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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

 
Permit Type Initial Duration Renewal Duration Employer     Minimum Salary
Critical Skills Permit* 2 years Can transition to long Irish entity €64,000** term residency after the initial 2 years Irish entity €64,000**
General Employment 3 months 3 years Irish entity €30,000 Permit*** 3 months to 2 years 3 years Irish entity €30,000
Intra Company Transfer 3 months to 2 years 3 years Foreign entity €40,000

Issued by Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment (DETE)
Applicants cannot be in the State while permit is being processed 
* Partners of Critical Skills Permit holders can work in the State without an employment permit 
** Restricted availability at salaries from €32,000 - €64,000 
*** 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