Ireland General Employment Permit
Ireland's General Employment Permit inverts the Critical Skills logic: all occupations qualify unless excluded by the Ineligible List. It needs only a 12-month contract, but the salary floor has three tiers depending on the occupation.
Core requirements
The logic is the inverse of the Critical Skills permit: that one lists the occupations that qualify, while the General Employment Permit assumes all occupations are eligible unless excluded under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. It therefore covers a broader range of occupations than any other class.
All occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List are also deemed eligible for this permit.
It may be obtained in respect of a 12-month contract of employment, where the Critical Skills permit requires a two-year job offer.
Either the foreign national or the prospective employer can apply. The permit is issued to the foreign national, with a certified copy sent to the employer.
It permits employment by that employer only, in the occupation and locations specified on the permit.
The minimum annual remuneration is generally €36,605.
For horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, health care assistants and home support workers (SOC 6145) the minimum is €32,691 a year with a minimum hourly rate of €16.12.
Where the applicant holds a relevant degree issued by an Irish third-level college in the previous 12 months, the minimum is €34,009.
The employer must be bona fide, registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, where applicable, with the Companies Registration Office or Registry of Friendly Societies, and trading in Ireland.
Issued for an initial period of two years, then renewable for up to a further three years.
After five years the holder may apply to the Department of Justice's Immigration Service Delivery for long-term residency.
Official sources
- General Employment PermitDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland) · Reviewed 2026-09-06
How immigration works in Ireland — the process in order, the current figures with their dates, and what commonly blocks an application.
General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-06.