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The Heartbreak when you realise you are not eligible under your careers to move to Ireland
You have decided enough is enough and you want to leave SA. By birth you hold no foreign passport. You are South African passport holders only.
Let us see what we can find. You find this amazing resource in South Africans moving to Ireland.
You join. You have a sneaky peek around and then ask your first question "I am a XYZ career. I want to move to Ireland with my family."
You wait with bated breath and then a link is given to you... eagerly you read the info... and BAM!
Your career is ineligible. Your excitement fades. You can hear your heart break.
But is this where the story ends? Or is this where the story begins?
Is this where you start the biggest research project of your life?
I am a British Passport holder. Yes, I DO count my blessings every single day. But Ireland was not our first choice. Australia was. And when I realised, I couldn't take my husband and kids to where my Mom, Dad and Sisters live... my heart broke.
I do know that feeling of failure and heartbreak.
However, in that heart break I found more determination than ever.
Call it the teenager in me... I don't accept "no" and you shouldn't either.
In my discovery of Ireland (yes my 2nd choice) I've discovered it should have always been my first choice. This country is incredible and has created the perfect home for us.
Maybe Ireland is your first choice... maybe there is another country that should be your first choice?
So, what are your choices?
1) Find something to study and make yourself more eligible!
2) Look at other countries!
3) Stay in SA and make the most of it!
4) YOU!
1) Find something to study and make yourself more eligible
One of my most exciting times was in my 40's I studied and qualified in a certain field. With the aim to improve my skills and making myself more eligible for self-employment. It was difficult! Two kids and life to contend with, trying to find the time and dedication to study was not easy! But my desire to succeed was greater than the ease of failure!
I cannot give you a list of careers to study.
You need to first look at yourself and your own capabilities, finances and realistically does that career get me a job in another country.
This can't be something you decide on overnight instead will require a lot of work.
Instead of sitting in front of TV or indeed attending that braai... send your spouse out with the kids...or send the kids to the grandparents and you and your spouse sit at the table together and explore the internet together!
Spend a few hours researching and reading, reading, reading! There is no magic wand here that will make it happen. Only you can make this happen.
Draw up a basic CV looking at your career. Look at where you have achieved great things.
Is there somewhere you can study to do more of that? Are there night schools? Are there online courses? How do I finance this study?
Can I speak to someone who can review my career and perhaps look at my skills and maybe I've missed something?
Email the work permit division of that country for clarity. Look at the SOC code categories, perhaps you fall into a different category too?
Perhaps terminology in different countries and the re-wording will make me eligible? Perhaps get your CV re-done professionally?
SOC Codes are internationally recognised categories of careers. Ireland will look at these codes and determine based on their economic needs.... theres are eligible (critical), these are not (ineligible) and these are inbetweeners (general). Are you SURE you checked your codes correctly? SOC CODES checking eligibilty
If you are not certain you are ineligible or not you can get us to look for you: Eligibility Check
Perhaps I need to just up-skill! You may be 80% there but now just need to learn another module, or another year study? Perhaps I can get my qualifications looked at by foreign bodies who will grade my education and I may actually be a higher grade than I at first believed? For example NARIC
Maybe you need to go overseas and study something. This may mean time away from the family. This may mean a period of separation. Is this a viable option? Is the cost worth it? Is there a definite reward to this? What is the end-goal and will it pay off?
Particularly for single young people, you may want to look at studying in Ireland and then you can work the 20 hours a week too, making contacts and getting some experience in the Irish market. Whilst this route does not qualify you for residency, nor can you bring dependants unless it is a PHD, you can at the end of the degree look at work permits as an option to apply for and that way your Irish qualifications and part-time work will count in your favour for future work prospects. Study permits
You do need to do your research on this option and yes, there are some risks in it too. A career may be eligible this year, but may not be next year when they review them. It may not be eligible now, but could be eligile in the future. Look at careers that are more desired or more accepted in all parts of the world rather than just one specific country.
2) Look at other countries!
The "obvious' countries may not be the best country for YOU. South Africans tend to move to UK, Aus, NZ, Canada and Europe. These "obvious" countries may be passport related, or skills related where those countries offer a work permit in the mainstream skills. But what about other countries off the beaten track?
You may have money, but not a career in a specific field, so investment visas may be an option. When you look at different countries work skills lists, also look at their investment visa lists. Golden Visas are available for many countries around the world. WIKI entry on this topic is a must read.
For Ireland that info is here: Starting a business in Ireland
Many articles on this topic of Golden visas too
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-27674135
https://corpocrat.com/2020/05/02/25-immigrant-investor-citizenship-programs-in-the-world/
So what if we don't have a huge stash of cash and I can't buy a visa
What other places can we look at? Explore the world. Look and see if there are SA communities already there (I bet there are! We are EVERYWHERE!) How to learn the language? What skills can I bring to that country that is needed that brings us a long-term result?
https://www.expatica.com/moving/location/easiest-countries-to-immigrate-to-9644/
https://www.barbadoswelcomestamp.bb/
https://www.internations.org/go/moving-to-panama
https://wanderwisdom.com/misc/Five-easiest-countries-to-immigrate-to
https://nomadcapitalist.com/2019/02/05/easy-second-residency/
https://www.escapeartist.com/blog/countries-with-easy-immigration-laws/
I could spend the whole day just placing links here. This is your journey. The answers are out there. Spend some quality time surfing! Make lists. Look and see what countries are like and what they offer that would fit for you and what the downfalls are.
3) Stay in SA and make the most of it!
Many of us seek a better life to avoid the obvious of what is happening in SA. But sometimes a change doesnt mean a change in country. Perhaps that isn't an option. All that is possible to change is your change in attitude, because we can't necessarily change SA. Happiness is inside you and cannot be found "out there." Many many people have not found happiness once they have moved to another country because the grass isn't greener. The grass isn't greener because you haven't watered it right where you are. Many South Africans return because they have not found what they are looking for elsewhere. Join some of the Returning to SA groups and see what their concerns and issues were with moving. Joining a group of people who have moved and settled and have made a great life in a new country, may not reflect the other side of the coin where people have moved and hated their new country. You need to look at both sides before making such a huge move.
Staying in SA may not be all together as bad as you may think. Perhaps you are in a rut? Something else might need to shift in your life? This may mean changing career. This may mean something as simple as cleaning up your home and clearing out clutter. Many people who have emigrated have exclaimed how by being forced to clear out the clutter in their lives, has immediately lifted their spirits. Something so simple as cleaning out the garage. Cleaning out old cupboards has left them feeling good.This is a short-term feel good, but you never know what you may discover in something as simple as cleaning out your life.
But this alone won't cut it. You may want to look at moving town. You may be living in a place that is degrading faster than other places. You may want to look at a complete change of atmosphere.Change from city living to country living, Move from KZN to the Cape? Look at our neighbours: Botswana or Namibia?
You may want to look at getting involved in local community action groups or help groups. Often joining in something where you feel included can make huge differences to your own life. Look at Lions or Rotary or Neighbourhood watch programs... anything where you may experience a sense of inclusion and purpose.
"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action." Mother Teresa
4) YOU!
You can do this!!!!!! Put your mind to it and find the energy and make the changes! All the best in your journey and exploration of your new life!
If you have explored a particular country and have found some answers for other South Africans. Please share with us and we can add to this blog email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thank you!
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