Non-EEA Doctors - Immigration Arrangements

Immigration Arrangements for non-EEA Doctors recruited to the Public Health Service to commence on 1 November 2012

General

Following a review of immigration registration arrangements in place since June 2010, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive have agreed the following arrangements regarding Employment Permits and Immigration Registration for non-EEA doctors who are recruited to the Irish Public Health Service. These arrangements will be subject to review after 12 months.

 

Observerships

In line with current policy, immigration permission will not be granted to a doctor offered the post of observership in either private or public hospitals.

 

Conditions

  1. No doctor may take up employment in any capacity until he/she is registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.
  2. No doctor may take up employment in any capacity until he/she is registered with the Garda National Immigration Bureau and lawfully holds a Certificate of Registration (GNIB card).
  3. The Employment Permit arrangements where applicable must be complied with.
  4. Doctors employed in the State must ensure that they are tax compliant.
  5. All hospitals should satisfy themselves that the doctor has complied with the above requirements prior to engaging him/her in employment.

Important: Failure to comply with these conditions may result in immigration permission being revoked.

 

Immigration Registration Arrangements

The following arrangements apply as and from 1 November 2012.

Doctors who present to the Garda National Immigration Bureau or their local immigration registration officer on or after 1 November 2012 for first-time registration or renewal may be registered on production of the following documentation:-

(a) a valid passport

(b) a letter of appointment confirming a job/position in the Public Health Service

(c)  original Certificate of Registration from the Medical Council (or where the Certificate of Registration is pending, a print-out from the Medical Council's Register endorsed by the HSE or employing hospital will be accepted).

On registration, Stamp 1 will be given for 2 years. There are 3 exceptions to this -

(i) Trainee Specialist Division - Internship Registration will be given Stamp 1 for 12 months and must hold an employment permit.

(ii) Doctors registered in the Supervised Division of the Medical Council’s Register will be given Stamp 1 for 12 months.

(iii) Doctors who hold Stamp 4 may be renewed on Stamp 4 for 2 years.

 

Employment Permits

Based on the Division of the Medical Council Register the following arrangements apply:

Employment Permit required from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

- Trainee Specialist Division - Internship Registration
- Doctors in General Division (excluding Senior House Officers and Registrars)
- Specialist Division
- All doctors in private hospitals

Employment Permit not required from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

- Other doctors in the Trainee Specialist Division
-  General Division - Non-EEA non-Consultant Hospital Doctors with a job offer as a Senior House Officer or Registrar
- Holders of immigration permission Stamp 4

The onus rests with the HSE/hospital to ensure that Employment Permit requirements are complied with.

 

Locum Doctors

These arrangements do not apply to locum doctors. The existing arrangements continue to apply to this category.

 

Private Hospitals and other Private Practices.

Doctors not working in the Public sector are required to have an Employment Permit.

21 February 2013