceptable or lawful. Sinnott Solicitors have brought many successful applications before the High Court on the basis of excessive delay on the part of the State i in order to force the relevant State Department to issue decisions for our clients.

Incomplete paperwork, missing additional documents and even forgetting to sign an application can all add to the time taken to process your immigration application.

Appeals and court proceedings can add months, and even years, to the immigration timeline.

There are many documents required for an Irish immigration application, such as a current passport or a letter of acceptance to study at a given educational institution.

Types of typical documents you would need for an Irish immigration application:

  • The correct application form for the visa required
  • Completed preclearance application if required
  • Your current passport
  • Proof of current address
  • Existing letter of approval, if you are reapplying
  • A letter from the Minister of Justice granting you permission to work
  • A formal letter from an employer confirming proof of employment
  • Private Medical Insurance or Travel Insurance, in some cases
  • Permission from the Dept of Foreign Affairs for a working holiday
  • Marriage Certificate and a Birth Certificate for some visas
  • Marriage Certificates, Birth Certificates and Death Certificates for Citizenship by ancestry applications
  • Proof that you can support yourself financially 
  • Proof that you have paid all academic fees

An immigration solicitor can identify all documents needed for your immigration application.

Your application could be rejected without the correct paperwork, so ask your solicitor well in advance of submitting the application.

A legally resident student can stay in Ireland up to 12 months after graduation, but only on certain conditions.

You must be actively seeking graduate-level employment and apply for a general employment permit, a critical skills employment certificate, or a research hosting agreement.

Sinnott Immigration Solicitors in Dublin and Cork can help with all your immigration questions.