Doctors warn visa delays are putting hospital jobs at risk

Dr Liqa Ur Rehman: 'It’s the loss of hope, the feeling that it’s not going to be sorted at all.' Picture: Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire

Doctors from abroad are losing jobs in Irish hospitals because of delays in the processing of work permits, while one medic has been waiting almost four years for his family's visa application to be resolved.

Almost 40% of doctors working in Ireland have trained abroad, according to 2023 data, as hospitals continue to recruit globally to address staffing shortages.

The Irish Association of International Doctors (IAID) has written an open letter to the HSE and the Departments of Health, Justice, and Enterprise to voice concern about “reports from doctors whose employment offers or contracts are being placed at risk because of delays in visa processing.” 

IAID president Dr Liqa Ur Rehman warned that Canada and Australia are opening their doors to international doctors so Ireland is becoming less attractive despite the high salaries on offer.

“Our association is receiving an increasing number of reports from doctors who, despite completing every requirement expected of them, are being warned that their contracts may be withdrawn if government visa processing is not completed before their agreed start date,” he said.

He pointed to a recent case in which he intervened on behalf of a doctor, writing to the HSE's national HR office seeking assistance and asking the hospital involved to keep the position open until the work permit issue was resolved.

“He was just so frustrated, he had applied on time and was waiting to get the visa,” said Dr Ur Rehman.

He has asked the HSE to set up a unit to engage with the departments to streamline this process for eligible doctors.

“Visa processing is the responsibility of government departments, and applicants have no ability to influence processing timelines once a complete application has been submitted,” said Dr Ur Rehman.

The IAID is holding a conference in Dublin on Sunday that will focus on barriers for doctors seeking family visas for their spouse and children to come here. 

“It’s a big problem now,” he said. “It’s the loss of hope, the feeling that it’s not going to be sorted at all.” 

He pointed to one doctor who spoke out anonymously in 2024 about barriers to bringing his wife and daughter here.

“The government changed, the minister of justice changed, but things never changed for him,” said Dr Ur Rehman.

“Now he’s been waiting four years, the same family still waiting. He appealed and there were very absurd things requested.” 

Dr Ur Rehman added: “All the refusal letters had the same copy-and-paste things. There’s no specific thing that this applicant needs to do.”