Long-Term Stay - More Than 90 Days
Work permit application
Who needs to apply for work permit？
Under the Employment Permits Acts, in order to work in the State, all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice which allows them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an employment permit.
Critical employment permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit, is targeted at highly skilled people with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in Ireland. Occupations which are included on the Critical Skills Occupations List, such as ICT professionals, professional engineers and technologists are catered for under this type of employment permit.
Critical employment permit – Criteria for eligibility
Eligibility for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is largely determined by the type of occupation, and proposed remuneration level. The following are eligible:
- Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €32,000 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required. In the case of a nurse or midwife, a third level degree or diploma accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a sufficient qualification for registration to practice as a nurse or midwife in the State.
- All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest. A non-EEA national who does not have a degree qualification or higher, must have the necessary level of experience.
- The prospective employee concerned must have secured a 2-year job offer in respect of the eligible occupation from the prospective employer.
- The prospective employee concerned must possess the relevant qualifications, skills and experience that are required for the employment.
An employment permit will not be granted to companies unless 50% or more of the employees in the firm are EEA nationals at the time of application. However, this restriction may be waived in respect of start-up companies within 2 years of their establishment (that is, registered as an employer with Revenue) and which are supported by the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland, or IDA Ireland (this applies to client companies of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland only).
General Employment Permit
A General Employment Permit is an employment permit which permits the holder to be employed in the State in a broad range of occupations. Unlike Critical Skills Employment Permits, where eligible occupations are specified, General Employment Permits assume all occupations are eligible unless otherwise specified. Therefore, all occupations are eligible unless excluded under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. All occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List are deemed eligible.
General Employment Permit – Criteria for eligibility
As with most employment permits the issue of a General Employment Permit is contingent on a job offer from a bona fide employer registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, if applicable, with the Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies, and is trading in Ireland. Full details of what is required are set out on the relevant application form and include:
- A full description of the proposed employment
- The employment named is not in an excluded job category under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits
- Information in respect of the qualifications skills or experience required for the employment
Minimum annual remuneration – is generally €30,000. However, it is: - €27,000 in respect of an employment as a healthcare assistant; where an application is made in respect of a healthcare assistant who has previously been in employment in the State on an employment permit as a healthcare assistant for two years or more, a copy of the permit holder’s relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification.
- €27,000 in respect of a non-EEA student – who has graduated in the last 12 months, from an Irish third level institution, and has been offered a graduate position from the Critical Skills Occupations List; the minimum annual remuneration must be €30,000 at renewal stage;
- €27,000 in respect of a non-EEA student – who has graduated in the last 12 months, from an overseas third level institution, and has been offered a graduate position as an ICT professional from the Critical Skills Occupations List; in such cases the minimum annual remuneration must be €30,000 at renewal stage;
- €27,000 in respect of an employment which requires a person fluent in the official language of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency and the employment is in:
- a customer service and sales role with relevant product knowledge,
- a specialist online digital marketing and sales role, or
- a specialist language support and technical sales support role, and
- €27,500 in respect of an employment as a boner (meat).
Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
The Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit allows the dependants, recognised partners (where recognised as such by the Department of Justice and Equality), civil partners and spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders (formerly Green Card employment permit holders) and of Researchers on Hosting Agreements to apply for an employment permit to work in the State. Generally, it is illegal for spouses and dependants of employment permit holders to be employed in Ireland without a valid employment permit.
Other employment permits include:
Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
Contract for Services Employment Permit
Reactivation Employment Permit
Sport and Cultural Employment Permit
Internship Employment Permit
Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
Application process:
Step 1: Book a consultation
Step 2: Eligibility assessment
Step 3: Submit application
Step 4: Support non- visa required nationals to entry ireland / Support Visa -required nationals to apply for an entry visa
Support 5: Entry Ireland
Step 6: Register with INIS