General Employment Permit

The General Employment Permit is Ireland's broadest work permit, covering occupations that are not on the Critical Skills Occupations List but are still eligible for employment. It is the route for skilled and semi-skilled workers across a wide range of sectors - from hospitality and construction to healthcare support roles - where a genuine vacancy exists that cannot be filled locally.

Unlike the Critical Skills permit, the General Employment Permit is generally subject to the Labour Market Needs Test: before applying, the employer must usually advertise the vacancy with the Department of Social Protection's employment service and in national and local media, and demonstrate that no suitable EEA candidate was available. Certain exemptions apply.

The minimum annual salary for most General Employment Permits is €34,000, though some occupations carry higher minimums. Permits are typically issued for up to two years initially and can be renewed for a further three years. The route does not offer the accelerated two-year Stamp 4 pathway of the Critical Skills permit, but after five years of legal residence on employment permits, holders can apply for Stamp 4 and long-term residency. In 2026 it remains an essential route for filling Ireland's wider labour shortages.

You need a genuine job offer from an Irish employer for an eligible occupation - one that is not on the Ineligible Occupations List. The minimum salary is generally €34,000 per year, though higher minimums apply to certain roles, and the job must be full-time, normally at least 30 hours per week.

In most cases the employer must satisfy the Labour Market Needs Test, advertising the role and showing no EEA worker could fill it. The employer must be registered and trading in Ireland, and at least 50% of staff should be EEA nationals, with relaxations for start-ups. You should hold qualifications, skills or experience appropriate to the role. The permit is tied to the specific employer and job for which it is granted.

Step 1: Find a job offer from an Irish employer for an eligible occupation paying at least the relevant minimum salary.

Step 2: Unless an exemption applies, the employer carries out the Labour Market Needs Test - advertising the vacancy with the Department of Social Protection's employment service and in national and local media for the required period.

Step 3: You or your employer submits the General Employment Permit application through the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).

Step 4: Upload supporting documents - passport, employment contract, evidence of the Labour Market Needs Test, qualifications, and company registration details.

Step 5: Pay the permit fee and await a decision from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Step 6: If you need an entry visa, apply at your nearest Irish embassy or consulate once the permit is granted.

Step 7: Travel to Ireland and register with immigration within 90 days of arrival to receive your Irish Residence Permit, normally with Stamp 1 permission tied to your employment.

The General Employment Permit fee depends on duration: around €500 for a permit of up to six months and €1,000 for a permit of six to 24 months. The fee is refunded if the application is refused. If you require an entry visa, expect roughly €60 for single-entry or €100 for multiple-entry. The Irish Residence Permit registration costs €300 after arrival. The employer must also bear the cost and effort of the Labour Market Needs Test advertising. Document translation and qualification checks may add modest further costs.

Processing times for General Employment Permits are published and updated regularly by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and typically run to several weeks depending on application volumes. Applications from Trusted Partner employers are usually processed faster than standard ones. Because the Labour Market Needs Test must be completed before the permit application can be submitted, the overall timeline from job offer to arrival is generally longer than for the Critical Skills route - plan accordingly.

On arrival you register for an Irish Residence Permit and receive Stamp 1 permission, allowing you to work for the employer named on your permit. After 12 months with your initial employer, you can apply for a new permit to change jobs if you wish. Family reunification is possible, though dependants of General Employment Permit holders do not get the same easier labour-market access that Critical Skills dependants enjoy - partners may need their own employment permit to work.

The General Employment Permit does not provide the accelerated two-year Stamp 4 pathway. Instead, after five years of legal residence holding employment permits, you can apply for Stamp 4 permission and long-term residency, which removes the need for a permit. Irish citizenship by naturalisation typically becomes possible after five years of reckonable residence. It is a slower but reliable route to settlement.