If you are planning to work in Ireland, you need to understand the difference between an Irish employment permit, an Irish work visa and your immigration permission.
For people from outside the EU, EEA, UK and Switzerland, the usual process is to obtain the appropriate employment permit first and, if your nationality requires an Irish visa, apply for the appropriate visa before travelling to Ireland.
After arriving in Ireland for a stay of more than 90 days, eligible non-EEA nationals must also register their immigration permission with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD).
The rules depend on your nationality and immigration status.
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals generally do not need an Irish employment permit to work in Ireland because of the rights associated with free movement and the relevant agreements.
UK citizens benefit from the Common Travel Area arrangements and generally do not need an Irish employment permit or Irish employment visa to work in Ireland.
If you are a national of a country outside the EU, EEA, UK and Switzerland, you will generally need a valid Irish employment permit or another appropriate work permission before beginning employment in Ireland, unless you fall under a specific exemption.
Depending on your nationality, you may also need an Irish visa before travelling to Ireland.
The terminology can be confusing because people commonly search for an "Ireland work visa" when they actually need an employment permit first.
| Document / Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Employment Permit | Authorises eligible employment under Ireland's employment-permit system. |
| Long Stay "D" Employment Visa | Allows a visa-required national who has the necessary employment permission to travel to Ireland for long-term employment. |
| Immigration Permission | Determines what you are legally permitted to do and how long you may remain in Ireland. |
| Irish Residence Permit (IRP) | Evidence of registered immigration permission for eligible non-EEA residents staying in Ireland for more than 90 days. |
Therefore, getting an employment permit does not automatically mean that you can simply enter Ireland without checking whether you also require a visa.
Ireland has several employment permit categories. The correct permit depends on your occupation, salary, qualifications, employer and circumstances.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is designed for highly skilled occupations that are considered important to Ireland's economy and where there are skills shortages.
The Critical Skills Occupations List includes eligible roles in areas such as information and communications technology, engineering, science, healthcare, finance and other specialised occupations.
The exact occupation and required skills matter. Simply having a job title that sounds similar to an occupation on the list does not automatically mean that the position qualifies.
The General Employment Permit (GEP) covers a broad range of occupations that are not on the ineligible list, subject to the applicable requirements.
In many cases, the employer must complete a Labour Market Needs Test before an application can be submitted.
The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit is intended for certain senior management, key personnel and trainees who are transferred from an overseas branch of a company to an Irish branch.
This permit category can apply in specific circumstances where employees of an overseas contractor are assigned to work in Ireland under a qualifying contract for services.
The Internship Employment Permit is designed for qualifying students or recent graduates in specific circumstances and is subject to its own conditions.
Ireland also operates other specialised employment-permit routes, including permits associated with sport, entertainment, exchange agreements, seasonal work and other specific circumstances.
The correct permit should be determined from the actual job, employer and applicant circumstances rather than simply choosing the most convenient category.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit is one of the main routes used by highly skilled international workers seeking employment in Ireland.
Critical Skills eligibility depends on the occupation and salary rules in force when the application is submitted.
Ireland updated employment permit salary thresholds from March 2026 as part of a phased minimum annual remuneration roadmap.
For 2026, the published minimum annual remuneration figures include:
| Critical Skills Route | 2026 Minimum Annual Remuneration |
|---|---|
| CSEP with relevant degree | €40,909 |
| CSEP without relevant degree, where the occupation qualifies under the applicable rules | €68,911 |
| Critical Skills graduate route | €36,849 |
Salary thresholds and employment-permit rules can change. Always verify the current threshold applicable to your occupation and application date before applying.
The General Employment Permit has its own minimum annual remuneration requirements.
For 2026, the general minimum annual remuneration is generally €36,605.
Different thresholds can apply to certain occupations and qualifying graduates. For example, specific healthcare, home-care, meat-processing and horticultural roles have different published thresholds.
For certain qualifying graduates from Irish third-level institutions, a lower General Employment Permit threshold can apply.
The actual salary requirement should always be checked against the current employment-permit rules for the specific occupation.
| Feature | Critical Skills | General Employment Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Highly skilled occupations in strategic shortage areas | Broad range of eligible occupations |
| Occupation list | Must generally be on the Critical Skills Occupations List | Occupation generally must not be on the Ineligible List |
| Labour Market Needs Test | Generally not required | Often required |
| Salary | Higher specialised thresholds apply | Generally €36,605 in 2026, with specific exceptions |
| Typical contract | Generally at least 2 years | Can cover qualifying employment subject to permit rules |
| Long-term immigration pathway | Can provide a pathway toward Stamp 4 after the applicable qualifying period | Can also lead toward longer-term permission subject to the relevant rules and qualifying period |
Not every job in Ireland qualifies for an employment permit.
Ireland maintains an Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. Occupations on this list generally cannot be used as the basis for an employment permit, subject to specific exceptions.
The occupation lists can change as Ireland responds to labour-market requirements.
Therefore, before accepting a job offer, check whether the exact occupation is eligible rather than relying only on the job title.
The exact requirements depend on the permit category, but applicants commonly need evidence relating to:
Irish employment-permit applications involve requirements for both the worker and the employer.
The employer generally needs to be a genuine and legally operating employer and must satisfy the applicable employment-permit requirements.
Depending on the permit type, the employer may also need to meet requirements concerning the proportion of EEA employees, remuneration, recruitment and the Labour Market Needs Test.
The Labour Market Needs Test is an important part of many General Employment Permit applications.
Where required, the employer must demonstrate that the vacancy has been advertised through the prescribed channels and that suitable candidates could not be found in the relevant labour market.
The Labour Market Needs Test is generally not required for Critical Skills Employment Permits.
Ireland uses an online employment-permit application system. Employment permit applications can be submitted online by the applicant or, where permitted, by the employer.
Secure a genuine job offer from an Irish employer.
Determine whether the exact position is eligible for the intended employment permit category.
Confirm that the proposed remuneration meets the applicable minimum annual remuneration threshold.
Review the qualifications, skills and experience required for the specific occupation and permit category.
Where required, the employer completes the Labour Market Needs Test and prepares the necessary employer information.
The application is submitted through the Irish Employment Permits Online system with the required information and supporting documentation.
The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment processes applications according to the permit category and the date a fully completed application and required fee are received.
If you are a visa-required national, you normally apply for the appropriate Irish employment visa after obtaining the required employment permission.
Once the relevant employment and visa requirements have been satisfied, you can travel to Ireland and seek entry.
If you are a non-EEA national staying in Ireland for more than 90 days, you must register your immigration permission with Immigration Service Delivery.
It depends on your nationality.
Some nationalities are visa-exempt for entry to Ireland, while other nationalities must obtain an Irish visa before travelling.
If you are a visa-required national and have been granted an employment permit for long-term employment, you will generally need to apply for a Long Stay "D" Employment Visa before travelling to Ireland.
The employment permit and visa are separate parts of the immigration process.
If you are a non-EEA national coming to Ireland to work and intend to remain for more than 90 days, you generally need to register your immigration permission with Immigration Service Delivery.
Registration records the permission you have been granted and the activities you are legally allowed to undertake in Ireland.
Your immigration permission is associated with a particular Stamp category.
Stamp 1 is commonly associated with permission to work in Ireland based on an employment permit or another qualifying authorisation.
The conditions attached to your Stamp determine what employment and activities you are legally permitted to undertake.
Do not assume that holding an Irish Residence Permit automatically gives unrestricted access to the Irish labour market.
Eligible non-EEA nationals staying in Ireland for more than 90 days must register their immigration permission.
After successful registration, an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card is issued as evidence of your registered immigration permission.
The IRP contains information relating to your immigration status and the conditions attached to your permission.
First-time registration takes place through the applicable registration process in Ireland. Renewals and changes of permission are subject to the current ISD procedures.
Processing times vary according to the employment permit type and the volume of applications.
Ireland processes employment permit applications in date order based on the receipt of fully completed applications and applicable fees.
Critical Skills applications and General Employment Permit applications can therefore have different processing queues.
Applicants should check the current employment-permit processing dates before making travel plans or setting an employment start date.
Employment permits are generally connected to the employment, occupation and employer specified on the permit.
This means that you should not simply start working for another company without checking whether a new permit or other permission is required.
Under current rules, certain employment permit holders may be able to change employer after completing the applicable initial period, while specific exceptions can apply in circumstances such as redundancy or fundamental changes to the employment relationship.
Always check the rules applying to your particular permit before changing jobs.
Family reunification rules depend on the type of employment permission held by the worker.
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders have specific family-reunification arrangements and may be able to apply for family reunification under the applicable immigration rules.
Family members of General Employment Permit holders can be subject to different conditions and may need their own immigration or employment permissions before working in Ireland.
Do not assume that a spouse or dependent automatically receives permission to work simply because the main applicant holds an employment permit.
Ireland does not use the same permanent residence permit system as Switzerland.
Employment-permit holders can potentially progress to longer-term immigration permissions if they satisfy the applicable conditions and qualifying residence requirements.
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders may become eligible for Stamp 4 after the relevant qualifying period.
Current immigration guidance indicates that a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder may be eligible for Stamp 4 after 21 months of employment in the State under the permit, while a General Employment Permit holder may become eligible after 57 months, subject to the applicable rules.
Stamp 4 generally provides greater freedom to work without an employment permit than a permit-linked Stamp 1 permission.
Moving to Ireland for employment involves more than the cost of an employment permit or visa.
You should budget for:
Ireland has major employment centres across the country. The largest concentration of international employers is around Dublin, while other important employment locations include Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.
Dublin is Ireland's largest employment centre and has a substantial technology, finance, professional-services, pharmaceutical and multinational business sector.
Cork has important employment opportunities in technology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, manufacturing and international business.
Galway has established technology, medical-device, healthcare and life-sciences industries.
Limerick has employment opportunities across technology, manufacturing, healthcare, engineering and education.
Waterford has opportunities in technology, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, healthcare and other sectors.
Foreign workers can find opportunities in a wide range of sectors, but the ability to obtain an employment permit depends on the specific occupation and permit requirements.
Potential sectors include:
The availability of jobs does not by itself mean that every position qualifies for an employment permit.
Explore jobs in Ireland for foreignersIreland has a large international business sector, particularly in technology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, financial services and professional services.
However, working for a multinational company does not automatically remove the requirement for an employment permit. Your nationality, role, salary, transfer arrangements and immigration status still matter.
Explore companies in IrelandApplicants can encounter problems when they confuse the employment permit system with the immigration visa system.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do EU/EEA citizens need an Irish employment permit? | Generally no. |
| Do Swiss citizens need an Irish employment permit? | Generally no. |
| Do UK citizens need an Irish employment permit? | Generally no, under the Common Travel Area arrangements. |
| Do non-EEA nationals generally need an employment permit? | Yes, unless a specific exemption or alternative work permission applies. |
| Main highly skilled permit | Critical Skills Employment Permit. |
| Main broad employment permit | General Employment Permit. |
| 2026 general GEP salary threshold | Generally €36,605, subject to specific exceptions. |
| 2026 CSEP threshold with relevant degree | €40,909 for qualifying applications under the applicable rules. |
| Does every foreign worker need an Irish visa? | No. Visa requirements depend on nationality. |
| Long-term work visa category | Long Stay "D" visa for visa-required nationals. |
| Do long-term non-EEA residents need registration? | Generally yes, where the relevant immigration rules require it. |
Some people can work without an employment permit because of their nationality or immigration status. EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens generally do not require an Irish employment permit. Many other foreign nationals do require one.
No. An employment permit and visa are separate. A visa-required national may need both an employment permit and an Irish employment visa.
It is an Irish employment permit designed for qualifying highly skilled occupations that are included in the Critical Skills framework and meet the applicable requirements.
The General Employment Permit covers a broad range of eligible occupations that are not excluded by the employment-permit rules and meet the applicable requirements.
The required salary depends on the permit type and occupation. For 2026, the general GEP threshold is generally €36,605, while different Critical Skills and special-category thresholds apply.
Generally yes. Employment permits are linked to qualifying employment and require the relevant job and employer information.
Depending on the permit category, either the prospective employee or the employer can submit the employment permit application.
For a standard employment route, visa-required workers generally need the appropriate employment permission before applying for the corresponding employment visa.
A normal tourist visa does not give you permission to undertake ordinary employment in Ireland. You need the appropriate work authorisation and immigration permission.
Employment-permit conditions apply to changing employer. Depending on the permit type and circumstances, you may need a new employment permit or may become eligible to change employer after a specified period.
It depends on the immigration permission held by the main worker and the rules applying to the spouse or partner. A spouse does not automatically receive unrestricted employment rights simply because the main applicant holds an employment permit.
Potentially. Current immigration rules provide qualifying pathways from employment-permit-based permission to Stamp 4, with different qualifying periods applying to Critical Skills and General Employment Permit holders.
Eligible non-EEA nationals who remain in Ireland for more than 90 days generally need to register their immigration permission and receive an Irish Residence Permit.