A regularisation scheme for undocumented migrants in Ireland opened on 31 January. The scheme was first announced by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in April 2021 and allows undocumented persons to obtain Irish residence and access labour markets. The scheme also creates a legal pathway to citizenship.

The Regularisation of Long-Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme will accept applications for the next 6 months, until 31 July.

Applicants will have to meet certain criteria, including: 

• to have lived in Ireland for 4 years without an immigration permission, or 3 years in the case of those with children;
• to be deemed of good character and conduct;
• to have no adverse criminal record in this state or any other country; however, the Irish Immigration Service notes the each case will be considered on its own merits, with minor not likely to result in the refusal of an application.

Spouses, civil partners or de-facto partners and children of the primary applicant aged 18-23 years are also eligible.

Applications are submitted online. Individuals will be charged € 550, while family applications cost € 700. Successful adult applicants will have to pay another € 300 when registering at their local immigration office. To help with the high costs, some migrant organisations set up fundraising for applicants. Asylum seekers, on the other hand, are exempt from fees.

The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) answers frequently asked questions about the scheme here. The schemes comes after 20 years of campaigning, and it is believed that up to 17 000 undocumented immigrants in Ireland (including up to 3 000 children) could benefit. 

Undocumented migrants spoke to the media expressing joy at this "once-in-a-generation opportunity" that will allow them to be full members of the society, as well as to travel to see their families they were separated from for years at a time.