• Accredited research organisations must ensure that the researcher has sufficient monthly resources to meet their expenses, without having to draw from the national social assistance system. The minimum salary is €30,000 for a researcher with dependants and €23,181 for a researcher without accompanying dependants in Ireland.
• A contract of employment issued by the accredited institution for a research position must be in place for a minimum duration of 3 months.

• Please provide details of a contact person (s) dealing with hosting agreements at your institution as well as details of a secretary authorised to sign the agreements and send to Magda Wislocka Email: magda@iua.ie Tel: 00-353-1-7996030. Use this template (5.51 KB)
• Complete the Fast Track Work Permit for R&D ( Hosting Agreement) form and make sure it is stamped and signed by the appointed signatory of your institution.
• Make sure the researcher signs the agreement.
• Make sure the start/end dates of the Hosting Agreement  (ref. SECTION 3 of the form) correspond to the dates of the employment contract issued to your researcher.
• Post a copy of the Hosting Agreement together with a copy of an employment contract to: Magdalena Wislocka, EURAXESS Ireland, Irish Universities Association, 48 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
• Forward an original copy of the Hosting Agreement to the researcher.
• Make sure the agreement has been submitted to the EURAXESS Ireland office for approval/processing before the researcher applies for an entry visa (if applicable).
• Contact Magda Wislocka : Email: magda@iua.ie Tel: 00-353-1-7996030 with any queries regarding the process.

• Family members (spouses and children) may accompany or join a researcher in Ireland subject to normal immigration rules. Those who do not require a visa will not encounter the Irish immigration system until they arrive in Ireland.
• Family members must have a copy of the researcher’s Hosting Agreement if they are not accompanied by the researcher themselves. Dependants may only remain in Ireland for the duration of the Hosting Agreement.
• Spouses and eligible dependants of Hosting Agreement holders  can work in Ireland  freely, and are exempt from a need of any work permit. 

• Researchers who require an Irish visa must apply for a long term visa for Scientific Researchers before they enter Ireland. Those who do not require a visa will not encounter the Irish immigration system until they arrive in Ireland.
• The researcher must bring their original Hosting Agreement with them and be ready to show this to an immigration officer on arrival.
• The researcher will then be required to register with their local registration office in order to receive a GNIB registration card.
• Hosting Agreements are no longer required after two years on the scheme and researchers can then apply for a Stamp 4 immigration status, which enables researchers to move between sectors and employers without the need for any working permission.
• Check the entry conditions details here

• Those who are hosting foreign visitors to Ireland for research or academic purposes (paid or unpaid) for less than 14 days do not need to organise any work permissions. However, they should check whether or not their visitor requires a visa.
• If a foreign visitor is participating in private, funded or unfunded research, a sabbatical or an academic visit at an Irish institution for a period of between 15 days and 12 months, and if they do not qualify for a work permit and Hosting Agreement, they may be eligible for the Atypical Working Scheme.

A visa is a paper document attached to a page of the holder's passport. It permits a person to travel to Ireland during the validity period stated on the visa. It does not guarantee entry to the country, and an Immigration Officer at the port of entry has the authority to grant or deny admission, and to decide the duration of a person’s stay in Ireland.

• In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid Employment Permit. The DJEI’s Employment Permits Section administers the Employment Permits system.The EEA comprises the Member States of the European Union together with Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. More details on who needs an employment permit.

A Fast Track Work Permit for R&D (through Hosting Agreement) facilitates the admission of third country researchers to EU Member States for the purpose of carrying out research. As the scheme negates the need for a Work Permit it facilitates the swift and efficient recruitment of world-class research talent.

A Hosting Agreement applies to academic research staff only (it does not cover academic i.e. lecturers, technical or administrative staff). The typical positions it would be applicable for are: Research Assistant; Postdoctoral Researcher; Research Fellow; and Senior Research Fellow. There is a minimum salary threshold for applications of €23,181 for a single person, and €30,000 for a person with dependents.

Although the timeframe for the approval of the application is swift, taking approximately two weeks, host organisations should be aware that other factors can significantly lengthen the application process. These factors would include funding approval confirmation, staff request approval and contract issue, entry visa requirements and international post. Bearing this in mind all new Hosting Agreement applications should be prepared at least 8 weeks in advance of the proposed start or renewal date.

Yes, if conditions of the researcher’s contract change in terms of ending date,  a new agreement showing new employment dates must be issued to the researcher. A copy of the agreement with a copy of the new employment contract must be forwarded to the EURAXESS Ireland office for processing as soon as possible.

If personal details of a researcher changes the Hosting Agreement should be amended to reflect the change. However immediate action is not always required. See below to find out what needs to be done in the event of a change:

• New passport details: amend the agreement and forward for processing to EURAXESS Ireland
• Change of nationality:  Contact Magda (magda@iua.ie) at EURAXESS Ireland
• Change of address/salary details:  no need for immediate amendment of the current agreement. Make sure these changes are taken into account as you process an extension (if applicable).

Please issue a new agreement with details of new dependants inserted into Section 2 of the form. Make sure the researcher receives his/her new original copy. A copy of the amended agreement must be forwarded to the EURAXESS office for processing ASAP.

The Hosting Agreement will automatically lapse when the researcher is not admitted or when the contract of employment between the researcher and your organisation is terminated.

Please promptly inform Magda at EURAXESS Ireland of any cancellations. The researcher should return his/her original copy of the agreement to you. Please post the researcher’s original copy of the cancelled agreement to the EURAXESS Ireland office ASAP.

There is currently no application fee required for a Fast Track Work Permit for R&D.