DUBLIN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ireland announced a new visa scheme on Monday allowing certain non-EEA (European Economic Area) undocumented immigrants to apply for legal stay in the country.

The certain non-EEA undocumented immigrants refer to those nationals outside the EEA, who came to Ireland with a valid student visa during the period of Jan. 1, 2005 and Dec. 31, 2010 and who have not acquired an alternative immigration permission after their student visas expired, according to the Department of Justice and Equality which announced the policy.

The EEA covers Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway in addition to the 28 member states of the European Union (EU).

People who are not currently residing in Ireland are excluded from the new scheme, said the department in a statement.

Application for the new visa scheme started on Monday and will close on Jan. 20, 2019, said the statement, adding that the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service would offer an online service for such applications.

Successful applicants of the new scheme will get a Stamp 4S visa which will allow them to live and work in Ireland for two years without the need for an employment permit, it said.

After two years, applicants will be granted a Stamp 4 visa for another 12 months provided they have complied with the terms of the Stamp 4S conditions, said the statement.

Stamp 4 visa permits legal stay and work for foreigners in Ireland almost on an indefinite basis.

Family reunification is not permitted under the new scheme, but family members who have been living with the applicants in Ireland may be given permission to remain in the country, it said.