For Employers - Universities, other HEI institutions or Enterprises in Ireland

• Accredited research organisations must ensure that the researcher has sufficient monthly resources to meet their expenses, without having to draw from the national social assistance system. The minimum salary is €30,000 for a researcher with dependants and €23,181 for a researcher without accompanying dependants in Ireland.
• A contract of employment issued by the accredited institution for a research position must be in place for a minimum duration of 3 months.

• Contact EURAXESS Ireland to obtain access to the online processing system for Hosting Agreements.
• Provide details of a contact person (s) dealing with Hosting Agreements at your institution as well as details of a secretary authorised to sign the agreements and send to Magda Wislocka email: magda@iua.ie 
• Complete the Fast Track Work Permit for R&D (Hosting Agreement) using the online processing system.
• Forward an original copy of the Hosting Agreement, generated through the processing online system to the researcher.
• Contact Magda Wislocka: Email: magda@iua.ie Tel: 00-353-1-7996030 with any queries regarding the process.

• Family members (spouses and children) may accompany or join a researcher in Ireland subject to normal immigration rules. Those who do not require a visa will not encounter the Irish immigration system until they arrive in Ireland.
• Family members must have a copy of the researcher’s Hosting Agreement if they are not accompanied by the researcher themselves. Dependants may only remain in Ireland for the duration of the Hosting Agreement.
• Spouses and eligible dependants of Hosting Agreement holders can work in Ireland freely, and are exempt from a need of any work permit.

• Researchers who require an Irish visa must apply for a long term visa for Scientific Researchers before they enter Ireland. Those who do not require a visa will not encounter the Irish immigration system until they arrive in Ireland.
• The researcher must bring their original Hosting Agreement with them and be ready to show this to an immigration officer on arrival.
• The researcher will then be required to register with their local registration office in order to receive a GNIB registration card.
• Hosting Agreements are no longer required after two years on the scheme and researchers can then apply for a Stamp 4 immigration status, which enables researchers to move between sectors and employers without the need for any working permission.
• Check the entry conditions details here

• Those who are hosting foreign visitors to Ireland for research or academic purposes (paid or unpaid) for less than 14 days do not need to organise any work permissions. However, they should check whether or not their visitor requires a visa.
• If a foreign visitor is participating in private, funded or unfunded research, a sabbatical or an academic visit at an Irish institution for a period up to 90 days (or more under certain conditions), and if they do not qualify for a work permit and Hosting Agreement, they may be eligible for the Atypical Working Scheme.

A visa allows you to travel to Ireland during the dates shown on the visa document - an endorsement  on a blank page of your passport or travel document. It does not guarantee that you will be allowed into Ireland. An immigration officer at the port of entry will examine your visa, passport and other documents. The officer can refuse you entry to Ireland even if you have a visa.

In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The DJEI’s Employment Permits Section administers the Employment Permits system. The EEA comprises the Member States of the European Union together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. More details on who needs an employment permit.

A Fast Track Work Permit for R&D (through Hosting Agreement) facilitates the admission of a  third country researcher into Ireland for the purpose of carrying out research. As the scheme negates the need for a Work Permit it facilitates the swift and efficient recruitment of researchers employed by accredited institutions in Ireland.

A Hosting Agreement applies to academic research staff only (it does not cover technical or administrative staff). The typical positions it would be applicable for are: Research Assistant; Postdoctoral Researcher; Research Fellow; and Senior Research Fellow, Lecturer & Assistant Lecturer (with a research element in contract), Professor & Assistant Professor. There is a minimum salary threshold for applications of €23,181 for a single person, and €30,000 for a person with dependents.

Note: Please contact Euraxess Ireland if you have any doubts or questions. We are happy to advice regarding your individual applications.  

Although the timeframe for the approval of the application is swift, taking approximately two weeks, host organisations should be aware that other factors can significantly lengthen the application process. These factors would include funding approval confirmation, staff request approval and contract issue, entry visa requirements and international post. Bearing this in mind all new Hosting Agreement applications should be prepared at least 8 weeks in advance of the proposed start or renewal date.

Yes, if conditions of the researcher’s contract change in terms of ending date, a new agreement showing new employment dates must be issued to the researcher. A copy of the agreement with a copy of the new employment contract must be forwarded to the EURAXESS Ireland office for processing as soon as possible.

If personal details of a researcher change the Hosting Agreement should be amended to reflect the change. The employer should update the hosting agreement using the web-based processing system, and issue a new Hosting Agreement original to the researcher.

Note that the old version of the agreement will be no longer valid.

Please issue a new agreement with details of new dependants inserted into Section 2 of the form editing the latest version of the agreement in the web-based processing system. Make sure the researcher receives his/her new original copy. Do not post or forward any hardcopies or soft copies of the agreements to EURAXESS/IUA.

The Hosting Agreement will automatically lapse when the researcher is not admitted or when the contract of employment between the researcher and your organisation is terminated.

Please promptly inform Magda at EURAXESS Ireland of any cancellations by submitting a cancellation request via the online processing system. The researcher should return his/her original copy of the agreement to you. 

There is currently no application fee required for a Fast Track Work Permit for R&D.

The key provisions and benefits of the Hosting Agreement Scheme are as follows:

• Linked to the contract of employment offered by the relevant employer
• Allows for immediate family reunification, i.e., a researcher can bring his/her family to Ireland from the start of his/her employment
• Spouses and de facto partners of Hosting Agreement holders can work in Ireland without any work permit
• Application process is swift (excluding VISA application process)
• After two years an individual can apply for long term residency/ GNIB card Stamp 4 
• No application fee involved.

Yes. A reckonable time spent on the HAS along with time on a CSEP will be included to calculate an employee’s time for a Stamp 4 Support Letter issued by DETE.

Generally, DETE will ask for a letter form the employer stating the date the employee started working. A P60 for the last 2 years, three payslips from the previous four months are also required.

In terms of those who had previously worked on a HA, DETE will require the above along with a letter from the Research Organisation stating the date that the researcher actually started working in the organisation.  P60’s will also be required for the time served on the HA.

No. Stamp 4 permission indicates that one can take up employment and are not required to hold an Employment Permit.