Employment Permits for HGV (Truck) Drivers in Ireland

The EU and Ireland are facing a major shortage of HGV drivers. This is primarily because of eight to ten-week-long delays for local drivers wishing to take their HGV driving exam. The state has estimated that the nation is currently 3,000-4,000 drivers short of the required number of new drivers.

To tackle this driver shortage, the Irish government lifted the quotas on work permits being given to non-EU drivers.

Work permits for truck drivers are valid for a period of two years and require the holder to meet the host of requirements for a general work permit.

Page Contents

• Employment Permits for HGV Drivers Overview
• Specific Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Drivers
• Standard Eligibility Requirements for General Work Permits
• Apply for a Truck Driving Employment Permit
• Required Documentation
• What Other Employment Permits are Available to HGV Drivers?
• How Can IAS Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

The initial requirements to consider when applying for employment permits for truck driving that will tackle the driver shortage are those relating to the licence exchange agreements the Irish government has with other countries. According to these agreements, foreign licences equivalent to the Irish CE or C1E licences will permit you to drive trucks there.

Currently, the Irish Department of Transport has signed licence exchange agreements with South Africa, Australia, Japan, and South Korea. The Road Safety Authority currently validates foreign licences. When you submit your application, make sure to display the front and the back of your licence so that all information can be used to verify the validity of your foreign licence.

The final requirement for lorry drivers is to comply with road safety standards in the country while driving. This includes an expectation that you will earn a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence while you are in the country.

Labour Market Needs Test

Your employer must show that they had sufficiently attempted to find an Irish or European Economic Area citizen to fill the role. They must have advertised the role in the country and the EU properly and in the following locations:

• Department of Social Protection and European Employment Services for four weeks.
• A national newspaper for three days.
• A local newspaper for job websites such as Indeed for at least three days.

Having failed to find an appropriate candidate through these pathways, the employer must apply for an employment permit within 90 days.

However, there are some notable exceptions to this rule, meaning your role won’t need to pass a labour market needs test, including the following:

• You were made redundant while on an employment permit.
• The role will pay over 64,000 euros a year.

64,000 euros is substantially higher than the average salary for truck driving jobs in the country so it is unlikely you will earn enough to not have to pass a labour market needs test.

50/50 Rule

The final eligibility requirement to be eligible for a general employment permit for truck driving is that the company you are moving into follows the 50:50 rule, which requires Irish companies to have no more than 50% of workers from outside of the EEA. Please note the following exceptions which apply to this rule:

• The company is less than two years old, has a letter of support from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland, and is a client of these institutions.
• You will be the company’s only employee.

You must follow the standard process for applying for employment permits, submitting it to the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, rather than the Department of Transport.

Using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS), you must provide the following information in your application:

• Employer’s details, including evidence you will not upset the 50:50 rule.
• Your details, including your previous stays in Ireland, qualifications, and current residency status.
• An explanation of the work you will be doing as an HGV operator, including a proposed start and end date for your job.
• You and your employer’s contact details.
• Your proposed pay and the hours you will work each week.

When you submit your application, you or your employer will also need to pay a 1000 euro application fee.

All permit applicants, including truck operators, will also need to submit a range of documentation. This is on top of your truck driving licence, which will need to be your nation’s equivalent of the CE or C1E licence. The standard documents are as follows:

• Your passport.
• A PPS number if you have one.
• Your residence permit or an immigration stamp if you are an Irish resident.
• Job advertisement copies to satisfy the requirements for the labour market needs assessment.
• Your employment contract displaying your wage, role or duties, and the start and end date of your employment.
• A Revenue Commissioner’s statement for the company hiring you.

The Irish state has a range of different permits, which may apply if you can’t access a HGV driver employment permit directly. Relevant permits that don’t require a job offer may include the following:

• Dependent/Partner/Spouse Permit.
• Reactivation Permit.

However, please note that your non-Irish licence will certainly not be valid if you are on a different type of work permit. You will need to pass an exam for an Irish CE or C1E licence to be allowed to drive trucks.