US-Ireland Working Holiday Agreement

Covid19 Notice

1. I want to apply to travel to Ireland under a Working Holiday Authorisation. Is it possible currently to do so?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have temporarily ceased processing new applications under the Working Holiday Authorisation programme. We intend to resume processing applications when circumstances allow. We do not expect that we will be in a position to process any further applications in the near future.

Our primary concern remains the health, welfare and wellbeing of those who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA. We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation here and in the relevant locations abroad, in terms particularly of public health advice, travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation.

We will make a public announcement when we begin to process new applications. Please keep an eye on our website.

2. I submitted a WHA application before the outbreak of COVID19. What has happened to my application?

Applications already submitted remain on file until operations resume. You will be contacted once your application has been processed. If you wish to withdraw your application, please contact us.

3. I am currently in Ireland under the WHA programme. Will my permission to remain be extended?

In light of the uncertainties caused by COVID19, the Immigration Service Delivery in recent months has announced several general extensions of all permissions to remain in Ireland, including permissions related to the WHA. On 22 December, it was announced that the temporary extension of immigration and international protection permissions would be in place up to 20 April 2021. This applies to permissions that are due to expire between 21 January 2021 and 20 April 2021, including permissions extended by all previous announcements.

The terms and conditions as outlined in the WHA application form state clearly that participants in the WHA scheme must leave Ireland on the expiration of the permission. As such, we strongly advise all WHA holders to make all necessary arrangements to depart Ireland in adequate time in advance of the expiry of their permission to remain. Please note that we are not anticipating any further extension of permission to remain.

4. I was in Ireland under the WHA programme, but returned to my normal country of residence due to the COVID19 situation. Can I return in the future on my current permissions?

Our advice remains not to travel to Ireland at this time. Our primary concern remains the health, welfare and wellbeing of those who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA. A range of restrictions remain in place in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and limit contagion, including self-restriction for 14 days on arrival. Temporary employment opportunities are scarce and opportunities to travel internally may be limited.

If you have registered with Immigration Service Delivery and have been issued with an Irish Residents Permit (IRP) during your initial stay, you are eligible to return to Ireland until that permission expires.

If you have not yet registered, please contact the Embassy to discuss your personal situation

5. I currently hold a valid WHA but have not yet travelled to Ireland. Can I still travel? What if it expires?

Our strong advice remains not to travel to Ireland at this time. Our primary concern remains the health, welfare and wellbeing of those who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA. A range of restrictions remain in place in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and limit contagion, including self-restriction for 14 days on arrival. Temporary employment opportunities are scarce and opportunities to travel internally may be limited.

We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation here and in the relevant locations abroad, in terms particularly of public health advice, travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation.

We do not, at this stage, expect that conditions will change sufficiently to enable you to take up your WHA opportunity in Ireland in the near future. We will, when circumstances allow, re-issue letters of Authorisation with revised dates of travel for individuals who were unable to travel in 2020 due to COVID-19. Please contact the relevant Embassy for more information.

While holders of WHA authorisation letters with an expiry date in 2020 are eligible to travel to Ireland up to the end of 2020, we continue to advise that you delay your travel until circumstances improve and apply for your Letter of Authorisation to be re-issued with extended dates of validity.

We hope you will have an opportunity to visit Ireland as soon as circumstances improve and that you are able then to fully enjoy the opportunities and experiences that are the ambition of this programme.

6. Can I transition from a WHA to another form of permission?

The terms and conditions as outlined in the application form state clearly that participants in the WHA scheme must leave Ireland on the expiration of the permission, which cannot be extended.

The Working Holiday Agreement between Ireland and the US allows Irish and US citizens to work and travel in each other's country for up to 12 months.

In 2008 Ireland and the US signed a memorandum of understanding on a 12 month Intern Work and Travel Pilot Programme (a.k.a. the Working Holiday Agreement) that enables Irish and US citizens to work and travel in each other's country for up to 12 months. The agreement reflects not only the close historical and cultural links between Ireland and the United States of America, but also the vibrancy of the modern economic and commercial relationship between our countries.

The Working Holiday Agreement is intended to facilitate US citizens who wish to travel for an extended period in Ireland and to engage in employment as an incidental aspect of their holiday.

Irish citizens who wish to avail of the provisions of the Working Holiday Agreement to travel to the US should consult the websites of the US Embassy in Dublin and/or the US Department of State for more information about the Intern Work and Travel Pilot Program with Ireland (a.k.a. Intern work/travel: Irish).

This programme is separate to and does not affect the operation of the highly successful Summer Work Travel or Intern visa programmes. For information on these, please consult the website of the US Embassy in Dublin and/or the US Department of State

Eligibility
How to apply (US citizens only)
On arrival in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
Information for Irish applicants

Eligibility

Any US citizen, over the age of 18, who:

a) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree, or;

b) is currently in full-time (i.e. not part time or online) post-secondary (i.e. post high school) education, inside or outside the US, leading to certificate/diploma leading to a degree described at a) above, or;

c) has graduated from a programme of study described at a) or b) above within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the relevant Consulate/Embassy

may be considered eligible for the programme as long as they meet all other requirements. See “how to apply” tab for further details.

How to apply (US citizens only)

NB These instructions refer to US participants only. Irish citizens who wish to avail of the provisions of the Working Holiday Agreement to travel to the US should consult the websites of the US Embassy in Dublin and/or the US Department of State for more information about the Intern Work and Travel Pilot Program with Ireland (a.k.a. Intern work/travel: Irish).

US citizens wishing to travel to Ireland under the terms of the Agreement may apply for a US Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) directly through the relevant Consulate General or Embassy.

Note: All commercial suppliers of assistance with the application should be treated with due caution. The Embassy and Irish Consulates are not represented by these commercial suppliers and do not vouch for their services.

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage 1:

The applicant must submit the following documentation to the relevant Consulate General or Embassy:

A completed and signed Application for a working holiday authorisation -WHA
A photocopy of the applicant’s United States passport valid for at least a full year after ticketed date of entry

2 recent identical passport-sized photographs with applicant’s name on the reverse;
Current CV/résumé (with at least 2 references)
Evidence that the applicant is currently in full-time post-secondary education, or has graduated within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application (see Eligibility tab) e.g. diploma, or if a degree or diploma has not yet been conferred, applicants can submit another form of proof such as their official transcripts or a letter from their university, to show that they graduated within the 12 months prior to receipt of their application by the Consulate/Embassy, or that they are still studying. In all cases original documents should be provided. These will be returned to you.
Original bank statement showing that you have access to at least $4,000;
The relevant non-refundable fee (see below) payable by money order, cashier's cheque or bank draft made out to the relevant Embassy/Consulate only. Please note that the postage costs are based on the average postage costs for the region covered by each office.

Office	Fee	Return Postage	Total
Consulate General of Ireland, New York (processes applications from US citizens resident in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North & South Carolina, Pennsylvania and West Virginia)	$339	$13	$352
Consulate General of Ireland, Boston (processes applications from US citizens resident in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont)	$339	$15	$354
Consulate General of Ireland, Chicago (processes applications from US citizens resident in Alabama, Arkansas, North Dakota, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin)	$339	$13	$352
Consulate General of Ireland, San Francisco (processes applications from US citizens resident in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming)	$339	$21	$360
Embassy of Ireland, Washington (processes applications from US citizens resident in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and Puerto Rico)	$339	$21	$360

Once the Embassy or Consulate has received and is satisfied with the documentation above, the application will be approved in principle and the applicant notified. The application then proceeds to stage 2.

Stage 2:

The applicant must then submit the following documentation to the relevant Consulate General or Embassy:

Return airline tickets; [see FAQ tab on airline tickets]
Certificate of medical/travel insurance valid for the duration of the trip (based on dates on tickets) (see FAQ tab on medical insurance)

The applicant’s original United States passport valid for at least a full year after ticketed date of entry

When the Embassy or Consulate has received and is satisfied with this second stage documentation, the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) will be issued.

You may submit your application documentation to us by post (mail) or in person. If you wish to submit your application by post/mail, we strongly recommend that you use registered (certified) mail or a reputable courier company. The Embassy/Consulates cannot be held responsible for documentation lost in transit. If you wish to submit your application in person, please check the visa section of the website of the relevant Consulate General or Embassy (Our Services/Visas) as some restrictions may apply (e.g. appointment times).

On arrival in Ireland

The market for short-term casual work in Ireland is highly competitive and adequately supplied by the large number of school leavers and other young Irish and EU nationals looking for work. Getting your WHA is not a guarantee of finding work. If you hold a Working Holiday Agreement you are permitted to work from your date of entry to the State once your passport has been endorsed by an Immigration Officer at a Port of Entry confirming the purpose is to “take up employment under a WHA”.

Immigration controls

Even if you have a WHA, you’re still subject to normal immigration controls when you enter Ireland. As a non-EU national, you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureauto stay in Ireland for more than 90 days. There is a fee of €300 for the issue of a Garda (police) registration card. It is a criminal offence to not register within ninety days. Persons seeking an appointment for the purposes of registration may encounter delays in securing an appointment. Working Holiday Agreement holders may book their appointment before they leave for Ireland.”

WHA holders will also need to obtain a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN). Information on how to obtain a PPSN can be found on the Department of Social Protection.

Frequently asked questions

Please read this in conjunction with the information in the “eligibility” and “how to apply” tabs.

This advice refers to US participants only, Irish citizens who wish to avail of the provisions of the Working Holiday Agreement to travel to the US should consult the websites of the US Embassy in Dublin and/or the US Department of State.

What type of “post secondary education” must I be engaged in / have graduated from in order to be eligible for the programme?

I am studying for / have recently graduated with a professional qualification (e.g. nursing, accountancy etc), am I eligible to participate in the programme?

I am a US citizen currently studying outside the US, am I eligible to participate in the programme?

I am in high school, am I eligible to participate in the programme?

I have graduated from high school within the last 12 months but am not currently in full-time education, am I eligible to participate in the programme?

How is the date of graduation defined?

My course of study requires me to do an internship / professional training (in the USA or overseas). Can I avail of the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) programme to do allow me to do this In Ireland?

Is there an age limit for participation?

Do I need to have confirmed employment when I apply for a Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) / in advance of my arrival in Ireland?

Are there any limitations on the type of employment I can take up once in Ireland?

Are there any limits on the number of hours I can work per day/week/month whilst in Ireland under the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA)?

I would like to undertake a full time degree programme lasting more than 90 days in Ireland, can I avail of the Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) to do this?