Irish WHA to EU1

Hi all,

I am an American who moved to Ireland under a Working Holiday Authorisation. My significant other (who is a non-Irish EU citizen) was living here when I arrived and we recently decided to tie the knot. We just submitted my EU1 application about a week or two ago. Before submitting, I did contact INIS to somewhat address my query about whether I can continue to work under my WHA while my EU1 application is processing. They responded with "If you working holiday visa is still valid when your EU1 application is submitted you can continue to work."

However, I have been doing some reading and noticed examples where individuals wishing to convert from a WHA to an employment permit in Ireland found out that they must leave the country first to apply for the employment permit. Does anyone happen to know if me applying for my EU1 while still in Ireland under my WHA will cause issues? Any guidance of what I can expect is appreciated. Thanks!

Applications under EU Directives are different from those under Irish domestic laws. Employment permits are issued under domestic laws, so it’s much stricter.
Furthermore, if INIS has given you a positive response, then there is nothing to worry about.
Worst case scenario, you just need to buy a flight out of the country and fly back, as American citizens do not require an entry visa.