Employment Permit: How To Get a Work Permit for Ireland
If you are looking to work in Ireland as a non-Irish national, you will need to obtain a work permit. This will allow you to work in the country for a specific period of time and under specific conditions.
At Immigration Advice Service, we have a team of work permit solicitors who can assist you with your application and offer comprehensive advice throughout the process.
Call us on 0333 305 9375 or contact us online for a free initial consultation.
What is the Irish Work Permit?
The Irish Work Permit is a document that allows foreigners to work in Ireland. It is issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, and it is valid for two years for certain types of work.
The work permit is linked to a specific employer, and it cannot be transferred to another employer. So if you change jobs, you will need to apply for a new work permit.
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Eligibility
To be eligible for an Irish work permit, you must:
- Be over 18 years of age.
- Have a job offer from an employer in Ireland.
- Meet the minimum salary requirements.
- Have the required qualifications and skills for the role.
- Be employed in an occupation that is on the list of occupations under the General Employment permit.
- Be from a country that is not in the European Union, European Economic Area, or Switzerland.
- Not have any previous convictions for criminal offences.
Types of Ireland Employment Visas and Permits
There are various types of Ireland employment visas and permits available to foreign nationals who wish to work in the country. These include the following:
Critical Skills Employment Permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit Ireland permits highly skilled workers from outside the European Union to work in Ireland. The permit is valid for two years and is renewable.
To be eligible for the permit, workers must have a job offer from an Irish employer with a salary of at least €64,000 per year and experience requirements.
The permit is designed to help Ireland attract highly skilled workers who can contribute to the economy.
Workers who hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland are entitled to work in any occupation and are not subject to labour market testing.
The eligible occupations under the Critical Skills Employment Permit are Engineering, ICT, Health, Natural and Social Science, Education, and Architecture, among others.
General Employment Permit
The General Employment Permit Ireland permits a non-EEA national to take up employment in Ireland. The permit is valid for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of two years.
It is also possible to renew the permit for additional three-year periods. After 5 years, the applicant may apply to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) for an Irish Long-Term Residency Permit.
The General Employment Permit Ireland is open to all occupations, with the exception of a few highly skilled occupations which are listed on the Ineligible Occupations List.
To be eligible for the General Employment Permit Ireland, the applicant must be employed in an eligible occupation and have a salary of at least €30,000 per year.
The General Employment Permit Ireland is not available to self-employed individuals or to those who wish to take up employment as an Intern.
Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits
Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits allow the dependents of work permit holders to work in Ireland.
The permit is valid for the same period as the work permit holder’s employment contract, up to a maximum of two years and can be renewed for a further three-year period.
To be eligible for a Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, the applicant must be the spouse, civil partner, or dependent child of a work permit holder.
The dependent must also be aged 18 years or over and have a valid passport. One good thing about this permit is that its application fee is free of charge.
Additionally, the prospective employer is not required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test.
Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
The Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit Ireland is a permit that allows employees of multinational companies to transfer from a foreign branch to an Irish branch of the company.
The permit is valid for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of two years and can be extended for another five years.
To be eligible for the Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit, the applicant must have been employed by the overseas company for a minimum period of 12 months.
In addition, the applicant must also be transferred to an Irish branch of the company to work in a similar position and on a salary that is equivalent to or greater than €40,000 per year (or €30,000 in the case of an Intra-Company Transfer trainee).
Internship Employment Permit
The Internship Employment Permit Ireland is a permit that allows non-EEA full-time students enrolled in a third-level institution outside the State to work in Ireland on an internship placement.
The permit is valid for the duration of the internship, up to a maximum of 12 months.
To be eligible for the Internship Employment Permit, the applicant must have been offered an internship by an Irish employer.
The internship must be part of the applicant’s educational course, and the internship should be paid.
Contract for Services Employment Permit
The Contract for Services Employment Permit Ireland is a permit that allows non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland under a contract for services.
The permit is valid for the duration of the contract, up to a maximum of 24 months.
To be eligible for the Contract for Services Employment Permit, the applicant must have been offered a contract by an Irish employer.
The contract must be for a specific service and the value of the contract must be €40,000 or more.
Sport and Cultural Employment Permit
The Sport and Cultural Employment Permit Ireland is a permit issued to foreigners who wish to work in Ireland in the sports or cultural sector.
The permit is valid for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 12 months.
To be eligible for the Sport and Cultural Employment Permit, the applicant must have been offered a job by an Irish employer.
The position must be in the sports or cultural sector and the applicant must be a highly skilled worker.
Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
The Exchange Agreement Employment Permit Ireland is a permit that allows non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland under an exchange agreement such as The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) or The European Community Association Agreement (ECAA).
The permit is valid for the duration of the exchange agreement, up to a maximum of 12 months.
The position must be under an exchange agreement and the applicant must have been offered a job by an Irish employer.
Reactivation Employment Permit
The Reactivation Employment Permit Ireland is a permit that allows non-EEA nationals who lost their employment permit but not because of their fault to work in Ireland again.
The permit is valid for the duration of the employment contract, up to a maximum of 12 months.
To be eligible for the Reactivation Employment Permit, the applicant must have held a work permit that was valid for at least six months and lost their job through no fault of their own.
How to Apply for Ireland Work Permit
The application process
To apply for an Ireland work permit, the applicant must submit an online application through the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) portal. The portal is available in English and Irish.
The online application system has many benefits, such as the ability to track the progress of your application, online application system, receive updates by email, upload supporting documents, secure online fee payments, and more.
Attaching the documents
Once the online application is complete, the applicant must then gather all of the required supporting documentation and send it to the Employment Permits Section.
The formats for the electronic documents are PDF, PNG or JPEG/JPG and are no larger than 10MB. The documents must be printed out and signed before being submitted to the Employment Permits Section.
Paying the fee
The application fee for an employment permit depends on the type of permit and whether the applicant is applying for the first time or renewing an existing permit.
The fee must be paid online through the EPOS portal using a credit or debit card. The applicant will not be able to submit their application until the fee has been paid.
Application deadlines
A work permit application where the Labour Market Needs Test is required must have published a EURES vacancy for at least 28 calendar days before the work permit application is submitted.
An application for a work permit that does not require a Labour Market Needs Test may be submitted no more than 90 days before the proposed employment start date.
If an application has not been submitted within 28 days of the work permit expiry date, a new work permit application will need to be made and the previous one deleted from the system for data protection purposes.
Ireland Work Permit Requirements
The following are the requirements for an employment permit:
- Irish work visa application form: From the online application system.
- Offer of employment: The applicant must have a job offer from an Irish employer. The job offer must be in writing and specify the duties of the position, the salary, the start date, and the duration of the contract.
- Copy of passport: A copy of the biographical page of the applicant’s passport.
- Passport-sized photograph: A passport-sized photograph of the applicant.
- Proof of qualifications: The applicant must provide proof of their qualifications, such as educational certificates, transcripts, or professional licenses.
- The applicant must provide evidence of their English language proficiency, such as a TOEFL or IELTS score report.
- Police clearance certificate: The applicant must provide a police clearance certificate from their home country and any other countries they have lived in for more than six months in the past five years.
- Medical examination: The applicant must undergo a medical examination and provide evidence of their good health and must have private medical insurance.
- Proof of financial support: The applicant must provide proof that they have sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in Ireland.
- Proof of paid work visa fees: The applicant must provide proof of payment for the work visa application fee.
There are different requirements for each type of work permit. For more information, please see the Employment Permits page on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation website.
The above-mentioned requirements are subject to change without prior notice. Before applying for a work
The employer must also meet certain requirements, such as being registered with the Companies Registration Office and having a valid Tax Reference Number.
In addition, the employer must provide a written statement of support for the work permit application.
For more information on the requirements for employers, please see the Employment Permits page on the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation website.
Ireland Work Visa Residence Permit
An Irish residence permit is not required for stays of less than 90 days. However, if the applicant intends to stay in Ireland for longer than 90 days, they must apply for a residence permit.
The permit must be applied for within 90 days of arrival in Ireland. For more information on residence permits, please see the Immigration page on the Department of Justice and Equality website.
How Can Immigration Advice Service Help?
If you need help with your Irish employment permits applications, whichever type of work permit you are applying for, our immigration solicitors can assist you.
We have a wealth of experience in assisting clients with work permit applications and can help you ensure that your application is submitted correctly and on time.
Here are some of the services we offer:
- Assistance with completing the work permit application form.
- Advice on which type of work permit you should apply for.
- A full assessment of your eligibility for a work permit.
- Guidance on the supporting documentation you will need to provide.
- Advice on the application process and how to avoid common mistakes.
Call us on 0333 305 9375 or contact us online to speak to one of our work permit solicitors and get started on your application today.
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Last modified on March 31st, 2023 at 3:47 pm
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