Italy Switches to Digital Schengen Visas and Installs 150 Biometric E-Gates
Global Visa-Income Threshold Report Updated—Irish Permit Salaries Now Benchmark at €40,904
Irish Asylum Accommodation Tops 33,170 Residents as Weekly Arrivals Hold Steady
Latest News
Schiphol Train Breakdown Delays Irish-Bound Passengers on Key Evening Wave
A 22 February stranded-train incident on the Schiphol corridor disrupted evening rail-air connections, hitting Irish travellers who rely on Amsterdam for onward flights. The episode underlines the need for wider connection buffers and proactive duty-of-care systems as rail-air integration deepens in corporate travel policies.
Ireland extends Travel Confirmation Notice to 28 February 2026 for IRP renewal applicants
Ireland has prolonged its temporary Travel Confirmation Notice, letting non-EEA residents travel on recently expired IRP cards until 28 February 2026. The move eases pressure caused by 10- to 12-week card-replacement delays and prevents business travellers from being stranded abroad. Employers must ensure staff carry the expired card, proof of renewal submission and the official Notice when flying. The extension gives HR teams a short-term workaround but underscores the need for earlier renewal filing.
Salary thresholds for all Irish employment-permit categories rise on 1 March 2026
From 1 March 2026, Ireland’s minimum-salary requirements for every employment-permit category increase—e.g., GEP to €36,605 and CSEP (degree) to €40,904—starting a step-wise rise that will run until 2030. Employers must update contracts and payroll data immediately; applications quoting old figures will be refused. Longer processing queues make early filing essential.
UK to enforce Electronic Travel Authorisation on 25 February—Irish subsidiaries must brief non-Irish staff
The UK’s full enforcement of the Electronic Travel Authorisation programme begins on 25 February 2026. While Irish nationals are exempt, Dublin-based firms with non-Irish assignees must ensure those travellers apply for the £16 digital permit or risk denied boarding. Dual citizens should use an Irish passport to remain ETA-free.
Brazil grants 90-day visa-free entry to ordinary Irish passport holders
Brazil’s Ordinance 18/2026 removes the visitor-visa requirement for ordinary Irish passport holders, permitting stays of up to 90 days per year for tourism or short business meetings. The unilateral move slashes cost and lead-time for Irish companies sending staff to Brazil and is expected to stimulate trade-show travel and bilateral tourism.
Oireachtas set to debate stricter family-reunification and student-visa rules amid record migration flows
Legislation tightening Ireland’s immigration framework—longer citizenship wait times, stricter family-reunification proof-of-means, a cap on student visas and new status-revocation powers—will reach parliamentary debate in the coming weeks. Employers should prepare for tougher financial thresholds affecting dependants and adjust mobility policies accordingly.