Employment permits (Ireland)

DETE says that to work in Ireland a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit. Its Employment Permits Section runs the system, and the Employment Permits Act 2024 allows for nine types of permit. The permit is issued to the employee, with a certified copy to the employer, and it allows work for that employer, in that occupation, at the locations named on it.

An employment permit is not a residence permission. After you arrive you also register your immigration permission, usually Stamp 1, with Immigration Service Delivery and receive an Irish Residence Permit. If you are a visa-required national, you apply for an entry visa after the permit is granted.

• Critical Skills Employment Permit for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List, which covers registered nurses, midwives, doctors and many allied health professions. It needs a job offer of at least two years.
• General Employment Permit for other eligible roles. DETE sets a separate minimum salary for health care assistants. Non-consultant hospital doctors can hold a two-year Multi-Site General Employment Permit, registered as Stamp 1H.
• Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit for family of Critical Skills holders, issued free of charge. Since 15 May 2024 ISD registers eligible spouses and partners of Critical Skills and General permit holders on Stamp 1G, which allows work without a permit.

1. Get a job offer and a contract of employment signed by both you and the employer. DETE requires it with every application.
2. If the role needs a Labour Market Needs Test, the employer advertises it on EURES for at least 28 days before applying.
3. You or the employer apply on Employment Permits Online at least 12 weeks before the proposed start date. Drafts not submitted within 28 days are deleted.
4. DETE processes applications in date order by employer type (Trusted Partner or Standard) and publishes current processing dates. Requests for more information should be answered within 28 days.
5. If refused, you can ask for a review within 28 days.

DETE's fee table sets €1,000 for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, and €500 (six months or less) or €1,000 (up to 24 months) for a new General Employment Permit. GEP renewals cost €750 or €1,500. The Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit has no fee. If an application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded, and the refund goes to the applicant even if someone else paid. Where the employer applies, the Employment Permits Act 2024 says the employer may not recover the fee from your pay.

• Changing jobs too early. DETE expects you to stay with your first employer for 9 months before a new permit for another employer can be considered.
• Not reporting changes. If your employment ends, the permit must be returned to DETE within 4 weeks.
• Registration first. A permit does not let you practise; you still need registration with NMBI, the Medical Council or CORU.

Our Critical Skills permit guide walks through the full route.