A non-EEA National (European Economic Area) must hold a valid Employment Permit if they wish to work in Ireland. The Employment Permits system is administered by the Department's Employment Permits Section. 

General Employment Permit

A General Permit can be granted to non-EU/EEA nationals for occupations which are experiencing a labour or skills shortage.

• Labour Market Test Required
• Family Reunification after one year
• Long Term Residency available after 5 years
• General Permit Scheme functions to provide labour for industry experiencing shortages.

In the current economic climate, general employment permits are limited and difficult to obtain. An exception to this is in relation to Ethnic Chefs. If you own a restaurant providing cuisine from a country outside of the EU and require specific skills to cook, we may be able to assist you in getting employment permits for qualified chefs.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Critical Skills Permits are granted to highly skilled people, particularly with qualifications in areas experiencing extreme shortages of workers. 

• No Labour Market Test
• Family Reunification immediately 
• Long Term Residency available after 2 years
• Critical Skills Scheme seeks to encourage third level graduates and other highly skilled workers to take up permanent residence in the State.

Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

The Sport and Cultural Employment Permit replaces the old sports’ professional type of Work Permit and will also cater for employment permits for the entertainment sector. This permit is designed to facilitate the employment in the State of non-EEA nationals with the relevant qualifications, skills, experience or knowledge for the development, operation and capacity of sporting and cultural activities.

See also Events Visas

REACTIVATION Employment Permit

Reactivation Employment Permit replaces the Undocumented Workers Scheme. This permit is designed to permit a non-EEA national who entered the State on a valid Employment Permit but who fell out of the system through no fault of their own or who has been badly treated or exploited in the workplace, to work legally again. 

Reactivation Permission must be obtained from the Department of Justice and Equality before making an application under this Scheme.

If your legal status or that of an employee has expired, and had at any time in the past held a valid work permit, we may be able to assist you in becoming re-documented. You can contact us to discuss your case in full confidence. Any information you provide to us as part of your consultation will be completely confidential.

exchange agreement Employment Permit

The Exchange Agreement Employment Permit replaces the old Exchange Agreement type of Work Permit and will also cater for employment permits for international reciprocal agreements. It is designed to facilitate the employment in the State of non-EEA nationals who are taking part in a recognised exchange programme pursuant to prescribed agreements or other international agreements to which the State is a party.

An Exchange Programme involves foreign nationals coming to Ireland, and a reciprocal system of Irish trainees going abroad for work experience. 

An application must be supported by a letter from a recognised exchange organisation. For example the Fulbright Programme, the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE),
or AIESEC.

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

The Intra-Company Transfer Scheme functions to facilitate the movement of non-EU/EEA senior management, key personnel or trainees from an overseas branch of a multinational corporation (Foreign Employer) to its Irish branch (Connected Person).

See also Business Visas

DEPENDANT/PARTNER/SPOUSE Employment Permit

The Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit allows the dependants, recognised partners (where recognised as such by the Department of Justice and Equality), civil partners and spouses of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders (formerly Green Card employment permit holders) and of Researchers on Hosting Agreements to apply for an employment permit to work in the State. Generally, it is illegal for spouses and dependants of employment permit holders to be employed in Ireland without a valid employment permit.

atypical employment permission

The Atypical Employment Permission is not an Employment Permit and is administered by the Department of Justice. The purpose of the Scheme is to provide a streamlined mechanism to deal with atypical, short term employment or certain other employment situations which are not governed by the Employment Permits Acts or by current administrative procedures under the Employment Permits Acts. It was also agreed with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Health and the HSE that the Scheme should include locum doctors who are employed and paid by an Agency and nurses / midwives who are undertaking the Clinical Adaptation and Assessment Programme or RCSI Examination.