General Employment Permit

At a Glance

Item	Details
Permit name	General Employment Permit
Initial stay	Up to 2 years
Renewal stay	Up to 3 additional years
Application cost	€500 (≤6 months) or €1,000 (6–24 months)
Renewal cost	€750 (≤6 months) or €1,500 (6–36 months)
Eligibility timing	Submit at least 12 weeks before start
Work rights	Limited to specified employer, role, and location
Study rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare / Healthcare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Entry visa required if visa-required national
Citizenship pathway	Long-term residency/citizenship eligible after 5 years
Family sponsorship	Dependants must apply for separate permits independently
Visa record	Permit to employee; certified copy to employer
Minimum remuneration	Generally €36,605 per year (exceptions apply)
Labour Market Needs Test	Required for most roles prior to application
Workforce quota	At least 50% of employees must be EEA nationals

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Purpose and Scope

The General Employment Permit is the primary vehicle used by Ireland to attract third-country nationals to fill labour or skills shortages. Unlike list-based permits, it assumes all occupations are eligible unless specifically excluded under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. Occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List are also eligible. The permit can be issued for employment contracts of 12 months or longer.

Eligibility Criteria

Employer Criteria

• Must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, if applicable, the Companies Registration Office (CRO) or Registry of Friendly Societies, and actively trading in Ireland.
• Must maintain a direct employer-employee relationship (paying salary directly).
• 50:50 Rule: At least 50% of the firm's workforce must be EEA nationals at the time of application.
  • Waiver 1 (Start-ups): Employers registered with Revenue within the last 2 years who hold an Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland support letter. The 50:50 ratio must be achieved by the end of a one-year renewal.
  • Waiver 2 (Sole employee): Employers with no employees where the applicant will be the sole employee (applies at renewal if remaining sole employee).

Employee Criteria

• Must possess the qualifications, skills, or experience required for the role.
• Must be offered a position not listed on the Ineligible List of Occupations.
• Must receive remuneration meeting the statutory minimum thresholds.

Remuneration Thresholds

Remuneration includes basic salary (must meet the National Minimum Wage or statutory pay rate) and qualifying health insurance payments made to a health insurer registered under the Health Insurance Act 1994.

• Standard minimum: €36,605 per year.
• Special category minimum: €32,691 per year (minimum hourly rate of €16.12) for:
  • Horticulture workers
  • Meat Processor Operatives
  • Health Care Assistants (HCA) & Home Support Workers (SOC 6145)
• Graduate minimum: €34,009 per year for graduates holding a relevant degree awarded by an Irish third-level college within the previous 12 months.

Labour Market Needs Test

A Labour Market Needs Test requires advertising the role on DSP Employment Services/EURES and an additional online platform. The test is required for all applications except when:

• The occupation is on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
• The job offer provides a minimum annual remuneration of €68,911 (and is not on the Ineligible List).
• The job offer is supported by a recommendation from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.
• The job offer is for a carer of a person with exceptional medical needs who is already dependent on the applicant.
• The applicant held a General Employment Permit and was made redundant within the prior 6 months (provided the Department was notified within 4 weeks of dismissal).

Fees and Refunds

Processing Fees

• New Permit:
  • €500 (duration of 6 months or less)
  • €1,000 (duration from 6 to 24 months)
• Renewal Permit:
  • €750 (duration of 6 months or less)
  • €1,500 (duration from 6 to 36 months)
  • Free for workers employed continuously with the same employer for 5+ years.

Fee Rules and Protections

• Refunds: If an application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded directly to the applicant only (even if paid by a third party).
• Deduction prohibition: Under section 55 of the Employment Permits Act 2024, employers or their agents may not deduct application fees, charges, or related expenses from the worker's salary or seek to recover these costs.

Application Process and Steps

Applications must be submitted at least 12 weeks before the proposed start date.

1. Submission: Apply online via Employment Permits Online. Consult the General Employment Permit Checklist before applying.
2. Queuing and Processing: Applications are placed in either the Trusted Partner or Standard queue and processed in strict date order. Decision-makers may issue a request for additional information, which must be submitted within 28 days.
3. Decision & Review:
   • If granted, the permit issues to the foreign national and a certified copy is provided to the employer.
   • If refused, the applicant may request a formal review within 28 days by submitting a Submission of a Decision for Review Form. Reviews are assessed by a separate, senior official.

Conditions, Rights, and Obligations

• Initial 9-Month Commitment: Permit holders are expected to stay with their initial employer for at least 9 months. Under section 18 of the Employment Permits Regulations 2024, a permit for a new employer will be refused within this period unless:
  • The applicant is a medical doctor on a 6-month rotation;
  • The permit holder is made redundant; or
  • Unforeseen circumstances arise that fundamentally change the employment relationship.
• Moving Employers: After 9 months, a permit holder may move to a new employer by submitting a new General Employment Permit application.
• Family Members: Spouses, partners, and dependants are not eligible for Dependant Employment Permits through this scheme and must qualify for an employment permit in their own right.
• Immigration & Registration: An employment permit is not a residence permission. Holders must:
  • Obtain an entry visa before travel if from a visa-required country via irishimmigration.ie.
  • Present original documents to immigration officers at the port of entry.
  • Register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) / ISD promptly upon arrival. Immigration permissions must be renewed at least one month before expiry.

Changes in Circumstances, Redundancy, and Cancellation

• Change in Terms / Short-Time Work: Employers or holders must notify employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie of short-time working or any change to permit terms.
• Redundancy: Permit holders made redundant must submit a Notification of Redundancy Form within 4 weeks of dismissal. They have up to 6 months to seek alternative employment without needing a new Labour Market Needs Test for the same job title.
• Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE): If an employer changes name under TUPE regulations, the employer must submit a Transfer of Undertaking Form to employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie.
• Mandatory Permit Cancellation: Under section 43(1) of the Employment Permits Act 2024, if employment ceases for any reason during permit validity, the Department must be notified and a PDF copy of the permit emailed to employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie within 4 weeks. Failure to comply is a legal offence.

Permit Renewal and 5-Year Residency

• Renewal Application: Apply via Employment Permits Online within 4 months prior to permit expiry.
• 5+ Years Residence / Stamp 4: Non-EEA nationals who have worked continuously on valid General Employment Permits for 5 consecutive years may contact the Department of Justice to apply for long-term residency or a temporary Stamp 4. Alternatively, workers with 5+ continuous years with the same employer may apply for an unlimited-duration renewal permit at no fee.