Canada to Ireland Immigration Lawyer: Help with Moving to moving to Ireland from Canada

Ireland is consistently one of the more popular countries in the EU for people to immigrate to, with it having welcomed around 141,000 migrants in the year ending April 2023. 

For Canadian citizens, Ireland can be an attractive destination to visit; its proximity to the rest of Europe and the EU means ample travel opportunities outside of the country, as well as a welcoming and friendly society in the country itself. 

Moving to a new country is not a process to be taken lightly however, which is why we highly encourage you to seek the help of an immigration professional to help advise on how to best go about it. 

This includes expert advice on how to navigate Ireland’s immigration system, as well as tailored advice for Canadians specifically looking to move to Ireland. 

Start your journey today. Call Total Law’s lawyers on +1 844 290 6312 to get immediate help with your situation, or reach out to us online. 

Hiring an immigration solicitor for your move to Ireland can have numerous benefits over trying to manage the process yourself.  

This can include the following: 

• Benefitting from expert, insider knowledge form legal professionals who work exclusively in Irish immigration law 
• Friendly, supportive and practical advice on how to optimise the immigration process and prevent any issues from occurring 
• Additional advice for your family members on how they can also move to, and work in, Ireland 
• Comprehensive follow-up support, including logistical support for the move itself and further information on what to do after the move and how to navigate life in Ireland 

Total Law’s immigration advisers are here to help if you’re a Canadian looking to move to Ireland or anywhere else in the world. Reach out to us on +1 844 290 6312 or contact us online for help with your case today. 

If you plan on migrating to Ireland, studying is a very common immigration route used by many.

To study in Ireland for a course that lasts more than three months, you must meet the eligibility requirements.

You must have been enrolled in and paid the required fee for a full-time course on the official interim list of eligible programs, which includes Ph.D. Students, higher national diplomas, postgraduates, undergraduates, and English language students.

There are certain documents you need to submit to support your visa application process. These key documents include:

• A written document outlining your reasons and intentions for moving to Ireland
• Extensive details of your sponsor and any other family members in the State
• Details of any other family members within the EU
• A copy of your sponsor’s Irish citizenship, passport, and residency (or proof of settlement and residency rights such as an Employment Permit)
• Documented proof that the relationship with your family member is pre-existing, which varies depending on whether you are applying as a spouse, de facto partner, child, or adult dependent (otherwise known as the ‘genuine relationship test’)
• Copies of bank statements within the past six months from the applicant and the sponsor. The proof must demonstrate how much income the applicant and/or sponsor will earn or is already earning while in the State.

Ireland has developed into a popular center for religious activity and has been home to numerous religious communities. If you can meet the Minister of Religion Visa requirements, the State is always willing to accept you into its rank.

You must already be qualified, ordained, or a professional religious person to qualify and join a faith community or a religious body in Ireland. Under the Long Stay “D” Category, you may be allowed to stay in Ireland for up to 3 years, but not less than three months.

With a Minister of Religion Visa, you are allowed to conduct spatial worship and/or ceremonies, provide pastoral care via preaching, conduct religious classes and teachings, including supervising prayer meetings, provide spiritual leadership, conduct pastoral visitation, and provide administrative support to a religious institution, order or church, be a member of a religious community whose members take public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

You must be older than 18 years and must have three years of prior experience in the position in addition to being sponsored by an appropriate religious organization or faith community to come and work in Ireland. A Garda Sochána (the Republic of Ireland’s police force) will subject you to further screening to work with children and other vulnerable persons.

There are certain requirements you need to meet to be eligible for a minister of religion visa; they are:

• A letter from your sponsor stating details of your job role
• A full-color copy of your current passport and all previous passports
• Proof that the sponsoring organization within Ireland financially supports you
• Your bank statements over the last six months
• Audited accounts of the sponsor over the last six months
• Evidence of educational qualifications
• Evidence of at least three years of experience as a Minister of Religion
• Police Clearance Certificate
• Evidence of medical/travel insurance for you and any permitted family members
• Details regarding previous visa refusals or deportations, if applicable.

A long-stay volunteer visa allows you to volunteer in Ireland for more than three months and up to 2 years with an eligible organization. With the long stay volunteer visa, you can work under any of the following sectors:

• Arts, heritage, and culture
• Youth services
• Religious and faith services
• Health support services
• Sport and physical recreation
• Welfare and work for the community

A non-governmental organization or a not-for-profit charitable organization listed on the Charities Regulator’s Public Register of Charities can sponsor your volunteer work. You can also receive an invitation from a Sporting Ireland-approved sports organization.

There are supporting documents you need to submit to be eligible for this visa. They include:

• Sponsorship letter from the Irish organization sponsoring you
• Current international passport and all other previous passports
• Online application form
• Signed declaration
• Two passport-size photographs
• Evidence of fees payment
• Your full bank statement for the past six months
• Your sponsor’s bank statement for the past six months
• Documents to prove that you have the qualifications to fill the volunteering role.
• Police clearance certificate from your resident country that’s not more than three months old. Also, you can provide a clearance certificate from any other country you’ve resided in for the last three years.
• Documents to prove that you’re qualified to work with children and vulnerable adults if your work requires them.
• Proof of medical and travel insurance
• Documentations of previous visa refusals or deportation history, if any.

An employment visa allows a foreign national to travel and work in Ireland. As a foreign national seeking to work in Ireland, obtaining a work visa can be complicated and demanding. First, you may need an employment permit.

The Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation must issue you an employment permit if you are a foreign national and want to work in Ireland (DJEI). Under this route, you can apply for permits, depending on your job status. These permits are:

• The General Employment Permit
• The Critical Skills Employment Permit
• The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
• Reactivation Employment Permit
• Contract for Services and Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
• Internship Employment Permit
• Sports and Cultural Employment Permit

There are eligibility criteria you must meet to be eligible for the employment visa. The general requirements to be successful for this visa means you will have to submit:

• Evidence of your employment contract
• A recent bank statement detailing the last six months
• Two color recent passport-sized photographs
• Your current valid passport and a full copy of all previous passports
• A signed letter of application including your personal and contact details
• Your Employment Permit as granted by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation
• A letter from your employer in Ireland detailing the job you will undertake, the salary you are due to be paid, and whether they will be providing accommodation for you
• Evidence of your qualifications and previous work experience
• Evidence of medical/travel insurance
• Details of any previous visa refusals
• Recent statements from the last six months with evidence of sufficient funds to cover your costs.

However, this visa is often considered one of the trickiest and most complex routes to enter Ireland. It is important that you avoid spelling mistake information and follow the guidelines strictly for a successful visa application.

It is hoped that the format and content of the ideas provided here about moving to and living in Ireland will be helpful to research moves to Northern Ireland and other destinations, as well.

Total Law’s excellent immigration lawyers are vastly experienced in dealing with migration from Canada to Ireland application process and provide travel advice and support to make your application process smooth.

Our professional immigration lawyers will help you determine that you meet the eligibility criteria and will advise you on which supporting documentation you should have when moving to a foreign country. In addition, years of experience with this process have made us aware of the common mistakes that applicant make that causes application refusal. Therefore, we will help you avoid these errors to ensure that your application is consistent and readily accepted.

If you’ve had a previous refusal, Total Law can help you file an appeal or walk you through the re-application process to ensure you get accepted. So contact us today at +1 844 290 6312 to start your journey.