In 2022, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Health and my Department introduced changes to the working arrangements and immigration permissions for non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHD). These changes were intended to be beneficial to doctors who require such permissions and who have made an enormous contribution to the Irish health service.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced a new “Multi-Site General Employment Permit” for NCHDs working with HSE group hospitals. While these permits issue as General Employment Permits, the immigration conditions attached are the same as Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and are applicable to the applicant and qualifying spouses/family members.
In September 2022, in response to the changes introduced by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my Department created a new Stamp 1H category to be noted on the applicant’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, making candidates eligible for a Stamp 4 where they have been registered for a minimum of 21 months. Prior to this, and while necessary system upgrades were put in place to allow for the issuance of a new Stamp 1H, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment maintained a list of qualifying doctors due to have a Stamp 1 upgraded to a Stamp 1H.
These lists were received and processed in full by my Department up to December 2022 with all of the notified listed NCHDs issued an updated Stamp 1H IRP card without a requirement to submit an application for same to my Department.
Since September 2022, all NCHDs applying for a 1st-time registration or renewal of a residence permission, and who have a Multi-Site General Employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, are issued with a Stamp 1H.
A Stamp 1H applicant moving to Stamp 4 has the same conditions as a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holder and will be granted a 2 year validity period. Their spouses may be granted a Stamp 1G immigration permission for 1 year at a time.
Although my Department has not been directly notified of discrepancies in the application of this process, a renewed clarification on the policy has issued to all case processing officers. If the Deputy wishes to bring any particular case to my attention, I will have it examined.
