If you’re hiring someone in Ireland who isn’t from the EEA, Switzerland, or the UK, you’re entering an employment permit system where most of the administrative weight falls on you, the employer. Permits are employer-specific, salary thresholds changed in March 2026, and getting the details wrong can block a hire or create compliance risk. This guide covers which permit applies, what the salary floors are, how applications work, and what your obligations are when employment ends.
Who doesn’t need a work permit
EEA nationals (citizens of EU member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) have free movement rights in Ireland and can take up employment without any permit. Swiss nationals have the same rights. UK nationals can also work freely in Ireland under the Common Travel Area (CTA). If your candidate holds any of these nationalities, you don’t need to do anything from an employment permit standpoint.
The permit system applies only to nationals of countries outside the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK.
The critical skills employment permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is Ireland’s primary route for high-skilled non-EEA workers. It offers a faster path to long-term residence than the General Employment Permit and is the preferred route where it’s available.
Salary thresholds from march 2026
Thresholds vary depending on qualifications. If your candidate holds a relevant degree, the minimum annual salary is €40,904. Without a degree but with relevant experience, the threshold is €68,911 per year. Recent graduates who completed a Level 8 or higher qualification within the last 12 months qualify for a Graduate CSEP threshold of €36,848 per year. All figures are effective from March 1, 2026.
Eligible roles
The CSEP is only available for roles on the Critical Skills Occupation List, published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). It covers occupations across ICT, engineering, healthcare, financial services, and research. If the role isn’t on the list, this permit type isn’t available regardless of the salary offered.
Duration and renewal
A CSEP is granted for two years and is renewable. After two years, the holder can apply for long-term residence in Ireland, which removes the employer-specific tie. Holders don’t need to return to their home country to renew.
The general employment permit
The General Employment Permit (GEP) covers a broader range of occupations and is the right route when the role isn’t on the Critical Skills Occupation List. It carries different salary thresholds and an additional workforce composition requirement.
2026 Salary thresholds
The standard minimum salary for a GEP is €36,605 per year, effective from March 1, 2026, up from €34,000. Recent graduates of Irish higher education institutions can be hired at a lower threshold of €34,009 per year.
The 50/50 rule
At least 50% of your employees in Ireland must be EEA nationals before you can be granted a GEP for a non-EEA hire. This doesn’t apply to the CSEP. For companies with small or internationally diverse Irish workforces, this requirement can be a constraint worth planning around before you start a permit application.
Lower thresholds for specific roles
Healthcare assistants, home carers, and workers in specific agri-food sector roles qualify for a reduced minimum of €32,691 per year under the GEP.
How the application process works
Applications are submitted through DETE’s online portal, and the employer applies on behalf of the employee. You’re responsible for initiating and managing the process, not the candidate. The application requires detailed information about the role, your company, and the candidate’s qualifications or experience. Documentation requirements vary by permit type.
Processing times vary and can run to several weeks during busy periods. Build permit lead time into your hiring timeline before the candidate accepts an offer. Once issued, the permit is tied to you as the sponsoring employer and to the specific role.
What happens when employment ends
When a permit holder’s employment ends for any reason, you must return the permit to DETE within four weeks. This is a legal obligation, not an optional step.
The permit can’t be carried over to a new employer. If the holder wants to continue working in Ireland, their next employer needs to apply for a new permit. There’s some flexibility after the holder has been in Ireland for 12 months, but the default position is that each employment relationship requires its own permit.
After five years on employment permits, a holder can apply for long-term residence, which isn’t tied to any particular employer.
Hiring permit holders through an Employer of Record
For companies without an Irish entity, or those that want to hire without building local HR infrastructure, an Employer of Record (EOR) is a practical option. An EOR is a locally registered company that employs the worker on your behalf, handles payroll and employment contracts, and manages compliance with Irish employment law.
For permit purposes, the EOR acts as the sponsoring employer: it submits the application, manages ongoing obligations, and handles the permit return if employment ends. You direct the worker’s day-to-day activity. To understand how the model works in detail, what is an Employer of Record is a good starting point. RemotePass offers EOR services across Ireland and more than 150 countries from a single platform.
Book a demo to see how RemotePass supports work permit hiring in Ireland.
Frequently asked questions
Can we hire an eea national in ireland without any permit?
Yes. EEA nationals, Swiss nationals, and UK nationals all have the right to work in Ireland without an employment permit. You don’t need to take any steps from an immigration standpoint for these hires.
What’s the difference between the csep and the gep?
The CSEP is available for roles on the Critical Skills Occupation List and leads to long-term residence eligibility after two years. The GEP covers a wider range of roles but comes with the 50/50 workforce rule and lower salary thresholds for most hires. The right permit depends on whether the role appears on the Critical Skills list.
What happens if a permit holder wants to change jobs?
Because permits are employer-specific, a holder who leaves your company needs a new permit application with their next employer. You’re required to return the permit to DETE within four weeks. Some flexibility applies after the holder has been in Ireland for 12 months, but the default is that each employment relationship requires its own permit.
Do the salary thresholds change regularly?
Yes. The figures in this guide are effective from March 1, 2026. Thresholds are reviewed periodically, so it’s worth checking the current figures on DETE’s website before you start an application.
