Ireland Work Visa Requirements

There is no easy one-way ticket to securing an Work visa to come and work in Ireland. In fact, this route is particularly difficult to go down. This is because each case and query differs from applicant to applicant, depending on your plans, personal circumstances, work experience and the type of work permit you require. If none of the nine work permits suits your circumstances, you may be eligible for a different type of Employment permit instead.

However, before stepping foot in Ireland or even pursuing the work visa application, there are certain steps to follow if you want to legally and successfully enter the State.

The first is that you need to apply for what is known as ‘immigration permission to work’. This may involve securing a job offer from your prospective employer first and then receiving a work permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) or you may need to apply via the Atypical Working Scheme if you intend on working in Ireland for less than 3 months.

Get in touch with the IAS client care team today to see how we can help you secure your Work Visa to Ireland.

The specific documents you will have to provide for your work permit application depend on which permit you are applying for. However, generally speaking, you may have to provide the following documents and information:

• Personal details of the employee, such as name, address, date of birth, contact details, PPS number, etc
• Passport number and expiry date
• Details of the job such as the title, responsibilities, salary details, start date, etc
• Details of the employer, such as their Employer Registered Number (ERN), Company Name Registered Number, number of foreign employees currently in employment, address, contact details, etc
• Proof of any qualifications
• Proof of English language ability
• Any other relevant documents relating to specific work permits or special eligibility criteria as relevant

Obtaining an Employment Permit is unlike any other Irish immigration pathway since you must obtain your permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) before seeking immigration permission to legally enter the country.

The nine permits you can choose from are:

• General Employment Permit
• Critical Skills Employment Permit
• Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
• Reactivation Employment Permit
• Contract for Services and Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
• Internship Employment Visa
• Sports and Cultural Employment Permit

Once you have your permit or have been granted permission to work, you can then seek an Irish Work Visa which falls under the Long Term ‘D’ Visa category.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is arguably the most sought-after and advantageous Irish work permit. This is because Critical Skills permit holders are able to fast-track their way to permanent residency in Ireland – before the permit itself has even expired – as the Irish state wishes to retain and encourage skilled individuals to settle in the country.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit exists to fill severe workforce shortages in highly skilled industries that the State considers to be a lifeline and backbone to the Irish economy. Since these vocations are so vital, the Irish Embassy prioritises foreign visa applicants and actively encourages their migration into the State.

The requirements to receive this permit include:

• Receiving a job offer in an occupation listed in the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List and earning at least €38,000 (figure correct as of January 2024; this threshold is also set to rise to €44,000 by January 2025) or;
• Receiving a job offer in an occupation that isn’t listed on the Highly Skilled List and earning a minimum salary of at least €64,000 and;
• Securing a 2-year job offer from his or her prospective employer

Although the Critical Skills Employment Permit comes with a list of specific eligible occupations, it is not the only way to come and work in Ireland.

In fact, most jobs are not featured on the Critical Skills List. So to welcome additional overseas talent into the State, the Irish government implemented the General Employment Permit. This permit is open to almost all other vocations in the country.  In other words, the General Permit will most likely cover your occupation unless it is otherwise specified.

However, in order to be eligible, applicants must abide by the requirements of this permit, including:

• Receiving a job offer from a bona fide employer that is registered with the Revenue Commissioners but that is not a job featured on the ‘Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits’
• Meeting the qualification, skill set and/or work experience required for the job
• Earning a minimum of €34,000 (figure correct as of January 2024; this threshold is set to rise to €39,000 by January 2025)
  • Some exceptions apply to this minimum threshold, such as those who work in certain professions or with certain qualifications. In these cases, the minimum salary may be as low as €27,000.

Only once you have received this permit can you can then begin your Work Visa application.

The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit is a streamlined service that allows certain important people within a multinational company to transition to its Irish branch. It is specifically designed to welcome overseas key personnel, senior management and trainees who are then permitted to stay on the foreign payroll and continue their overseas pension contributions.

The requirements to meet this permit are:

• Key personnel – must earn at least€46,000
• Senior management – must earn at least €46,000
• Personnel attending training – must earn at least €34,000

Note that all of the above figures are correct as of January 2024. These figures are set to be raised to €53,000 for key personnel and senior management and €39,000 for trainees as of January 2025.

Get in touch with the IAS client care team today to see how an IAS immigration expert in Ireland can help you transfer your work and possibly even your family from overseas and into Ireland.

Exchange Agreement Employment permit is designed to bring foreign nationals to Ireland to work via a prescribed agreement or through another international agreement for no longer than 2 years.

The current agreements are:

• AIESEC – a not-for-profit organisation run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education
• The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) – a non-governmental organisation representing academic, industrial and student interests
• The Fulbright Programme – a bilateral agreement between Ireland and the United States

You will have to check with The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) if you qualify for this permit via one of the reciprocal agreement schemes.

The Contract for Services Employment Permit is granted to foreign employees to come and work on an Irish contract for up to 2 years after having won a contract to provide a certain service to an Irish entity.

The requirements to be met to receive this permit include:

• Working for at least six months with the contractor before transferring to Ireland
• Working in a position that is not on the Ineligible Employment Permit List

The Reactivation Employment Permit is only ever granted in extraordinary circumstances and on rare occasions.

It applies only to overseas nationals who have already worked in Ireland but who have fallen through the system through no fault of their own. This would include being mistreated or exploited in the workplace, divorcing or separating from your partner or seeking low-paid employment that would not fall under the General Employment Permit route.

The ‘reactivation’ route is a form of re-permission that such an individual is granted to work legally within the country again.

The Internship Permit is applicable to overseas students who are already enrolled in a third level institution outside of Ireland but who wish to come to the State for the purpose of gaining work experience.

The criteria to be eligible for an Internship to Ireland are as follows:

• You must be earning the National Minimum wage or higher when you come to the State
• The internship and/or course of study must align with one of the vocations outlined on the Highly Skilled Occupation List
• You must already be a full-time student who is enrolled in a third-level institution outside of Ireland with the intent of pursuing a Degree or higher

The Republic of Ireland takes great pride in its prestigious sports teams and its rich, cultural heritage. To welcome international talent into its ranks, the State has a specific permit that is open to international sportspersons and international cultural developers.

To qualify for this one-of-a-kind route, eligible experts must meet the requirements which stipulate:

• Having relevant qualifications or;
• Having a relevant skill or;
• Beholding unique experience or knowledge for the purpose of developing, operating and expanding the capacity of sporting and cultural activities

The Sport and Culture Permit also requires foreign applicants to earn the National Minimum Wage when in Ireland, or higher.