Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
591. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if a person holding a refugee convention travel document from another EU member state is entitled to live and work in Ireland without obtaining a permission from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. [24349/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland is a signatory to the Council of Europe ‘European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees’, which allows the holder of a Convention Travel Document to travel visa free for short stays of up to 90 days in countries that are parties to the Agreement. A holder of a Convention Travel Document is not subject to an Irish visa requirement for short stays of up to 90 days in Ireland if the Travel Document has been issued by a European State that is a contracting party to the Agreement.
A list of the countries from whom Ireland accepts Convention Travel Documents can be found on my Department's immigration website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-work-in-ireland/what-are-my-options-for-working-in-ireland/coming-to-work-for-less-than-90-days/join-ship-visa/recognition-of-convention-travel-documents/.
A Convention Travel Document holder, similar to any other non-EEA national who is visa exempt, may seek to enter and reside in the State on visitors conditions for up to 90 days without having to register with the their local Immigration Office.
Any non EEA national, including Convention Travel Document holders, who wishes to remain in the State for more than 90 days must make an application for the appropriate immigration permission, or an application for an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, prior to entering the State. The right to access employment will depend on the granting of an appropriate immigration permission or an employment permit.
Entry into the State is solely at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the port of entry. The onus is on an individual to have all documentation relating to their reasons for entering Ireland ready for presentation to the Immigration Officer to gain entry. The Immigration Officer may grant leave to enter to a maximum period of three months. They may, depending on the documentation presented, refuse entry to the State or grant a lesser period than three months.
If remaining in the State for more than 90 days, they must register their immigration permission with their local Immigration Office.
