Reunion after months of separation. Amor's story about her and her husband's work permit changed from GWP to CSEP and travelling during Repatriation flights in Covid.
Our entire story started when my husband got a job in Ireland. We are all on south African passports. He needed a work permit; he got a General Work Permit. We had to be separated for 12 months! Devastating I know!
We decided to take the job for fear of losing the opportunity. We sat for hours weighing out pros and cons. The pros outweighed the cons, but it’s not the same for everyone. We wanted this! We had spoken about Ireland before we even got married. And we have been married for 5 years, so it’s been a long time in the making!
Fortunately for us, my husband was nearing the end of his studies, as soon as he qualified, he got a Critical Skills permit. That was after being in Ireland 6 months on a general work permit. So a new application was put in for Critical skills and it was approved!
We got the permit on the Friday and we booked our tickets on Saturday 21st June 2020,
Due to the South African flight restrictions during Covid-19 lockdown in SA!
We had a nice flight given the circumstances!
We landed in Amsterdam, and that was a struggle. They are extremely strict at security. Had to go back and take my shoes off. That ended up taking rather long. My daughter did so well we ran a long way to get to the next gate. And as we got there we boarded. Also got a small snack box and the Irish health forms to fill in.
When we landed in Ireland, we went through immigration without an issue.
The officer was friendly, and we had small talk, I know that’s how they get information. He asked for the Irish health forms and He asked for my husband’s PPS, stamped us for 3 months, and that was it.
We made sure we had all the following documents:
- Unabridged marriage certificate (also had hand written and abridged).
- All of our unabridged birth certificates.
- Parent traveling alone document (from HA)
- Certified copy of my husband’s Passport. (You can take an old original certified copy and ask them to recertify because you need a newer date) I did this with my husbands. They asked for the original Passport and I explained it was in Ireland, they certified it.
All colour copies of my husbands:
- PPS
- GNIB
- Passport and stamp
- CSEP
- Rental agreement (his name and mine are on it)
- Proof of funds
- Proof of address (electricity bill)
- Letter of invitation
- Liassez-passer
- Letter of admissibility from the Irish embassy
- RSA health forms
I hope that’s everything and I didn't forget anything!
Important links:
#MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration
Critical skills work permit process (CSEP)
Letter of Invitation - For family joining you later in Ireland/ Coming on Holiday/ Job Interview
If you have a story to share please email us a blog at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Types of work permits and articles:
- Work Permit skills lists: Am I eligible and SOC codes
- Critical skills work permits how they work: The Basics of applying
- Critical skills going deeper into the information and getting a job offer and work permit
- General Work permits how they work: The Basics of applying
- General Work permits going deeper into the information and getting a job offer and work permit
- General Work permits how to get your family processed when they arrive after 12 months
- Spouses and Children of Work permits and their Stamps explained
