Though global healthcare recruitment can be a complicated
procedure, understanding the specific challenges and requirements will help you
attract and attain the talent you need. In this article, we’ll talk you through
some of the main challenges of recruiting international healthcare
professionals.
Understand right to
work legislation
When recruiting staff from other countries, you’ll need to
make sure that candidates are legally able to work in Ireland.
International
workers will be required to have a permit to work in Ireland, but there’s
plenty of other preparation they’ll need to do before embarking on their new
role at your healthcare organisation. This includes:
Candidate Certificate – This must be applied for an International
Nurse who receives a decision letter from NMBI to complete either the RCSI exam
or Clinical Adaptation.NMBI issue the candidate certificates.
Atypical Visa – this must be applied for the
International Nurse to gain legal entry into Ireland. This is applied through
the Atypical visa office directly.
Entry Visa – This must be applied for in the
International nurse’s own country to allow them to exit their own country
legally and travel to Ireland.They do this by applying to their own
immigration office.
Applying for
permission to stay
Once your Nurse is in Ireland, they’ll need to apply for
permission to stay, and register with immigration.
There are several different employments permits an
International Nurse can apply for;
Stamp 0
Stamp 0 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a
temporary period, subject to conditions.
- You must be of independent means, ie fully
financially self-sufficient. Alternatively, your sponsor in Ireland must be of
independent means and can support you fully.
- You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly
funded services, eg be treated at a public hospital. You must have private
medical insurance.
- You must not work or engage in any business,
trade or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.
You may be given Stamp 0 if you have permission to:
- Retire to or live in Ireland as a person of
independent means
- Be a visiting academic at an Irish university or
college
- Live in Ireland as the elderly, dependent
relative of a non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen
- Extend a short term visit here due to
exceptional humanitarian circumstances
- Work here for an overseas company to carry out a
specific task for a limited time
Other
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 0
Stamp 1
Stamp 1 indicates permission to work or operate a business
in Ireland, subject to conditions. Stamp 1 is reckonable as residence when
applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
- You must not start a job or enter employment
unless you or your employer has obtained an employment permit for you.
- If you do not have an employment permit you must
not engage in any business, trade or profession unless specified in a letter of
permission from INIS.
- If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry
date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission
and registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 1 if you have permission to:
- Work here based on an employment permit
- Operate a business here
- Work here based on a Working Holiday
Authorisation
Other
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 1
Stamp 1A
Stamp 1A indicates permission in full time, paid accountancy
training (in compliance with the immigration rules or regulated by the IAASA
and with a training contract with a company based in Ireland) for a specified
period, subject to conditions.
- You must not engage in any other business, trade
or profession unless specified in a letter of permission from INIS.
- If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry
date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission
and registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 1A if you have permission to:
- Study accountancy as a trainee & be employed
as a trainee accountant
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 1A
Stamp 1G
Graduate Student who currently holds a Stamp 2 or 2A
permission
Stamp 1G indicates you have finished your studies in Ireland
and have permission to look for employment here under the Third Level Graduate Programme,
subject to conditions.
- You can work full time in accordance with
employment law provisions but are not permitted to operate a business or be
self-employed.
- If you wish to continue working after Stamp 1G
expires, you must find a job that requires an employment permit and then follow
the usual application process.
While on a Stamp 1G, your other permissions and conditions
remain the same as for Stamp 2/2A.
- You may be given Stamp 1G if you have permission
to:
- Look for work as part of the Third Level
Graduate Programme
Spouse/de facto
partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder or a Spouse/de facto
partner of Researchers in the State on Hosting Agreements
From the 6 March 2019 the Stamp 1G will also provide for the
change in policy to both visa and non-visa required non-EEA nationals, who are
Spouses and de facto partners of persons who are currently resident in this
State, on Stamp 3 conditions, as the family member of a person resident in the
State on the basis of a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a Researcher in
the State on a Hosting Agreement.
The requirement to obtain a DPSEP has been removed for this
group by DBEI. INIS will grant eligible de facto partners of CSEP holders and
researchers on a Hosting Agreement permission, to reside in this State on Stamp
1G Conditions without the need to obtain a DPSEP from DBEI. This will allow
access to the labour market without an Employment Permit.
Summary of employment conditions for spouses and de facto
partners of CSEP holders and researchers on a Hosting Agreement permission
Permitted to work in the State without the requirement to
obtain a work permit
Not permitted to establish or operate a Business
Not permitted to be Self- Employed
Renewal of the Stamp 1G registration should be applied for
annually, and after 5years on a Stamp 1G, you may apply for a Stamp 4
Periods spent on Stamp 1G are considered as reckonable
residence for the purpose of making an application for
Citizenship/Naturalisation
Stamp 2
Stamp 2 indicates permission to study a full time course on
the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) for a specified period,
subject to conditions. Stamp 2 is not reckonable as residence when applying for
citizenship by naturalisation.
- You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly
funded services (eg public hospitals) unless you have an entitlement via other
means.
- You can work in casual employment for a maximum
of 20 hours per week during school term and 40 hours per week during holidays.
You must not engage in any other business or trade.
- If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry
date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission
and registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 2 if you have permission to study the
following:
- English language
- Higher national diploma
- Degree (undergraduate)
- Master’s degree (postgraduate)
- PhD
- Other
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 2
Stamp 2A
Stamp 2A indicates permission for full time study in Ireland
for a course that is not on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes
(ILEP), for a specified period. Stamp 2A is not reckonable as residence when
applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
- You cannot receive any benefits or use publicly
funded services, eg public hospitals. You must have private medical insurance.
- You must not work or engage in any business,
trade or profession.
- If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry
date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission
and registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 2A in the
following circumstances:
- Semester abroad (ie at an Irish
university/college)
- Study at a private secondary school in Ireland
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on Stamp
2A
Stamp 3
Stamp 3 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a
specified period, subject to conditions. Stamp 3 is reckonable as residence
when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
- You cannot work or engage in any business, trade
or profession.
- If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry
date of your immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission
and registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 3 if you have permission to:
- Volunteer, eg with a charity or non-profit
- Be a minister of religion
- Join your non-EEA/EU/Swiss spouse/civil partner
or family member who is here based on a work permit
Other
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 3
Stamp 4
Stamp 4 indicates permission to stay in Ireland for a
specified period, subject to conditions. Stamp 4 is reckonable as residence
when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
- You can take up employment and are not required
to hold an Employment Permit.
- You can work in a profession, subject to
conditions of the relevant professional or other bodies.
- You can establish and operate a business.
- You may access state funds and services as
determined by Government departments or agencies.
If you wish to stay in Ireland past the expiry date of your
immigration permission, you must apply to renew your permission and
registration before they expire.
You may be given Stamp 4 if you have had permission to work
in Ireland:
- With a valid Critical Skills employment permit
for 2 years
- With a valid employment permit for 5 years
- As a researcher (ie with a valid Hosting
Agreement) for 2 years
You may be given Stamp 4 if you are granted permission:
- To join your Irish spouse, civil partner or
de-facto partner
- To join your EU/EEA or Swiss family member based
on EU Treaty Rights
- To join a family member who has immigration
permission based on Stamp 4EUFAM (ie EU Treaty Rights)
- To join your family member who is a recognised
refugee or has been granted subsidiary protection
- To remain with your child who is an Irish
citizen
- Under the Investor and Entrepreneur Programme
(including spouse/partner & family)
- For Long Term Residence
- As a convention or programme refugee, or based
on subsidiary protection
- Register or renew
- Register for the first time or renew based on
Stamp 4
Stamp 5
Stamp 5 indicates permission to stay in Ireland without
limits on the time you can remain here, subject to other conditions. Stamp 5 is
reckonable as residence when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.
The stamp will be valid up to the expiry date on your
passport.
You may be given Stamp 5 if you have permission to:
- Remain in Ireland ‘Without condition as to time’
(WCATT)
Stamp 6
Stamp 6 indicates you are an Irish citizen with
dual-citizenship.
- You may be given Stamp 6 in your non-Irish
passport if you have applied for permission to:
- Remain in Ireland ‘Without condition’
When you offer a job to an international candidate, it’s
your duty to make them aware of these procedures before they accept the offer.
There are some exceptions to these
rules, so make sure you’re aware of them during the recruitment process.
It’s also important to remember that recruiting staff from
abroad may take more time than employing from Ireland. Candidates need to apply
for a visa three months before travelling, and there may be additional time
needed to prepare documents such as Employment
Permits to support their application.
Know your
international registration bodies
Registration bodies are important in making sure that health
professionals are trained appropriately and deemed competent and fit to
practice.
Despite these challenges, recruiting employees from other countries can be very rewarding and bring important skills and talent to your healthcare business. If you ensure you understand the process of recruiting international candidates, you’ll soon be hiring some fantastic assets to your team.
Article by
Article Written By:
Alan Hickley & Aileen McCann
