1. You generally need both an employment permit and a visa
If you are a non-EU/EEA/UK/Swiss national, you must first secure an employment permit before you can legally work in Ireland. Once you have the permit, you must apply for the corresponding work visa (if your nationality requires a visa to enter Ireland) before you travel.
2. Types of employment permits
Ireland offers several main types of work permits for international workers:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: For highly skilled roles (e.g., ICT, engineering, healthcare). This permit has higher salary thresholds and is designed to attract talent and can lead more quickly toward long-term residency.
- General Employment Permit: Covers a broader range of jobs but usually requires a minimum annual salary (commonly around €30,000) and a Labour Market Needs Test to show the job couldn’t be filled by an EEA/Swiss worker.
- Other specialised permits include Intra-Company Transfer, Hosting Agreement Scheme for researchers, and permits for nurses or specific sectors.
3. Key requirements before applying
- You must have a confirmed job offer from an employer in Ireland.
- Employers usually need to demonstrate compliance with Irish labour law and, for some permits, prove the role was advertised to local/EEA job seekers.
- The employment contract, evidence of your qualifications, and proof of salary requirements are part of the application process.
4. Visa application
After the employment permit is granted, if you’re from a country that requires a visa to enter Ireland, you’ll apply for a long-stay (D) employment visa from your home country up to about three months before travel.
5. Residency and long-term options
Once you live and work in Ireland and hold qualifying permits for a number of years (typically around 60 months), you may become eligible for long-term residency permission.
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