Critical Skills Employment Permit

Eligible occupations under the Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit are deemed to be highly skilled, vitally important to Ireland’s economy and in significant shortage of supply in the Irish labour market.

There are two categories of jobs which fall under this permit:

• Occupation with an annual salary of €64,000 or more apart from those on the Ineligible List of Occupants for Employment Permits
• Occupation with an annual salary of €32,000 which is on the Critically Skilled Occupations List

Also, non-EEA nationals with immigration stamps 1, 1A, 2, 2A or 3, who have been offered a job in an occupation on the Highly Skilled Occupations List will also be eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Holders of the Critical Skills Employment Permit enjoy attractive benefits, making it one of the most highly-sought after permits.

One of the key distinguishing aspects of the Critical Skills Employment Permit is that holders can apply for immediate family reunification.

Spouses, partners and dependants will all be able to join the Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland through this scheme. Once they are in Ireland, they will be permitted to seek employment and apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, which is currently issued free of charge.

Also, once the employee has lived in Ireland under the Critical Skills Employment Permit for a certain period of time, they will be able to apply for the permission to reside and work in Ireland without needing to hold an employment permit.

There are certain conditions which the job offer needs to meet in order to be eligible under the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme.

• The employer must be trading in Ireland and registered with Revenue and the Companies Registration Office
• Employee must be directly employed and paid by the employer in Ireland
• Job offer must be for at least two years

Also, it is important to note that any job offered through a recruitment agency or other intermediary will not be acceptable under this permit.

For any Irish employment permit, the application must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date.

There are three main stages to the Irish Critical Skills Employment Permit application:

1. Complete the application form with the required documentation
2. Application is placed in processing queue
3. Application is considered by an official with decision making authority. The official may request further information if they deem it to be necessary in order to reach a decision

The application form needs to include a full description of the employee’s proposed employment, renumeration (excluding bonuses) and start date. Information in respect of the qualifications, skills or experience which is required for the job will need to be included.

Here at the Immigration Advice Service, we are highly experienced in processing Critical Skills Employment Permit applications. We can provide you with all the help and guidance you need. With our expertise, you will maximise your chances of receiving a positive outcome.

Call us now on (+353) 061 518 025 for more information.

Any applicant for a job eligible under the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme must have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience which is required for the job.

Applicants who have been offered eligible jobs in the €32,000 category must have a degree or higher qualification.

Those offered a job in the €64,000 category need to have a degree or relevant experience.

What is the Cost of a Critical Skills Employment Permit Application?

The specific costs of the application will depend on the applicant’s particular circumstances.

For example, some applications will require the professional translation of documents, or for certain documents to be independently verified.

It costs €1,000 to process a Critical Skills Employment Permit application. If the application is refused, 90% of this fee will be returned to the applicant.

Also, you will need to pay a fee of €300 for the Certificate of Registration.

There are a select group of non-EEA countries which hold a visa agreement with Ireland. This agreement enables applicants from these countries to enter Ireland without applying for a visa.

However, those from other non-EEA countries will need to apply for a Long Stay ‘D’ Employment Visa before they travel to Ireland, even if their Critical Skills Employment permit has been accepted.

All applicants, whether visa-required or not, will need to report to immigration official when they arrive in Ireland. All the relevant supporting documents, as well as the employment permit, should be provided to the immigration official.

If you are given an Irish Critical Skills Employment Permit, you can apply for your spouse, partner and minor dependent children to join you in Ireland through immediate family reunification.

Those living in Ireland as the spouse/partner/dependent of a CESP holder will have their passports stamped with Stamp 1G.

Once they are in Ireland, they will be able to apply for a Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, free of charge.

People residing in Ireland through being a family member/dependent of a CESP holder will be able to enter into education and seek employment in the State.

If an employee is made redundant while they are working under an Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit, they must inform the Employment Permits Section of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation within four weeks of the dismissal.

The person will be given up to six months to find another job by reason of redundancy.

If the person cannot find another job within six months of being made redundant, they must contact the immigration authorities to establish what their immigration status will be.

If you are granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit, you are generally expected to remain with the employer for at least 12 months, unless there are unforeseen, exceptional circumstances.

You will be able to look for a different job and change employer at the end of this period, but you will need to make a new application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

How Long Does the Critical Skills Employment Permit Last For?

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is issued for 2 years. At the end of the two years, you can apply to your local immigration officer for a Stamp 4.