Irish non-EEA crew to transition to permit system
11th January 2023
A statement from the Irish Department of Justice has set out the next steps in the transition to a new visa system for non-EEA crew working on Irish vessels, following the closure of the widely criticised Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) on 31 December (Fishing News, 20 October, ‘New employment permit system for Irish crew’).
The department confirmed that the AWS is now closed to new applications, and that responsibility for work permissions in the sector will be transferred to the employment permit system, pending the submission by the sector of a comprehensive business case to support this move.
The department said: “In order to provide certainty and security to employers and employees in the sector during the ongoing transitional period, Immigration Services can confirm that all holders of a current valid permission to work as a non-EEA crew member in the Irish fishing fleet expiring on or after 1 January, 2023 will be granted a Stamp 4 immigration permission on an exceptional basis.
“The granting of a Stamp 4 immigration permission is applicable to any individual non-EEA crew member in the Irish fishing fleet who currently holds a valid IRP card expiring on or after 1 January, 2023, on the basis of a permission granted to work as non-EEA fishing crew under the scheme, or to any individual holding a letter of permission under the scheme issued on or after 3 October, 2022 for the same purpose.”
Qualifying crew members are advised to make an appointment as soon as possible at their local Garda National Immigration Bureau office so that a Stamp 4 immigration permission can be awarded and an updated IRP card issued. When attending this appointment, they should present their current in-date passport, their most recent valid in-date letter of permission under the scheme and their current IRP card (if applicable).
The statement adds: “Please note that any non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet whose AWS permission expired on or before the 31 December, 2022 and who have not renewed their permission will not benefit from this notice and the granting of a Stamp 4 immigration permission.”
