Irish Government Launches New Employment Permits Online Application System

8 Dec 2016 03:25 PM

As the Irish Government launches a new system which streamlines non-EEA employment permits, what can the UK learn for its own smart migration system?

On 1 December, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Ms. Mary Mitchell O’Connor TD officially launched a new Employment Permits Online System. 

Key aspects of this new system are:

• All Irish Employment Permit applications (for non-EEA migration) will be undertaken online, including completion of the requisite forms, uploading of documents and payment of government fees
• This is expected to further reduce processing times, and increase the overall efficiency of the Irish Employment Permit application process
• Decision time can take as little as 5-7 working days to complete
• Within 2 weeks of making this new platform available to key stakeholders, there has been a 95% take-up rate

While the Tier 2 application system in the UK is also online, the decision time and approval process takes significantly longer. Brexit has provided the UK with a unique opportunity to create a smart, new migration system which harnesses the best of new technologies to streamline the process and create an agile operating model which works for hiring and exporting talent alike. What can the Home Office learn from international examples to create this system?

Watch this space for a techUK report on the importance of international talent for the sector, and recommendations to ensure the UK remains the most attractive place to work, start or scale a business.