Working in Ireland - South Africa

[jjloubser]

My wife & I have for some time wanted to come and live in Ireland, but the new changes to the immigration/working laws frighten the living daylights out of me. My neighbor in South Africa recently moved to SA from Sligo & is encouraging me to "just give it a go" - My wife & I do not qualify via the Green card system, as we specialise in call centre management & would therefore have to go via the working permit route. Another snag is that we do not belong to the EU so I believe that there are things like FAS & advertising thru the EU, before an application for my work permit can be put thru. What is FAS & how long does the job need to be advertised in the EU? I just have this feeling that potential employers might see this as a major hinderance & would rather just get someone regional, altghough there is soooo much work within the call centre industry.

[victor8600]

... What is FAS & how long does the job need to be advertised in the EU? I just have this feeling that potential employers might see this as a major hinderance...

[url=http://www.fas.ie/]FÃ

[joesoap101]

You have a better chance in the UK because they have a much larger call centre industry (despite most of them relocating to India).

It has become much more difficult to obtain work permits in Ireland. If you have a large number of years of experience you could go the green card route. Managerial positions often pay in excess of EUR60,000 per year allowing you to use the green card route as an employment permit.

I believe the job has to be on the FAS database for 2 weeks before a work permit application can be started.

1400 new employment permits have been issued to South Africans in the last 2 years (excluding renewals which number around 1800), one of the highest of all nationalities so you have a chance.

The processing of employment permits have improved hugely, probably the only improvement in government services in the last decade.

* Green Cards 19th May 2008
* Work Permits 21st May 2008
* Medical Professionals 08th May 2008
* Spousal/Dependant 07th May 2008
* Intra-company Transfer 20th May 2008

All the information is available here
http://www.entemp.ie/labour/workpermits/

[jjloubser]

Hi Guys

Thank you very much for your asisstance, it is sooo great to get an opinion from someone there.

We might actually decide to go on holiday for a month or two and stay with our friends in Sligo. We can then apply & see where we get. If nothing comes from it, we would at least have had a great holiday with friends.

Thanks again guys - really appreciate you taking the time to chat.