Ireland Work Permit – Types, Eligibility and Requirements

What is an Ireland Work Permit?

An Ireland work permit allows you to live and work in the country. Ireland issues employment permits to non-EU/EEA nationals who wish to reside and be employed there. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) issues nine different types of Ireland employment permits to qualifying individuals. The country granted 27,000+ employment permits from January to August 2024, a 20% increase compared to the previous year. Indian nationals received the highest number of Ireland work permits (6,700+) in Q1 2024, which is 35% of the overall permits issued. The different work permits facilitate flexibility and accommodate more foreign workers in the country.

Employment permits that allow you to work in Ireland

Ireland offers nine employment permits that will enable you to work there.

The list of Ireland employment permits is as follows:

·???????? Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

·???????? General Employment Permit

·???????? Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit

·???????? Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

·???????? Contract for Services Employment Permit

·???????? Reactivation Employment Permit

·???????? Internship Employment Permit

·???????? Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

·???????? Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

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Types of Ireland Employment permits

Given below are the complete details of the nine different types of Ireland employment permits:

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The previous Green Card-type employment permit is currently replaced by the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP). It is for highly skilled foreign workers with expertise in professions facing a skill shortage in Ireland.

Click on this page for List of Critical Skills Occupations ?to work in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria for the Critical Skills Employment Permit

The eligibility criteria to apply for the CSEP are given below:

·?An employment offer in Ireland

·?The job offered must at least be of a 2-year duration.

·?Be earning a minimum salary of €38,000 (per annum) for any of the Critical Skills Occupations.

·?Have University degree or educational qualifications that align with the occupation

·?Have prior professional experience (for individuals whose occupations are listed on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits)

·?Non-EE/EEA nationals with no educational qualifications must have the minimum professional experience.

·?The employer who offered the job must be registered with the RFS or the CRO in Ireland.

·?A Masters or a diploma that is recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (For those looking to practice as a midwife or a nurse in Ireland)

Requirements for the Critical Skills Employment Permit

One must have the following list of documents required for the CSEP:

·???????? Passport with a minimum validity of 6 months

·???????? Complete details of the employment in Ireland (Annual pay, start date, etc.)

·???????? Proof of required educational qualifications, certifications, etc.

·???????? Proof of prior work experience

·???????? Meet the minimum salary threshold of €38,000 or €64,000

·???????? AWS permission letter (for nurses seeking training under the AWS)

?

General Employment Permit

The previous Work Permit Employment Permit has been replaced by the General Employment Permit (GEP). With an Ireland GEP, individuals can work in any of the labor shortage occupations except for those on the ineligible list of occupations in Ireland. The GEP can be applied for from outside the country, either by the employer or the applicant. Once issued, the GEP is valid for two years.

Eligibility Criteria for the General Employment permit

The eligibility criteria to apply for the General Employment permit are given below:

·???????? Have a job offer from a verified employer in Ireland

·???????? Have the required educational qualifications

·???????? Have prior work experience

·???????? Meet the following average income requirements:

-??????? Be earning an average annual salary of €34,000

-?Have an annual average salary of €30,000 and hourly pay of €14.79 (for meat processing operatives, horticulture workers,

-?Have an annual average salary of €27,000 (for Home Support Workers and Health Care Assistants (HCA))

Requirements for the General Employment Permit

Given below are the documents required to apply for the Ireland General Employment permit:

·???????? A valid passport

·???????? Proof of educational qualifications

·???????? Proof of professional experience

·??????? Complete employment details (Job role, job description, employment start date, etc.)

·???????? Have a minimum salary of €34,000 - €34,881

·???????? Labour Market Needs Test

·???????? A copy of the employment contract

·???????? AWS permission letter (for nurses seeking training under the AWS)

?

Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit

The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment permit is for researchers under the Hosting Agreement and dependents of the CSEP holders. Specific dependents other than spouses or partners can apply for a permit to work in Ireland. You must have an employment offer in Ireland before applying for the permit.??

Eligibility Requirements for the Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment permit

The eligibility requirements for the Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment are as follows:

·?Have a valid job offer

·?The researcher or the primary permit holder must have a valid CSEP permit.

·?The researcher or the primary permit holder must be authorized to reside in Ireland through the Scheme for Admission of Third Country Researchers.

·?Dependants, spouses, or civil partners of individuals who have been holders of the CSEP, Hosting agreement, and Green card employment permit with permission from the Justice Department not to require an employment permit can apply

·?Proof of employment of the primary holder (An official letter)

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit or the Ireland ICT permit is for non-EU nationals currently employed in multi-national companies who have been transferred to an Irish branch of the same company. Trainees, key personnel, and senior management can qualify for this permit. The primary requirement is that they have worked in the company for at least six months before being transferred.

Eligibility Requirements for the Intra-Company Transfer Employment permit

The eligibility criteria for the Intra-company Transfer employment permit are as follows:

·?Those working as the senior management must have annual wages of €46,000

·?Those working as Key personnel must have annual wages of €46,000

·?Trainees or personnel taking up training must have annual wages of €34,000

·?Senior management and key personnel must have been employed in the company for at least six months before the transfer.

·?Trainees must have worked for the company for at least 30 days before the transfer.

Contract for Services Employment Permit

The Contract Service Provider type of Work Permit Employment Permit is currently replaced by the Contract for Services Employment Permit. It allows non-EU/EEA nationals employed in foreign companies to work in Ireland on a contractual basis. The basic requirement is that the applicants must have worked for the employee for a minimum of 6 months. The permit is valid only for the duration of the contract. Individuals with work contracts that are under three months can apply via the Atypical Working Scheme.

Eligibility Criteria for the Contract for Services Employment permit

To qualify for the Contract for Services Employment permit, you must meet the following criteria:

·???????? Must have been employed by the contractor for at least six months

·???????? Proof of intent to exit the country upon the expiration of the contract

Requirements for the Contract for Services Employment Permit

The documents required for the Contract for Services Employment permit are as follows:

·???????? Proof of Labour Market Needs Test

·???????? The contractor must be Revenue-registered

·???????? The minimum annual salary threshold must be €46,000 per year

Reactivation Employment Permit (REP)

The Reactivation Employment permit (REP) is a special permit for individuals who have already been employed in Ireland with an employment permit but have fallen out of the system for no mistake of their own or have been exploited or ill-treated at their workplace. The applicant or the employer in Ireland can apply for the permit, allowing the individual to resume work in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria for the Reactivation Employment permit (REP)

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the Reactivation Employment permit (REP):

·?Are currently not working in Ireland

·?If you have previously held an employment permit but fell out of the Ireland system for no fault of your own

· Currently hold the Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits.

·?If you already have a Reactivation Employment Permit that has become invalid (You can re-apply for a new one within a 6-month timeframe)

·? If you have a new reactivation Employment Permit but are looking to switch your employer

Requirements for Reactivation Employment permit (REP)

You must fulfill the below list of requirements to apply for the REP:

·???????? Have a?valid employment offer

·???????? The salary must align with Ireland’s national minimum wage

·???????? Have the required educational qualifications that match the job role

·???????? Have prior work experience related to the occupation

·???????? Have a Reactivation Employment Permit or the temporary Stamp 1

Internship Employment Permit

The Internship Employment permit is exclusively for full-time students studying in colleges outside the EEA region who wish to gain experience in Ireland. It replaces the previous Internship class of work permit. Once issued, the permit is valid for 12 months and cannot be renewed.

Eligibility Criteria for the Internship Employment permit

The eligibility criteria for the Internship Employment permit:

·???????? Be a full-time, postgraduate student registered in a university outside Ireland

·???????? Are currently pursuing a degree or a higher level of education

·???????? Have an internship offer from an Ireland employer

Requirements for Internship Employment permit

The requirements to be fulfilled for the Internship Employment permit are as follows:

·???????? The wages offered must be equal to the minimum salary offered in Ireland.?

·???????? The internship provided must be for an occupation listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List

·???????? Your study course must align with the internship offered

·???????? The applicants must show proof of intent to exit the country after the internship ends.

Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

The Sports Professional class of Work Permit is being replaced by the Sport and Cultural Employment permit. The permit is for individuals who wish to be employed in Ireland's sports and cultural fields. They must have the required skills, experience, and qualifications to develop, operate, and manage cultural and sports activities within the country. The permit is usually issued for a maximum of 2 years and may differ based on the employment duration.

Eligibility Requirements for Sport and Cultural Employment permit

The eligibility criteria to apply for the Sport and Cultural Employment permit are as follows:

·???????? The wage offered must meet the national wage standards

·???????? Must have the required skills and qualifications needed for the job

·???????? Must have prior professional experience

Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

The previous Exchange Agreement class of Work Permit Employment Permit is currently replaced by the Exchange Agreement Employment Permit. The permit is for the employment of non-EEA nationals who are bound to international or other authorized agreements. Once issued, the permit is valid for a maximum of two years, depending on the type of exchange agreement.

List of programs that are eligible for the Exchange Agreement Employment permit:

·???????? AIESEC

·???????? The Fulbright Programme

·???????? The Bord Bia exchange agreement between St Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, and UCC for food marketing students

·???????? The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)

·???????? Vulcanus in Europe Programme (Ireland)

Eligibility Requirements for the Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

The eligibility criteria to apply for the Exchange Agreement Employment permit are as follows:

·???????? The salary offered must match the national wages in the country

·???????? Must have the required skills, expertise and qualifications for the offered role

·???????? Must have a letter that is issued or backed by any of the eligible organizations in the exchange program

Ireland Job Market in 2024

·???????? The total employment in Ireland is 2.7 million.

·???????? The country's GDP is expected to be 7.3% for 2023-24.

·???????? Ireland has around 70,800 job vacancies as of Q2 2024.

·???????? Indians received the highest number of Ireland work permits, 6,746 in the first six months of 2024. ?

·???????? As per recent reports, the unemployment rate in Ireland is comparatively low at 4.7%.

·???????? There is a high demand for data scientists and nurses in Ireland.

·???????? The average annual salary in Ireland ranges from €38,000 to €45,000.

·???????? Industrial Automation, Program Development, International Trade and development, and Environmental Services are some of Ireland's fastest-growing industries.

·???????? There are many job openings in Ireland's healthcare industry and the construction sector.

·???????? Around 26.7% of job openings in Ireland are facilitating hybrid and remote working options.

Read more…

Ireland Job Market in 2024-25

Highest Paying Jobs in Ireland, 2024-25

The table below has details of the Top 10 High-paying jobs in Ireland in 2024-25.

Source: Talent site

*Want to apply for jobs in Ireland? Avail Y-Axis Job Search Services to find the right one.

Steps to apply for an Ireland Employment Permit

The application for the Ireland employment permit must be submitted at least three months before the date of employment or your travel date to Ireland.

You can follow the steps given below to apply for an Ireland Employment Permit:

Step 1: Select the type of Ireland employment permit

You must first choose the kind of Ireland employment permit that best fits your requirements.

Step 2: Arrange the required list of documents

Once you have chosen the employment permit of your choice, you must gather the general list of requirements given below:

·???????? Passport

·???????? Passport sized-photographs

·???????? Travel insurance

·???????? Application form/letter

·???????? Proof of employment

·???????? An official letter from an employer in Ireland

·???????? Poof of qualifications

·???????? Proof of funds

·???????? Any history of visa rejections/refusals

Step 3: Fill out and submit the application form

Submit the visa application once you have filled it out and signed it.

Step 4: Complete the fee payment

Pay the required application fees based on the purpose of your entry and the type of employment permit.

Step 5: Wait for a status on your application

Wait for a decision from the Irish authorities regarding your application for an Ireland employment permit.

Processing Time for Ireland Employment Permits

The table below has the complete list of Ireland employment permits along with their processing times:

Processing Fee for Ireland Employment Permits

The table below has the complete list of Ireland employment permits along with their processing fees:

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