Irish Working Visas: Job Regulations and Requirements
In the heart of Europe, nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cities, lies the Emerald Isle – Ireland. Renowned for its rich culture, friendly people, and robust economy, Ireland has become a magnet for job seekers across the European Union. If you’re an EU citizen or Non-EU Citizen contemplating a move to Ireland, this article will guide you through the job regulations and requirements you need to know.
From EU citizens to non-EU individuals, our guide empowers you to navigate the Irish job market seamlessly. Gain the essential knowledge to pursue your career ambitions in Ireland with confidence and achieve remarkable success.
EU citizens
Ireland, a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), offers a vibrant job market and a welcoming environment for EU citizens. As an EU citizen, along with those from Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and the UK, you can live and work in Ireland without an employment permit.
Also, you have the right to live in Ireland for up to three months without any other conditions or formalities, than the requirement to hold a valid national identity card or passport. If you plan to stay in Ireland for more than three months, you must either be engaged in economic activity (employed or self-employed), or have sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure that you do not become a burden on the social services of Ireland, or be enrolled as a student or vocational apprentice, or be a family member of a Union citizen in one of the previous categories.
Working Conditions and Employment Laws
Ireland has robust employment laws that protect workers’ rights. The Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994–2014 require employers to provide employees with specific information about their employment, such as a contract of employment, a job description, rate of pay, and hours of work. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 bans zero-hour contracts in most situations and provides for minimum payments and banded hours.
Working Hours and Leave
The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 regulates several employment conditions, including maximum working hours, night work, annual leave, and public holiday leave. The Sick Leave Act 2022, which commenced on 1 January 2023, gives employees the right to paid sick leave for up to three days per year. The rate of payment for statutory sick leave is 70% of normal wages, up to a maximum of €110 per day.
Registration – Your Key to Long-Term Stay
Although it’s not a requirement, if you are staying in Ireland for more than three months, you should apply for a registration certificate from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). This certificate will make it easier to prove that you are entitled to live in Ireland if necessary.
Family Matters – Bringing Your Loved Ones to Ireland
If you are an EU citizen living in Ireland, your family members also have certain rights. Even if your family members are not EU citizens, they may be able to live with you in Ireland.
Permanent Residence – Making Ireland Your Forever Home
After living legally in Ireland for a continuous period of five years, you can apply for permanent residence. This means you can live in Ireland without any conditions.
Taxation
When you start working in Ireland, you’ll need to apply for a Personal Public Service (PPS) number, which is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services, and information in Ireland. You’ll need this number to pay the correct amount of tax.
Social Insurance
As an employee in Ireland, you’ll also be insured under the Irish social security system and you’ll make Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. These contributions will go towards your future entitlement to social security benefits, such as unemployment benefits or state pensions.
Non-EU citizens
If you hail from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, or Switzerland, you need permission to work in Ireland from the Irish immigration authorities. This typically involves securing an Ireland work permit and, in some cases, an Ireland work visa. These are issued by two different authority bodies in Ireland: the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI) for work permits, and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) for visas. This permit is not applicable for jobs on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
Types of Ireland Work Visas and Permits
There are approximately nine different types of Ireland employment permits, but the two most common ones are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and General Employment Permit.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
This permit targets highly-skilled international workers, encouraging them to come to Ireland to fill skills shortages in certain high-skill eligible occupations. These include professionals in the fields of Natural and Social Science, Engineering, ICT, Health, Teaching and Education, Architecture, etc.
General Employment Permit
This permit is issued to professions that do not qualify for the Critical Skills permit. You can apply for this type of Ireland employment permit under any profession, unless it is included in the list of “Ineligible Categories of Employment for Employment Permits”.
There are also other permits like the Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit, Internship Employment Permit, Contract for Services Employment Permit, Sport and Cultural Employment Permit, Exchange Agreement Employment Permit, and Reactivation Employment Permit.
Applying for an Ireland Work Permit
The requirements to be eligible for an Ireland work permit include having a work contract or job offer from an Irish company, meeting the minimum annual salary requirements, and ensuring that at least 50% of the employers in the Irish company hiring you are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
Applying for an Ireland Work Visa
Once you receive permission to work in Ireland (i.e., an Irish employment permit), you can apply for an Ireland work visa. This is a type of Ireland long stay (D) visa, which allows the holder to enter Ireland with the purpose of staying longer than three months.
Ireland Work Visa Residence Permit
Upon arrival in Ireland, you’ll need to register with immigration and receive your Ireland residence permit if you plan to stay longer than 90 days. This will also include a stamp on your passport, showing you have permission to work.
Ireland Work Visa Duration and Renewal
Most employment permits are issued for 24 months initially and can be renewed for up to five years. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency in Ireland.
Transitioning to Permanent Residence
Yes, after you have lived in Ireland with an employment permit (work visa) for five consecutive years, you can apply for an Ireland permanent residence permit. If you live five out of nine years of “reckonable residence” in Ireland, you can also apply for Irish citizenship, provided you meet the criteria.
Working in Ireland can be a rewarding experience, offering a chance to grow professionally while experiencing the rich culture and history of the country. With the right preparation and understanding of the immigration process, you can make your dream of working in Ireland a reality.
Eligibility for a General Employment Permit in Ireland
You or your employer must apply for the employment permit before you arrive in Ireland. If you already live in Ireland and have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with Stamp 1, 1G, 2, 2A, or 3 permission, you can apply for the permit without leaving Ireland. Stamp 4 holders do not need an employment permit to work.
Conditions for General Employment Permit
The job must satisfy the following conditions:
- Pays at least €30,000 per year (exceptions apply)
- Is not on the list of ineligible occupations
- A Labour Market Needs Test has been carried out by the employer
- Over 50% of the workforce in the company or organization are EU citizens (the 50/50 rule)
Labour Market Needs Test
Employers must demonstrate that they have attempted to fill the vacancy with an Irish or EEA citizen. This is achieved by advertising the job in Ireland and within the EU for a reasonable period. If they cannot find a suitable candidate for the job, then the employer can recruit a worker that needs an employment permit.
Family Members
People who have a General Employment Permit can bring their family to live with them in Ireland after 1 year has passed since the permit was issued. You have to show that you can support them, by earning more than the limits for Working Family Payment.
Changing or Losing Your Job
If this is your first employment permit in Ireland, then you must stay with your employer for 12 months (unless there are exceptional circumstances). After that, you can change employer if you make a new application for a General Employment Permit.
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Critical Skills Employment Permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit replaces the Green Card type employment permit. Occupations eligible under this type of permit are deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland’s economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled, and in significant shortage of supply in the Irish labor market. Occupations such as ICT professionals, professional engineers, and technologists are catered for under this type of employment permit.
Benefits of the Critical Skills Employment Permit
- No Labour Market Needs Test is required.
- Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of the Department of Justice and Equality.
- Permit holders may apply to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for permission to reside and work without the requirement for an employment permit upon completion of the Critical Skills Employment Permit’s duration.
Eligibility for a Critical Skills Employment Permit
Eligibility for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is largely determined by the type of occupation, and proposed remuneration level. The following are eligible:
- Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €32,000 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List. A relevant degree qualification or higher is required.
- All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest. A non-EEA national who does not have a degree qualification or higher, must have the necessary level of experience.
Application Process
An application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit can be made online on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). The processing fee for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is €1,000. If an application is unsuccessful then 90% of the fee will be refunded.
Residency and Renewals
Following a successful application for an employment permit, and if visa required, an applicant should apply to his/her local Irish Embassy/Consulate for an entry Visa. An online visa application form may be found at inis.gov.ie.
After serving one year in employment with the original employer as specified on the employment permit, the permit holder may change employer. This is subject to applying for a new employment permit and which is subject to the policy at that time.
Please note that this information is subject to change and it’s always a good idea to check the latest updates on the official website or consult with a legal expert before making any decisions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if you’re from a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, or Switzerland, you need permission to work in Ireland. This involves securing an Ireland work permit and, in some cases, an Ireland work visa.
There are about nine different types of Ireland employment permits. The two most common ones are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and General Employment Permit. There are also permits for dependants, intra-company transfers, internships, sports and culture, exchange agreements, and reactivations.
To be eligible, you need a job offer or contract from an Irish company, meet the minimum annual salary requirements, and at least 50% of the employees at the Irish company hiring you need to be EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
After receiving permission to work in Ireland (i.e., an Irish employment permit), you can apply for an Ireland work visa. This is a long stay (D) visa, which allows you to stay in Ireland for more than three months.
Most employment permits are issued for 24 months initially and can be renewed for up to five years. After five years, you can apply for permanent residency in Ireland.
Yes, after living in Ireland with an employment permit for five consecutive years, you can apply for an Ireland permanent residence permit.
The job must pay at least €30,000 per year, it can’t be on the list of ineligible occupations, a Labour Market Needs Test has to be carried out, and over 50% of the workforce must be EU citizens.
A Critical Skills Employment Permit targets highly-skilled international workers. It’s beneficial as no Labour Market Needs Test is required, permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification, and can apply for permission to reside and work without needing an employment permit after completion of the Critical Skills Employment Permit’s duration.
Applications can be made online on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). The processing fee is €1,000, with 90% refunded if unsuccessful.
Yes, citizens from EU member countries, along with those from Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, and the UK, can live and work in Ireland without an employment permit.
EU citizens planning to stay in Ireland for more than three months must either be employed or self-employed, have sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure they do not become a burden on Ireland’s social services, be enrolled as a student or vocational apprentice, or be a family member of a Union citizen in one of the previous categories.
Key Irish employment laws include the Terms of Employment (Information) Acts 1994–2014, the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018, the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, and the Sick Leave Act 2022. These laws protect the rights of workers in relation to contracts of employment, job descriptions, working hours, annual leave, sick leave, and more.
Although it’s not a requirement, registering with the GNIB is recommended as it can make it easier to prove you are entitled to live in Ireland, if necessary.
Yes, if you are an EU citizen living in Ireland, your family members also have certain rights to live in Ireland. This applies even if your family members are not EU citizens.
After legally living in Ireland for a continuous period of five years, EU citizens can apply for permanent residence, which allows them to live in Ireland without any conditions.
A PPS number is a unique reference number that helps you access social welfare benefits, public services, and information in Ireland. When you start working in Ireland, you’ll need to apply for a PPS number to ensure you pay the correct amount of tax.
