With the influx of undocumented migrants proving one of the biggest problems for the EU this century, Ireland has produced an interesting solution. Could their scheme allow people living there to regularise their status work in other countries too?
The Irish Program Explained
Starting in January this year, the Irish government gave illegal immigrants there what was described as a “once in a generation” chance to obtain their papers and live in Ireland without any legal issues. The scheme closed at the end of July and it’s been reported that more than 7,800 people applied to it.
From this total, the largest number came from Brazil, with 1,316 applicants. Pakistan and China were the only other countries to contribute more than 1,000 migrants each. Other nations well-represented here were Nigeria, the Philippines, India and Bangladesh.
To qualify, the applicant had to be living in Ireland for the last four years. However, for those with children, this was reduced to just three years. Asylum seekers waiting for at least two years to get their paperwork approved were also included in the program, and over 2,300 people in this situation applied to get Stamp 4 permission under the scheme.????
With more than 17,000 undocumented migrants thought to be living in the country, it’s clear that there are still others who haven’t applied under this scheme and who are still living under an illegal status.
There are several possible processes to follow when someone wants to live in Ireland, as listed on this immigration solicitors Ireland website. These include claiming Irish citizenship, looking for a work permit or asking for any of the numbered stamps that allow residence. The process of applying to live here can take time, with seven to eight weeks as a rough guideline. Waiting times?can vary significantly.
Would this Scheme Work Elsewhere in the EU?
With an estimated 200,000 irregular border crossings in 2021 meaning a 60% increase from 2020, the number of people living in the EU without documents has grown enormously lately. The wave of arrivals shows no sign of stopping or slowing down, so an EU-wide scheme similar to the one in Ireland could change the lives of millions of people.
However, perhaps the biggest stumbling block to doing this is the sheer volume of migrants. The relatively modest number of undocumented residents in Ireland meant that this was easier to implement here than it would be in most other European countries.
Having said that, Italy and Portugal are among the nations to have carried out their own regularisation programs in the past. This look at the different rules across Europe shows how illegal migrants can already access healthcare and other services in some places but not in others, so a broader look at how to make a fair system where everyone has the same rights and opportunities is needed.
If other countries follow Ireland’s lead, it will make life easier for millions of migrants, but we shouldn’t underestimate the challenges involved in putting together the framework to do this successfully.
