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Employment Permits & Permissions

How IDA Ireland can help our clients?


IDA Ireland works closely with the relevant Irish authorities.
  • Advise on the most effective ways to navigate the immigration process. 
  • Liaise with relevant Government Departments. 
  • Provide IDA support letters where appropriate. 
  • Organise client seminars on visa and employment permit regulations.

Employment Permit Options

  • Critical Skills Employment Permit
  • General Employment Permit
  • Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit


Criteria for Eligibility

 
  Critical Skills Permit** General Employment Permit*** Intra Company Transfer Permit
Minimum salary €64,000* €34,000 €46,000
Employer Irish entity Irish entity Foreign entity - Seconded to Irish entity
Labour market needs test N/A Yes N/A
Family reunification Yes - can immediately apply No - need to wait 1 year before applying Yes - can immediately apply
Spousal/dependent employment permit Yes No No
Duration of inital permit 2 years 3 months to 2 years initially 3 months to 2 years initially
Maximum duration of renewal N/A 3 years  3 years

 
Applicants cannot be in the state while the permit is being processed
* Restricted availability at salaries from €38,000 to €64,000
** Partners of Critical Skills Permit holders can work in the state without an employment permit (will get a Stamp 1G)
*** Requires Labour Market Needs Test

The Process

The Trusted Partner Initiative streamlines the employment permit application process and is aimed primarily at regular users of the employment permits regime, including companies in start-up and expansion modes.

The Benefits 

  • Fast turnaround
  • Shortened application forms
  • No fees
  • Reduced processing times
  • Reduced paperwork
  • No fee Status valid for 2 years

General Tips

  • An employment permit will not be issued unless at the time of application at least 50% of the employees in a firm are EEA or U.K. nationals (50:50 rule).
  • Where appropriate, support letters may be issued to IDA client companies for inclusion with employment permit applications.
  • DETE recommend that employment permit applications be submitted at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date.
The Department of Justice also issues an Atypical Working Scheme Permission (AWS)*. This is applied for through www.irishimmigration.ie/atypical-working-scheme.

* Work permission under AWS is granted for a maximum of 90 consecutive days. This cannot be extended and only one AWS Permission will be granted in a year. AWS Permissions should only be applied for after all other employment permits issued by DETE have been considered