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• Work permits & employment-based visas
• Ireland’s work permit types
• Family visas
• Self-employment visas for Ireland
• Temporary & permanent residence permits

As with everything related to immigration in Europe, the requirements for an Irish work permit or employment visa vary depending on whether or not you’re an EU/EEA citizen.

For EU/EEA nationals

Citizens of the EU/EEA don’t need a work visa in order to obtain employment in Ireland, nor do you need a job offer. If you intend to live and work in the country for longer than three months, you’ll need to provide proof of employment or sufficient income.

For non-EU/EEA nationals

If you’re a non-EU/EEA national, you’ll need to get permission to work from the Irish immigration authorities. This means you’ll need to apply for a work permit first and then apply for a work visa. The type of work permit you apply for will depend on your job type and duration of your stay.

What are the requirements for an Irish work visa?

Some requirements of an Irish work visa will depend on the specific visa you’re applying for, but nearly every visa will require these standard materials:

• Ireland work visa application form
• your valid passport
• passport-sized photo
• your contact details
• proof of paid work visa fees
• proof of legal residence in the country from which you are applying
• letter explaining that your purpose of travel is to gain employment
• evidence of your accommodation in Ireland
• if applicable, details of previous visas (approved and rejected)
• details of previous work experience, such as a CV
• proof of educational qualifications and degrees (you may need to present your physical diploma)
• proof of sufficient funds (typically bank statements from the previous six months on bank letterhead and clearly displaying your number, address, and contact details)
• proof of medical insurance (in Ireland, you must take out private medical insurance covering at least 25,000 EUR (approx. 29,000 USD) for cases of accidents, disease, and hospitalization)
• self-addressed, pre-paid envelope

To get a work visa, you must first receive a valid work permit from the . The type of permit that you apply for will depend on your employment conditions as well as the type of job you have. There are nine work permits expats can apply for in Ireland, but the two main work permits are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit.

1. Critical skills employment permit

Expats who qualify for this visa must first meet one of two qualifications. The first is that you don’t work for a profession that is found on the . If your profession is on this list, then you may not apply for this visa, and you will find it difficult to apply for any other work visa as well.

Requirements for Ireland’s critical skills employment permit

One requirement for applying for Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit is having a profession that is considered a “highly skilled occupation”. Expats who work in these professions are especially sought after because these jobs are currently facing shortages in Ireland. Professions that are currently deemed “highly skilled” include:

• Architecture (town planners and surveyors)
• Artistic, literary, and media
• Business, research, and administration
• Engineering
• Health and social services
• Information and communications technology (ICT)
• Natural and social science
• Nursing and midwifery
• Quality and regulatory
• Sales, marketing, and related associate
• Teaching and education (academics with the equivalent of a doctoral degree)

For a fully up-to-date list, see the

Other requirements

If your profession is not listed, you may still qualify for the Critical Skills Employment visa. In addition to working in one of the listed fields, expats looking to apply for this Irish work visa must also meet the following requirements:

• if your profession is on the “highly skilled” list, then you must receive an annual salary of at least 40,000 EUR (approx. 33,000 USD)
• if your profession is not on the “highly skilled” list, then you must receive an annual salary of at least 70,000 EUR (approx. 67,000 USD)
• your offered work contract must be for a period of two years
• you must hold the relevant degrees and experience required to accept your position

You (the applicant) must provide the following:

• a copy of your passport
• work history
• a copy of the work contract signed by you and your employer
• a copy of your current immigration stamp (if you’re a resident)
• relevant registration/pin or license number of the company issued by the appropriate Irish regulatory bodies or government ministers
• if applicable, a letter of support by IDA/Enterprise Ireland

Your employer must provide the following:

• registered and trading name of their company/business
• details on the type and nature of their company/business
• number of hired employees in the company and their nationalities (regarding EU/EEA or not)
• registration number of the employer
• company name and address
• details of your title, duties, and responsibilities
• duration of your employment and salary
• details of the qualifications, skills, knowledge, and experience you have in order to meet the needs of the job

Once you have been granted your Critical Skills Employment visa and begin work, you must remain with that company for at least 9 months. After this period, you may change employers. Your employer must also prove that their company has a staff made up of at least 50% EU/EEA citizens at the time of your hiring. If you’re hired as a Critical Skills employee, your company will not be required to take the . You can read more about this test under the General Employment Permit section below.

2. General employment permit

If your job and salary don’t qualify you for the Critical Skills Employment visa, you can apply for the General Employment permit. Keep in mind that your job still can’t be on the This permit is also simply called: the work permit. It can last for six months or two years dependent on the job you are offered.

Requirements for Ireland’s general employment permit

The following are the requirements to be eligible for the Irish General Employment Permit:

• you must earn a minimum of 34,000 EUR (approx. 36,000 USD) per year (exceptions are made for recent higher education graduates, who can earn a minimum of 30,000 EUR (approx. 32,000 USD) annually)
• your employer must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners and with the Companies Registration Office / Registry of Friendly Societies
• your company must be made up of at least 50% EU/EEA citizens unless they are a start-up or you are the only employee
• you must have the relevant degree(s) and experience necessary to qualify for the position for which you have been hired

Other requirements, such as a passport photo or copy of your employment contract, are similar to what is asked for the Critical Skills Employment visa. In addition, your employer will need to pass the in order to prove no other EU/EEA citizen was fit for the job, and that the company posted the job long enough for EU/EEA citizens to apply.

Where can you apply for the work visa?

When you finish applying for the work permit, the online EPOS will prompt you on the steps you need to take to apply for the visa. This will include submitting all of your supporting documents such as your passport, CV, proof of medical insurance, etc. The system will tell you where to submit the documents. You’ll typically receive the decision on your visa about eight weeks after submitting your application.

The application form for the Irish work permit can be found on the Either you or your employer can submit the application. Follow the prompts on the site to apply for the appropriate permit.

How much does an Irish work visa cost?

Work visa costs will vary from 500–1,000 EUR (approx. 600–1200 USD) depending on the length of the visa’s validity. On average, six-month permits will cost just 500 EUR (approx. 600 USD) and two-year permits will cost 1,000 EUR (approx. 1,100 USD). Should your work permit be granted, there will also be a visa fee that will cover the cost of processing your application. If you’re denied a visa, you can be refunded up to 90% of your application fee.

Alternatively, you can apply for a multi-entry visa that allows you to travel to Ireland frequently for business. This visa fee could cost you around 100 EUR (approx. 110 USD). A few select nationalities are able to have this visa fee waived. This waiver applies to nationals from the following countries:

• Bosnia
• Cote d’Ivoire
• Ecuador
• Indonesia
• Jamaica
• Kosovo
• Kyrgyzstan
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• North Macedonia
• Peru
• Serbia
• Sri Lanka
• Tunisia
• Uganda
• Zambia

Intra-company transfer employment permit: This permit is issued to expats who transfer to the Irish branch of a company they already work for. This is typically only available for senior management, key personnel, and trainees.

Contract for services employment permit (students): This permit is only valid for one full year and can’t be renewed. It’s issued to full-time students who are still enrolled in a higher education institution and wish to come to Ireland for work experience.

Contract for services employment permit (foreign employees): Issued to those who are still employed by a foreign institution and come to Ireland to work for an Irish national/company.

Sport and cultural employment permit: Issued to foreigners who are especially qualified in a sports field.

Reactivation permit: This is issued to former holders of Irish employment permits, who lost their jobs due to forces beyond their control (i.e. being made redundant or workplace harassment).

Exchange agreement employment permit: For expats who are coming to work in Ireland under an international exchange agreement such as a Fulbright Scholarship.

Business visa

A business visa in Ireland is a short stay visa, or a “C” visa. It allows holders to stay in the country for up to 90 days and work for a period of up to 14 days. It also allows holders to perform activities related to their job such as attending meetings, signing contracts, etc.

If you’re coming to Ireland for a conference or business event, please note that this is not the visa you will need. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a short-term , which applies specifically to conferences and events. This visa doesn’t allow you to work during this time.

Expats moving to Ireland can apply for several different types of family visas. If you’re already an EU/EEA national and wish to join another EU/EEA national, you may do so without much paperwork. You’ll simply need to register your residence and your marriage with the local authorities.

Non-EU/EEA nationals, and nationals who are neither Swiss nor British, will have to apply for a visa under the scheme. This applies to children and dependents.

Irish spouse/fiancé/dependent visa

The Dependent Employment Permit is mainly for dependent children aged 18–23 in full-time education or others on Stamp 3 who aren’t eligible for automatic work rights.

The process of applying for a spousal or fiancé visa depends on the nationality and residency status of both you and your partner. Spouses and de-facto partners of Critical Skills, General, and ICT permit holders automatically receive a Stamp 1G visa, which allows them to work for any employer in any profession (even those on the ineligible list).

However, they can’t be self-employed. Also note:

1. Critical Skills (CSEP): Your spouse can join you in Ireland immediately.
2. General Permit (GEP): Your spouse usually has to wait until you have been working in Ireland for 12 months before they can apply to join you.

Keep in mind that if you have a de facto marriage, you will need to prove this by submitting evidence that you and your partner have lived together for at least two years.

For more information, visit the .

Citizens of the EU, EEA, UK, and Switzerland don’t need a self-employment visa in order to live and work in Ireland. Nationals who hold passports from these countries may move and immediately start working freelance positions. Citizens who aren’t from one of these countries must apply for the Start-Up Entrepreneur Program.

What is the Start-up Entrepreneur Program?

This program is often referred to as STEP. It requires foreigners to have at least 50,000 EUR (approx. 59,000 USD) in funding. Its aim is to promote “high potential start-ups”. These start-ups must:

• introduce a new/innovative product or service to international markets
• be involved in manufacturing or trading international services
• be able to create at least ten jobs in Ireland
• be able to generate at least 1 million EUR (approx. 1.1 million USD) in sales within 3 to 4 years
• be led by an experienced management team
• be less than six years old
• have a minimum funding of 50,000 EUR (approx. 59,000 USD) for the first founder and 30,000 EUR (approx. 35,000 USD) for each additional founder

How can you apply for the Start-up Entrepreneur Program?

In addition to the monetary requirements of each self-employment program, to apply for this visa you’ll also need to submit an application form that contains the following information:

• your contact details
• passport information
• details of your spouse or any dependents you want to move with you
• passport information for that spouse or dependents
• proof of your relationship to your spouse and dependents (marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc.)
• bank statements
• police background checks for everyone on the application over the age of 16
• affidavits of good character (by a solicitor)
• proof of your investment or start-up

Application forms and information for the can be found on the Department of Justice and Equality website. To start the process, you can only submit your application during specified dates every year. These dates typically encompass one week in February, April, June, August, and October. Refer to the government for more details.

The application fee for the Start-up Entrepreneur Program application is 350 EUR (approx. 380 USD).

Can you get help starting a business in Ireland?

Yes, you can. For those who are Irish/EU citizens or work visa holders who already have a legal right to work in Ireland, several state-funded programs can help you start a business. These include:

This allows individuals receiving certain social welfare payments to retain a percentage of their benefit for up to two years while becoming self-employed.

Similar to the BTWEA, this provides a weekly payment for up to 9 months for those transitioning from Jobseeker's Benefit to self-employment.

LEOs offer various forms of support, including training programs, mentoring, and financial grants for small businesses (10 or fewer employees) starting up in local communities.

This tax refund scheme allows eligible individuals to get a refund of up to 41% of the capital they invest in starting a business.

Temporary residence permits are only for non-EU/EEA nationals and people not from Switzerland or the UK. If you’re an EU/EEA or Swiss national, you may live and work in Ireland without the need for a visa. After three months of residing there, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• be either employed or self-employed
• have enough financial resources and health insurance to ensure that you don’t become a burden on the social services of Ireland
• be enrolled as a student or vocational trainee
• be a family member of an EU citizen who meets one of the previous criteria

UK nationals

Under the Common Travel Area, British people have an unrestricted right to live, work, and access services in Ireland from day one. They don’t need to meet EU residency conditions, don’t need a visa, and aren’t required to register for a residence permit.

Requirements and fees for a temporary resident permit

If you aren’t from the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you’ll most likely need a work permit to live in Ireland. For more on the requirements and fees to secure this permit see our section on Work Permits and Employment-Based Visas above.

What is a stamp 0?

Stamp 0 is a temporary but renewable residency program in Ireland that is intended for non-EU/EEA retiree expats who wish to move there but will not work. This visa scheme is granted to three types of foreigners:

• elderly dependents
• people of “independent means” who can prove a financial threshold of 50,000 EUR (approx. 54,000 USD) per person per year
• visiting academics (for those paid from outside Ireland and staying for less than 12 months)

While some expats may live in Ireland for years on this visa, it’s not intended to be a permanent solution. Retirees who enter Ireland with this visa are granted a specific length of stay for very limited purposes. They can’t access state benefits while on this visa, which means that they can’t take part in the public health system and other public ventures.

For more info, please refer to the detailing this immigration permission.

How can you obtain permanent residency in Ireland?

In general, expats are able to apply for permanent Irish residency once they’ve lived and worked in the country for a minimum of five years (60 months). However, those on Critical Skills permits are eligible for non-sponsored residency (Stamp 4) after just 21 months.

If you’re living in Ireland as a family member of an Irish resident (whether they are an Irish national, permanent resident, or EU/EEA national), then you still must have lived there for a period of five years before applying for permanent residency.

If you’re outside of Ireland for an extended period of time during these five years (more than 90 days in a single year), then that time won’t count towards the 60 months required before you can apply for permanent residency.

While residency allows you to live in Ireland, it’s not the same as citizenship. Generally, you must complete five years of “reckonable residence” — time spent living in the country on a qualifying visa — before you can apply to become an Irish citizen. This is the route that most self-employed people take. As they don’t have a standard employment permit, they aren’t eligible to apply for permanent residency after five years. They can, however, apply for citizenship at this time.

Requirements to apply for permanent residency in Ireland

In addition to the length of time you must have lived in Ireland, you’ll also need to fulfill the following requirements:

• You have resided in the country with some type of work authorization, such as an Employment Permit, and have held a Stamp 1 (Critical skills visa) or Stamp 4.
• Your Irish residence permit must be valid at the time of your application.
• You must be employed at the time of application, and will continue to be afterwards.
• You are of good character.

Required documents and where to send them

The documents you’re required to submit with your application include:

• copy of each of your Irish work permits
• copy of current employment contract
• copy of your Certificate of Registration (GNIB card)
• copy of your passport, including the identity page and all pages containing stamps
• cover letter stating your intention to apply for long-term residency and a description of all the documents you’re sending with your application

You can submit your Irish permanent resident application through the .

Who is ineligible to apply for a long-term Irish residence permit?

Even if you have lived in Ireland for a period of five years, you are ineligible to apply for permanent residency if you meet any of the following criteria:

• you’ve been living in Ireland on a student visa
• you’re an intra-company transferee
• you’re an employee at a foreign embassy in Ireland
• you received Permission to Remain under the Working Holiday Visa scheme
• you only hold a Green Card (Employment) permit
• you’re living in Ireland under Business Permission
• you’re living in Ireland under the Turkish Agreement
• you’ve received permission to remain in the country under humanitarian grounds
• you’ve been granted Refugee Status
• you received permission to remain in Ireland under the IBC and IBC-05 (Irish Born Child) schemes

How much does a permanent Irish residence permit cost?

The fee for a long-term residence permit is 500 EUR (approx. 600 USD). Once your application has been approved, you have 28 days from the date of approval to pay this fee. This can be paid either by a bank transfer or via a postal order to the Secretary General.

What are the benefits of permanent residency in Ireland?

• A permanent residency visa is valid for a period of five years and can be renewed.
• You no longer need an employment permit to switch jobs.
• You can start your own business or work in whichever profession you choose.
• If you’ve moved to Ireland with your spouse or dependents, your residency status will be passed on to them.
• Likewise, with your children holding permanent Irish residency status, they’ll be able to attend Irish universities tuition free.