Ireland Work
Permit
Every Path to Working in Ireland — Explained in One Place
There is no single "Irish work visa." Nine statutory Employment Permit types, a handful of no-permit routes, and the Atypical Working Scheme — one clear, step-by-step guide from VisaHelperz.
The Big Picture
Four Building Blocks Cover Every Route In
Ireland's system runs on Employment Permits, immigration-status-based routes, activity-specific permissions, and reciprocal arrangements — and nearly every situation falls under one of four umbrellas.
Statutory
Employment Permits
Immigration-Status
Based Routes
Atypical &
Short-Term Work
Reciprocal &
Treaty Routes
Listen
Prefer to listen than read?
Play a short spoken walkthrough of every pathway and step, right here in your browser — nothing to download.
Spoken guide
About 90 seconds — covers the nine Employment Permit types, the no-permit routes, and the CSEP vs GEP decision.
How It Works
From Job Offer to Stamp 1, Step by Step
Whichever permit you use, the actual process almost always follows this order.
Confirm you actually need a permit
As a non-EEA national, assume you need an Employment Permit unless you clearly fall into one of the exemption or alternative routes above.
Check your occupation against both lists
Look up the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible List of Occupations — not generic "Ireland jobs with sponsorship" search results.
Pick the right permit type
Usually CSEP for a qualifying skilled role, GEP for broader eligible jobs, ICT if transferring within a multinational, or one of the specialist permits.
Secure the Irish job offer
Ireland doesn't issue a general work visa first and let you job-hunt after — for the main routes, the employer and offer come before the permit application.
Employer or worker prepares the application
Submitted through Employment Permits Online. Who applies depends on the permit — e.g. the Irish connected entity for ICT, the contractor for Contract for Services.
Clear the Labour Market Needs Test, if required
For most GEP roles: the employer advertises via DSP/EURES and an additional platform, generally for at least 28 days, before the application can go in.
Submit the application
DETE recommends applying at least 12 weeks before your proposed start date. It's then processed, may draw requests for more information, and is approved, refused, or reviewed.
Receive the Employment Permit
This is a major milestone — but it is not yet permission to enter or live in Ireland.
Apply for the entry visa, if required
Visa-required nationalities generally apply for a Long Stay "D" Employment Visa after the permit is granted — the permit and the visa are two separate approvals.
Travel to Ireland
Border control still applies. Holding a permit and visa does not remove the immigration officer's discretion at entry.
Register your immigration permission
Required if staying more than 90 days. Most employment-permit holders register as Stamp 1, which sets out what you're permitted to do.
Start work
Only once the appropriate permissions are actually in place — you cannot enter as a tourist and begin working.
Pathway 1
The Nine Employment Permit Types
Ireland issues nine statutory Employment Permits. Critical Skills and General cover most applicants; the other seven serve specific situations.
Critical Skills Employment Permit No LMNT
Ireland's main high-skilled route, built for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List — designed to lead to long-term residence.
Key facts
- Salary: €40,904 (€36,848 recent grads) or €68,911 for Route B
- No Labour Market Needs Test
- Requires a 2-year job offer
- Leads toward Stamp 4 after a qualifying period
General Employment Permit Broadest coverage
Covers most occupations unless specifically excluded — the opposite logic to CSEP, which names only eligible roles.
Key facts
- Salary: €36,605 general (€32,691 / €34,009 for specific roles)
- Labour Market Needs Test usually required (28-day EURES ad)
- Granted up to 2 years, extendable by up to 3 more
- 5 years of employment can lead to Stamp 4
Dependant / Partner / Spouse Permit No fee
For qualifying dependants, spouses or partners of CSEP holders, certain researchers, or qualifying former Green Card/CSEP holders.
Key facts
- No application fee
- Most occupations eligible; domestic operative excluded
- Minimum pay: National Minimum Wage
- No Labour Market Needs Test
Intra-Company Transfer Permit Employer-led
For senior management, key personnel or trainees transferring from an overseas branch to its connected Irish operation.
Key facts
- Applied for by the Irish connected entity
- Employee can remain on the foreign payroll
- Designed as a temporary assignment, not permanent settlement
Contract for Services Permit Up to 5 years
Where a foreign company wins a contract with an Irish company and needs to send its own non-EEA employees to deliver it.
Key facts
- Employee must have ≥6 months' service with the foreign contractor
- Initially up to 24 months, extendable to a maximum of 5 years
- Cannot be used where work is subcontracted onward
Reactivation Employment Permit Not for new arrivals
For people who previously held a valid Irish permit but fell out of the system through no fault of their own, including exploitation cases.
Key facts
- Requires a genuine new Irish job offer
- Not available to students, visitors or tourists who never held a permit
- Worker or employer can apply
Internship Employment Permit 12 months max
For a full-time student enrolled at a third-level institution outside Ireland, offered a qualifying internship with an Irish employer.
Key facts
- Maximum 12 months
- Non-renewable
- No Labour Market Needs Test
Sport & Cultural Employment Permit No LMNT
A specialist permit for qualifying employment in sport and culture — professional athletes, coaches and performers among others.
Key facts
- Applicant must meet role-specific qualifications/experience
- Pay must meet at least National Minimum Wage
- No Labour Market Needs Test
Exchange Agreement Employment Permit Agreement-specific
For employment under prescribed exchange agreements or other qualifying international reciprocal arrangements Ireland is party to.
Key facts
- Applicant must fall within an applicable agreement
- Worker or employer can apply depending on circumstances
- Duration depends on the agreement, up to 2 years
Pathway 2
Routes Where No Employment Permit Is Needed
EU rights, family relationships, certain immigration statuses, and specific programmes can let you work in Ireland without ever applying for an Employment Permit. Tap a route to see the detail.
EU EU / EEA / Swiss Nationals ⌄
- If you're an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you generally don't need an Irish Employment Permit at all — the permit system is primarily aimed at non-EEA nationals, subject to specific exceptions.
IRL Irish Citizens ⌄
- Irish citizens obviously never need an Employment Permit to work in their own country.
FAM Family Members of EU/EEA/Swiss Nationals ⌄
- Certain non-EEA family members can obtain residence and work rights under EU Treaty Rights — a fundamentally different legal basis from an ordinary employment permit.
SP4 Spouse/Partner of an Irish Citizen ⌄
- Certain spouses, civil partners or de-facto partners of Irish citizens can receive an immigration permission — often Stamp 4 — that permits employment without any Employment Permit.
ST4 Certain Other Stamp 4 Holders ⌄
- Stamp 4 can carry the right to work without an Employment Permit depending on the basis on which it was granted. Stamp 4 is an immigration permission, not an employment permit.
1G Graduates in Ireland — Stamp 1G ⌄
- International students who complete qualifying Irish studies can receive Stamp 1G under the Third Level Graduate Programme, letting them work while they seek longer-term employment — often transitioning later into CSEP or GEP.
RES Researchers Under a Hosting Agreement ⌄
- Researchers who qualify under Ireland's Hosting Agreement framework can have employment and residence rights through that system rather than the standard Employment Permit route.
AWS Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) ⌄
- A separate permission administered by Immigration Service Delivery for specialised or short-term work not properly covered by the Employment Permits system — locum doctors, certain nurse assessments, and qualifying paid internships among the examples. Normally up to 90 days; apply online with a €250 fee, and allow at least 20 working days for processing.
BUS Short-Term Work & Business Activities ⌄
- Separate arrangements exist for short-stay business visas, unpaid internships, performance and tournament visas, training visas, conference and event visas, and examination visas — each activity-specific, not a general work-permit substitute.
VDE Van der Elst Route ⌄
- For someone already legally employed in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland by a non-EEA employer and temporarily sent to Ireland — in qualifying circumstances, no Irish Employment Permit may be needed, though a visa can still apply depending on nationality.
Pathway 3
Atypical Working Scheme & Short-Term Activities
A separate permission track for specialised or short-term work that the Employment Permits system isn't designed for.
Atypical Working Scheme (AWS)
Administered by Immigration Service Delivery, not the Department of Enterprise — a different agency from the one that issues Employment Permits.
Typical uses
Locum doctors, certain nurse competency assessments, and qualifying paid internships are among the activities this scheme is designed for.
Duration, fee & processing
Normally up to 90 days. Apply online with a €250 fee, and allow at least 20 working days for processing before your planned start date.
Short-term & business activities
Separate arrangements exist for short-stay business visas, unpaid internships, performance and tournament visas, training visas, conference and event visas, and examination visas — each activity-specific, not a general work-permit substitute.
Van der Elst route
For someone already legally employed in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland by a non-EEA employer and temporarily sent to Ireland — in qualifying circumstances, no Irish Employment Permit may be needed, though a visa can still apply depending on nationality.
Quick Reference
Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit
The single most important decision for most applicants — your ideal route always depends on your full profile.
| Factor | CSEP | GEP |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible occupations | Critical Skills List, or salary ≥€68,911 | Most occupations unless on the Ineligible List |
| Minimum salary | €40,904 (€36,848 recent grads) / €68,911 Route B | €36,605 (€32,691 / €34,009 for specific roles) |
| Labour Market Needs Test | Not required | Usually required — 28-day EURES ad |
| Job offer length | 2-year contract | Up to 2 years, extendable by up to 3 more |
| Path to Stamp 4 | Relatively direct | After 5 years of qualifying employment |
| Family reunification | Particularly favourable | Standard rules apply |
Eligible occupations
CSEP: Critical Skills List, or salary ≥€68,911 · GEP: most occupations unless on the Ineligible List
Minimum salary
CSEP: €40,904 (€36,848 recent grads) / €68,911 Route B · GEP: €36,605 (€32,691 / €34,009 for specific roles)
Labour Market Needs Test
CSEP: not required · GEP: usually required, 28-day EURES ad
Job offer length
CSEP: 2-year contract · GEP: up to 2 years, extendable by up to 3 more
Path to Stamp 4
CSEP: relatively direct · GEP: after 5 years of qualifying employment
Family reunification
CSEP: particularly favourable · GEP: standard rules apply
⚠️ Occupation lists and salary thresholds change frequently. Always verify current requirements on the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment's official site (enterprise.gov.ie) or with the VisaHelperz Team before applying.
The Full Ireland Work Permit Master Guide
Download the complete guide: all nine Employment Permit types, every no-permit route, the Atypical Working Scheme, CSEP vs GEP, and the full 12-step process — one clear, step-by-step guide from VisaHelperz. A single branded PDF you can save, print, or share with your advisor.