What are the eligibility requirements for an Ireland Work Visa?

To be eligible for an Ireland work visa, you must have a valid job offer from an employer registered and trading in Ireland, obtain an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, meet the minimum salary threshold for your permit type, and possess the relevant qualifications, skills, and experience for the job. Indian citizens must then apply for a long stay 'D' employment visa and register for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) after arriving in Ireland.

Yes, a job offer from a genuine employer registered with the Revenue Commissioners and trading in Ireland is mandatory. An employment permit cannot be issued without one. For a Critical Skills Employment Permit, the job offer must be for a minimum of 2 years. For a General Employment Permit, a job offer of at least 12 months is acceptable. Either you or your employer can submit the employment permit application.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is for highly skilled occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List (such as ICT professionals, engineers, nurses, and midwives). It requires a 2-year job offer, needs no Labour Market Needs Test, allows immediate family reunification, and leads to a Stamp 4 (work without a permit) after 2 years. The General Employment Permit covers a broader range of occupations, requires a Labour Market Needs Test in most cases, and permit holders can apply for long-term residency after 5 years.

From 1 March 2026, the minimum annual salary is €40,904 for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (€36,848 for recent graduates who qualified within the last 12 months) and €36,605 for a General Employment Permit. Lower thresholds apply for certain roles, €32,691 for healthcare assistants, home support workers, horticulture workers, and meat processing operatives. Jobs not on the Critical Skills Occupations List can qualify for a Critical Skills permit if they pay at least €68,911 per year.

Yes, Indian citizens can work in Ireland if they secure a job offer from an Irish employer and obtain an employment permit. As India is a visa-required country, Indian applicants must also apply for a long stay 'D' employment visa through the Irish visa office before travelling. After arriving in Ireland, they must register with immigration authorities and obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) to stay longer than 90 days.

For a Critical Skills Employment Permit at the €40,904 salary level, you must hold a relevant degree or higher qualification. For nurses and midwives, a degree or diploma accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland is required. For roles paying €68,911 or more, relevant experience can substitute for a degree. For a General Employment Permit, you must have the qualifications, skills, or experience required for the specific job.

The Labour Market Needs Test requires the employer to advertise the vacancy with DSP Employment Services/EURES employment network and on an additional online platform before hiring a non-EEA worker. It applies to most General Employment Permit applications. It is waived for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List, jobs paying €68,911 or more, and roles recommended by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.

The employment permit fee is €1,000 for a Critical Skills Employment Permit and €1,000 for a General Employment Permit of up to 24 months (€500 for permits of 6 months or less). If the application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded. The long stay 'D' visa fee is €60 for a single-entry visa and €100 for a multiple-entry visa. Employers are not allowed to recover permit costs from the employee's salary.

A Critical Skills Employment Permit is issued for 2 years, after which the holder can apply directly to the Department of Justice for a Stamp 4 permission to live and work in Ireland without a permit. A General Employment Permit is issued for up to 2 years initially and can be renewed for a further 3 years. After 5 years on a General Employment Permit, you can apply for long-term residency.

Yes. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification, and their spouses/partners can work in Ireland with a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit, which is issued free of charge. General Employment Permit holders must generally wait 12 months and meet income requirements before their family can join them, and family members must apply for their own employment permit to work.

You are expected to stay with your first employer for at least 9 months. After 9 months, you can move to a new employer, but a new employment permit application must be made for the new job. Exceptions apply if you are made redundant or if circumstances fundamentally change your employment relationship. If made redundant, you have up to 6 months to find alternative employment.