If you’re not an EU, EEA, or UK citizen, you’ll need an employment permit to work in Ireland. The Irish immigration system offers several permit types, each designed for different situations and skill levels. This guide explains how the system works, which permit you need, and how to apply successfully.
Understanding work permits is crucial before you even start job hunting in Ireland. Employers need to know you can legally work, and you need to know which jobs are open to you. Let’s break down everything you need to know about Irish work permits and visas.
Important note: Immigration rules change frequently. Always check the Department of Justice website for the latest information. This guide is for information only, not legal advice.
Quick facts about Irish work permits
- Cost: €1,000 for a permit of 6–24 months, €500 for 6 months or less. A Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit is free
- Processing time: 8-12 weeks typically
- Valid for: Usually 2 years initially
- Employer applies: Your employer submits the application, not you
- Salary minimums (1 March 2026): €40,904 (CSEP, with degree) / €68,911 (CSEP, high-earner) / €36,605 (General Employment Permit). Lower thresholds apply to recent graduates and specific sectors.
- Path to residence: Yes, after 5 years you can apply for long-term residence (2 years on Critical Skills)
- Family: Some permits allow you to bring dependents
Types of employment permits
Ireland offers several employment permit categories. The one you need depends on your job, qualifications, and salary.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
This is the most advantageous permit for skilled workers.
Who it’s for:
- Professionals in occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List
- Includes jobs in ICT, healthcare, engineering, science, and finance
- Jobs paying €68,911+ per year (any role except ineligible occupations)
Salary requirements (from 1 March 2026):
- €40,904+ on Critical Skills list with relevant degree
- €36,848+ recent graduate (within 12 months of qualification)
- €68,911+: high-earner route, any eligible occupation
Key benefits:
- Two-year initial permit
- Immediate family members can join you and work without restriction
- Pathway to Stamp 4 (general work permission) after 2 years
- No labour market needs test
- Can lead to permanent residence
Application timeline: Your employer applies first. If approved, you then apply for a visa (if required) and travel to Ireland.
This is the permit you want if you qualify—it offers the clearest path to permanent residence and brings the fewest restrictions.
General Employment Permit
This is for jobs that don’t qualify for Critical Skills permits.
Who it’s for:
- Jobs paying €36,605+ per year (the General Employment Permit minimum from 1 March 2026)
- Occupations not on the Ineligible Occupations List
- Jobs where no suitable EEA/UK worker is available
Salary requirement (from 1 March 2026):
- Minimum €36,605 per year standard
- €34,009 where you hold a relevant degree issued by an Irish third-level college in the previous 12 months
- €32,691 for specific roles — horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, health care assistants and home support workers (SOC 6145) — with a minimum hourly rate of €16.12
Key conditions:
- Labour market needs test required (employer must advertise for 28 days)
- Initial permit valid for 2 years
- Can renew for 3 more years
- After 5 years total, eligible for Stamp 4
- Family members can join on Stamp 3 (no automatic work rights)
Restrictions:
- Cannot change employer in first 12 months without new permit
- Fewer job options than Critical Skills
The General Employment Permit works well if you don’t meet Critical Skills criteria, but expect a longer route to permanent status.
Intra-Company Transfer Permit
For employees being transferred within a multinational company to an Irish branch.
Who it’s for:
- Senior managers and key personnel
- Specialists with advanced knowledge
- Must have worked for company outside Ireland for 12+ months
Requirements:
- €49,523+ minimum annual remuneration for senior management and key personnel; €36,605 for personnel on a training programme — the trainee threshold is lower, not higher
- Senior management and key personnel must have worked at least 6 months with the overseas company before transfer
- Letter from parent company confirming transfer
- Specific role in Irish branch
Benefits:
- No labour market test
- Can bring immediate family
- Valid for up to 5 years initially
Limitations:
- Cannot change to a different employer
- Specific to company transfer situations
Contract for Services Employment Permit
For non-EEA workers contracted to provide services to an Irish business.
Who it’s for:
- Specialists providing short-term services
- Technical experts on specific projects
- Contractors (not permanent employees)
Requirements:
- Minimum €49,523 annual remuneration, all components payable by the contractor
- Contract between overseas company and Irish client
- Specific expertise required
- Maximum 2 years duration
Reactivation Employment Permit
For non-EEA workers who previously held an employment permit and want to return to work in Ireland.
Who it’s for:
- Previous permit holders returning to Ireland
- Gap in employment must be less than 2 years
- Valid job offer required
Benefits:
- Faster processing (no labour market test)
- Recognises previous time working in Ireland
- Counts toward 5-year permanent residence requirement
Which permit do you need?
Choose based on your situation:
You have a job offer in ICT, healthcare, engineering, or another critical skills occupation: → Critical Skills Employment Permit (if salary meets the CSEP threshold — €40,904 with relevant degree from 1 March 2026)
You have a job offer paying €68,911+ per year: → Critical Skills Employment Permit (high-earner route — works for any occupation not on the ineligible list)
You have a job offer below the CSEP threshold but above €36,605: → General Employment Permit
Your company is transferring you to Ireland: → Intra-Company Transfer Permit
You’re a contractor providing specialist services: → Contract for Services Employment Permit
You held an Irish work permit previously: → Reactivation Employment Permit
Still unsure? Your potential employer’s HR department should know which permit applies to your role.
The application process
Step 1: Get a job offer
You need a firm job offer before applying. The employer must:
- Be registered in Ireland
- Pay appropriate wages
- Meet employment standards
- Provide a detailed job description
Irish employers are familiar with sponsoring foreign workers, especially in tech, healthcare, and other critical skills sectors.
Step 2: Employer applies for employment permit
Your employer, not you, submits the employment permit application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Documents required:
- Completed application form
- Job offer letter with salary, duties, qualifications required
- Your CV and qualifications
- Proof of advertising (for General Employment Permits)
- Contract of employment
- Evidence employer is genuine trading entity
- Payment of €1,000 fee
For General Employment Permits specifically: Employers must advertise the role for 28 days with the Department of Social Protection and on two other recruitment platforms. They must demonstrate no suitable EEA/UK candidate was available.
Processing time:
- Critical Skills: 6-8 weeks typically
- General Employment: 8-12 weeks
- Can be longer during peak periods
You cannot start work until the permit is approved.
Step 3: Apply for entry visa (if required)
Once your employment permit is approved, you need to check if you require an entry visa.
Visa-required countries: Most non-EEA nationals need a visa. Check the Irish Immigration website to see if your nationality requires one.
Application process:
- Apply online through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
- Provide employment permit approval
- Passport, photos, financial evidence
- Visa fee: €60 (a long stay ‘D’ visa is a single journey visa). Spouses and certain family members of EEA and Irish citizens are exempt
- Processing: 8-12 weeks
Visa-exempt countries: If you’re from a visa-exempt country (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia), you can travel to Ireland without a visa but must have your employment permit documents.
Step 4: Travel to Ireland
Once you have your approved employment permit and visa (if required):
- Book your travel
- Bring all original documents
- Employment permit approval
- Job contract
- Proof of accommodation
- Evidence of financial means
Immigration officers at the airport will review your documents before entry.
Step 5: Register with immigration
Within 90 days of arrival, you must register with immigration authorities and obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
Where to register:
- Dublin: Registration Office, Burgh Quay
- Outside Dublin: Your local Garda (police) station
Documents needed:
- Passport
- Employment permit
- Letter from employer
- Proof of address in Ireland
- Registration fee: €300
IRP card: Your IRP card proves you’re legally resident in Ireland. It includes your Stamp type (Stamp 1 for employment permit holders). Carry it with you always.
Once registered, you should also get your PPS number, open a bank account, and register with a GP for healthcare.
Costs breakdown
Employment permit application (fees set by DETE):
- 6 months or less: €500
- 6–24 months: €1,000
- Renewal, 6 months or less: €750
- Renewal, 6–36 months: €1,500
- Critical Skills permits are not renewed — you move to Stamp 4 instead
- Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit: no fee
Note that under section 55 of the Employment Permits Act 2024, your employer cannot deduct the application fee from your pay or recover it from you. If an employer asks you to fund your own permit, that is not lawful.
Entry visa (if required):
If you are coming on an employment permit for more than 90 days you need a long stay ‘D’ visa. The fee is the standard single journey rate:
- Single journey visa: €60 — this is what a long stay ‘D’ costs
- Multi journey visa: €100 — multiple entries for up to 5 years
- Transit visa: €25
A long stay ‘D’ visa is a single journey visa, so €60 is your figure. Do not pay for the €100 multi journey option on a work move — you enter once, then register for an IRP, and re-entry runs off that permit rather than the visa.
Some applicants pay no visa fee at all. Citizens Information lists visa-required spouses and certain family members of EEA citizens, including Irish nationals, provided proof of the relationship is supplied. Applicants from some countries are also exempt, and that list changes — check with your local Irish embassy or consulate.
IRP registration:
- Registration fee: €300 per person, payable by credit or debit card only
- Renewal: €300
You pay no registration fee at all if you are registering or renewing as:
- A minor under 18 at the time of registration
- A spouse, widow or widower of an Irish citizen
- A civil partner or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen
- A spouse or dependent of an EU national who holds a residence permit
- A Programme Refugee, or granted Refugee Status under section 47(1) of the International Protection Act 2015
That third and fourth exemption catch more people than you would expect — if you are moving to Ireland with an Irish or EU-national partner, your own registration is free.
Total first-year costs:
- €1,360 if you need a visa — €1,000 permit + €60 single journey visa + €300 registration
- €1,300 if you are visa-exempt
- Less again if an exemption applies. A registration exemption removes the €300, and a visa-fee exemption removes the €60 — so a spouse of an Irish or EU citizen can pay nothing beyond the permit itself.
Many employers cover the employment permit fee as part of your relocation package, but not always. Clarify this during job negotiations.
Salary thresholds and requirements
Getting the salary right is crucial—applications are rejected if the salary doesn’t meet minimums.
2026 salary minimums (effective 1 March 2026):
Critical Skills Employment Permit:
- €40,904 minimum with relevant degree (roles on Critical Skills list)
- €36,848 for recent graduates (within 12 months of qualification)
- €68,911 high-earner route (any occupation not on ineligible list)
General Employment Permit:
- €36,605 minimum standard
- €34,009 for graduates of Irish third-level colleges
- €32,691 for specific roles (horticulture, meat processing, health care assistants, home support workers)
Intra-Company Transfer:
- €49,523 senior management and key personnel
- €36,605 trainees
Contract for Services:
- €49,523 annual equivalent
These thresholds increased on 1 March 2026 by 7.66% and will continue rising gradually through 2030. Always check enterprise.gov.ie for the current authoritative figures before applying.
These are gross annual salaries before tax. Make sure your job offer letter states the annual salary clearly.
What counts as salary:
- Base salary
- Guaranteed bonuses
- Regular allowances
What doesn’t count:
- Performance bonuses
- Overtime
- Benefits (health insurance, pension)
- One-off payments
Ensure your offer letter specifies the guaranteed annual amount that will appear in your employment permit application.
Timeline: How long does everything take?
Job search: Varies—1-6 months typically for skilled roles
Employment permit processing:
- Critical Skills: 6-8 weeks
- General Employment: 8-12 weeks
- Can be longer in peak hiring seasons
Visa processing (if required): 8-12 weeks
Total timeline from job offer to starting work: 4-6 months typically
Then:
- Within 90 days of arrival: Register for IRP
- After 2 years: Can apply for permit renewal or Stamp 4 (Critical Skills holders)
- After 5 years: Eligible for long-term residence
Start early. If you’re job hunting from abroad, begin at least 6 months before you need to be in Ireland.
Bringing family members
Whether you can bring family depends on your permit type.
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders:
Your immediate family (spouse/partner and children under 18) can join you on a Stamp 3 visa with full work rights. They don’t need separate employment permits.
Application process: Apply for their visas once you’ve received your IRP card in Ireland. They’ll need:
- Your employment permit and IRP as evidence
- Proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificates)
- Financial evidence showing you can support them
- Accommodation details
Benefits:
- Can work without restriction
- Access to education for children
- Can accompany you toward permanent residence
General Employment Permit holders:
Family members can join on Stamp 3, but they do NOT have automatic work rights.
If they want to work:
- They need their own employment permit
- Must find a job that qualifies
- Employer must sponsor them separately
This is a significant difference from Critical Skills permits—consider this when deciding which permit to pursue.
Children’s education:
Children of employment permit holders can attend Irish schools. Public primary and secondary education is free (though “voluntary contributions” of €100-300/year are expected). See our guide on schools in Ireland for details.
Renewing your employment permit
Most permits are valid for 2 years initially. You can renew them if you’re still employed.
Renewal requirements:
- Still employed with same employer
- Salary still meets minimum thresholds
- Employment contract continues
- Employer submits renewal application
- €1,000 renewal fee
When to renew: Apply 6-8 weeks before your current permit expires. Don’t wait until the last minute.
Renewal duration:
- Second permit: Usually 3 years
- Subsequent renewals: 3-5 years
After 5 years: If you’ve held employment permits for 5 years continuously, you can apply for Stamp 4 (long-term residence with general work permission). This removes employer restrictions.
Path to permanent residence and citizenship
Employment permits can lead to permanent residence and eventual citizenship.
Timeline:
After 2 years (Critical Skills permit holders only): Can apply for Stamp 4 immediately. This gives you:
- Work for any employer without restriction
- No need for employment permits
- Same employment rights as Irish/EU citizens
- Pathway to permanent residence
After 5 years (all employment permit types): Eligible to apply for long-term residence (Stamp 4). Requirements:
- 5 years continuous legal residence
- Proof of employment or financial independence
- Good character (no serious criminal record)
- Paid taxes and complied with immigration rules
After 5 years (naturalisation): Can apply for Irish citizenship if you meet these conditions:
- 5 years continuous legal residence in previous 9 years
- 1 year continuous residence immediately before application
- Good character
- Intend to reside in Ireland
- Made declaration of fidelity to Irish state
Irish citizenship gives you an EU passport, full rights to live and work anywhere in Ireland or the EU, and voting rights.
For detailed information about the citizenship process, see our guide to Irish citizenship.
Common reasons for permit refusal
Applications get rejected. Here’s why and how to avoid it:
1. Salary below minimum threshold
- Check current thresholds carefully
- Ensure offer letter states gross annual salary clearly
- Include only guaranteed earnings
2. Incomplete documentation
- Submit all required forms
- Include original or certified copies where specified
- Ensure qualifications are translated if not in English
3. Job not genuinely available
- Employer must demonstrate genuine need
- Job description must match role reality
- Company must be legitimate trading entity
4. Inadequate labour market test (General Permit)
- Must advertise full 28 days
- Ads must be on correct platforms
- Must demonstrate no suitable EEA/UK candidates
5. Ineligible occupation
- Check the Ineligible Occupations List
- Some jobs cannot qualify for any permit
- Includes roles like retail assistant, care worker, and many hospitality positions
6. Previous immigration violations
- Overstaying a previous visa
- Working without authorisation
- Providing false information
What to do if refused:
- Review the refusal reasons carefully
- Address specific issues raised
- Reapply with corrected information
- Consider appealing if you believe the decision was wrong
Most refusals result from paperwork issues or salary problems—both fixable. Work with your employer’s HR department to ensure everything is correct before submitting.
Changing employers
The rules for changing employers depend on your permit type and how long you’ve held it.
Critical Skills permit holders:
- Can change employer at any time
- New employer must apply for new permit
- Faster processing (no labour market test)
General Employment Permit holders:
- Cannot change employer in first 12 months
- After 12 months, can change with new permit application
- New employer must conduct labour market test
Intra-Company Transfer holders:
- Cannot change to different employer
- Specific to company transfer
After Stamp 4: Once you have Stamp 4 status, you can work for any employer without restrictions.
Next steps
If you’re considering working in Ireland:
1. Research which permit you’d qualify for Use the information above to determine Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit eligibility.
2. Check if your occupation is eligible Review the Ineligible Occupations List and Critical Skills Occupations List.
3. Start job hunting Focus on Irish employers hiring in your field. Use jobs in Ireland resources and LinkedIn. Tech companies, hospitals, and engineering firms regularly sponsor foreign workers.
4. Prepare your documents Gather qualifications, references, CV, and any professional certifications now. Having these ready speeds up applications once you get a job offer.
5. Understand the costs Budget for the cost of living in Ireland—particularly housing. Dublin is expensive, though salaries reflect this. Cork, Galway, and Limerick offer lower living costs with good job markets.
6. Plan your timeline If you need to be in Ireland by a specific date, start your job search 6-9 months in advance. The process takes longer than most people expect.
7. Learn about daily life Read our guides for Americans moving to Ireland, UK citizens relocating, or EU citizens moving to understand what life is actually like here. And if you’ve seen the “get paid to move to Ireland” headlines, see what the Our Living Islands island grant really is — and why it’s no substitute for a permit.
Ireland’s employment permit system is straightforward once you understand it. The key is finding an employer willing to sponsor you, ensuring your salary meets thresholds, and being patient with the process. Many thousands of people successfully navigate this system every year—you can too.
Verification
Every figure in this guide was verified on 31 July 2026. Salary thresholds and permit fees against the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment — the body that sets these thresholds: the Critical Skills, General Employment, Intra-Company Transfer and Contract for Services permit pages, plus the official fees table.
CSEP thresholds (€40,904 / €36,848 / €68,911) and General Employment Permit thresholds (€36,605 / €34,009 / €32,691) were confirmed unchanged. The Intra-Company Transfer and Contract for Services thresholds had both moved to €49,523 and were corrected.
The €300 IRP registration fee and its exemptions were confirmed against Immigration Service Delivery’s required documents page, last updated 17 July 2026, which also carries the per-stamp fee table.
Visa fees (€60 single journey, €100 multi journey, €25 transit) and the fee exemptions are from Citizens Information’s visa requirements page, edited 17 June 2026, which lists them as the standard non-refundable visa application processing fees. ISD’s own long stay employment visa page publishes no fee, so the standard single journey rate applies. Processing times throughout this guide are indicative rather than published service standards.
Thresholds rise gradually each year through 2030 — always check enterprise.gov.ie for the current figure before applying.