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GEP — General Employment Permit

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

2–3 months

Estimated Cost

€3,750 EUR

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Up to 24 months

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Overview

Employer-sponsored permit for skilled roles in Ireland with a job offer paying at least EUR 36,605; up to 5 years and a Stamp 4 route.

Ireland's premium work permit for highly skilled non-EEA professionals filling shortage roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List — tech, engineering, healthcare and other specialisms. Issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, it skips the Labour Market Needs Test and requires a 2-year job offer from an Ireland-based employer registered with Revenue and the CRO.

Salary floor is €40,904 on the Critical Skills list (€36,848 if the qualifying degree was earned in the prior 12 months), or €68,911 for other qualifying roles. The application fee is €1,000, with 90% refunded on refusal. Permits run 2 years, renewable, and convert directly to Stamp 4 without a further permit, leading to long-term residence after 5 years. Spouses can join and work freely.

This visa is ideal for non-EEA degree-holders with a confirmed Irish job offer in a shortage occupation seeking a fast route to long-term residency for themselves and family.

Cost Breakdown

New permit, up to 6 months€500 EUR

New permit, 6-24 months€1,000 EUR

Renewal, up to 6 months€750 EUR

Renewal, 6-36 months€1,500 EUR

Total€3,750 EUR

Stay & Extensions

Status type

Tied to program duration

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

Ireland

Stamp 4 Residency

ValidityIndefinite

Processing1–2 months

View Visa Details

CSEP — Critical Skills Employment Permit

Ireland

CSEP — Critical Skills Employment Permit

ValidityDuration of contract

Processing2–4 weeks

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a bona-fide employer based and trading in Ireland.

Minimum annual remuneration of €36,605 (or €34,009 for certain graduate roles).

Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) must be completed (advertising the role in the DSP Employment Services/EURES and a national newspaper for at least 14 days).

The occupation must not be on the non-qualifying List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

Applicant must possess the relevant qualifications, skills, or experience for the role.

Company must meet the 50:50 rule (50% or more EEA employees), unless a waiver applies.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

vocational or higher

Min. Income

36,605 EUR/yr

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed employment permit application form.

Copy of passport.

Signed employment contract.

Proof of Labour Market Needs Test (advertisements).

Employer business details and registration numbers.

Proof of qualifications/experience.

Passport-sized photo.

If resident in Ireland, copy of current immigration stamp and IRP card.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Pathway to Stamp 4 long-term residence after 5 years on the permit.
Open to most skilled occupations, not just those on the Critical Skills list.
Initial permit up to 24 months and renewable for 3 more years.
90% fee refund if the application is refused.
Foreign national or employer can submit the application via the EPOS portal.

Worth Knowing

Requires a confirmed job offer from an Irish-registered employer paying at least EUR 36,605/year.
Most roles require a Labour Market Needs Test before the permit can be issued.
Current processing is around 12 weeks for new applications (DETE, May 2026).
Employer must meet the 50:50 EEA-employee rule unless a waiver applies.
Family members get no dependant permit; spouses need their own employment permit.
Occupation appears on the non-qualifying List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
Offered salary below EUR 36,605 (or applicable reduced threshold of EUR 34,009 / EUR 32,691).

Application Process

Secure a job offer from an Irish-registered employer paying at least EUR 36,605/year (or applicable reduced threshold).

Employer (or applicant) completes the Labour Market Needs Test where required: 28-day EURES advert plus 3-day national and 3-day local newspaper advertising.

Submit the application online via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) on enterprise.gov.ie, paying the fee (EUR 500 for up to 6 months or EUR 1,000 for 6-24 months).

Respond to any 28-day information requests from the Employment Permits Unit during processing.

On approval, receive the permit (issued to the employee, copy to employer) and travel to Ireland; if visa-required, apply for an entry visa at the nearest Irish embassy/consulate.

Register with immigration on arrival to obtain Stamp 1 and the Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

Application Forms

Go to application portal

Employment Permits Online (EPOS) application

—

Verified Claims (12)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps

Secure a job offer from an Irish-registered employer paying at least EUR 36,605/year (or applicable …

enterprise.gov.ie

Dependent Visa

false

enterprise.gov.ie

Fee Breakdown

New permit, up to 6 months: 500 EUR; New permit, 6-24 months: 1000 EUR; Renewal, up to 6 months: 750…

enterprise.gov.ie

Fees

EUR 500 (≤6 months) / EUR 1,000 (6-24 months) new; EUR 750 / EUR 1,500 renewal. 90% refund on refusa…

enterprise.gov.ie

Forms

Employment Permits Online (EPOS) application

enterprise.gov.ie

Official Info

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/permit-types/general…

enterprise.gov.ie

Max Stay

Up to 24 months initially; renewable for 3 years (5 years total)

enterprise.gov.ie

Max Stay Estimate

type: duration_of_status, notes: Initial permit up to 24 months; renewable for up to 3 more years (5…

enterprise.gov.ie

Apply Now Official Information

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Overview

Employer-sponsored permit for skilled roles in Ireland with a job offer paying at least EUR 36,605; up to 5 years and a Stamp 4 route.

This visa is ideal for non-EEA degree-holders with a confirmed Irish job offer in a shortage occupation seeking a fast route to long-term residency for themselves and family.

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a bona-fide employer based and trading in Ireland.

Minimum annual remuneration of €36,605 (or €34,009 for certain graduate roles).

Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) must be completed (advertising the role in the DSP Employment Services/EURES and a national newspaper for at least 14 days).

The occupation must not be on the non-qualifying List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

Applicant must possess the relevant qualifications, skills, or experience for the role.

Company must meet the 50:50 rule (50% or more EEA employees), unless a waiver applies.

KEY CRITERIA

Education

vocational or higher

Min. Income

36,605 EUR/yr

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed employment permit application form.

Copy of passport.

Signed employment contract.

Proof of Labour Market Needs Test (advertisements).

Employer business details and registration numbers.

Proof of qualifications/experience.

Passport-sized photo.

If resident in Ireland, copy of current immigration stamp and IRP card.

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Pathway to Stamp 4 long-term residence after 5 years on the permit.
Open to most skilled occupations, not just those on the Critical Skills list.
Initial permit up to 24 months and renewable for 3 more years.
90% fee refund if the application is refused.
Foreign national or employer can submit the application via the EPOS portal.

Worth Knowing

Requires a confirmed job offer from an Irish-registered employer paying at least EUR 36,605/year.
Most roles require a Labour Market Needs Test before the permit can be issued.
Current processing is around 12 weeks for new applications (DETE, May 2026).
Employer must meet the 50:50 EEA-employee rule unless a waiver applies.
Family members get no dependant permit; spouses need their own employment permit.
Occupation appears on the non-qualifying List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
Offered salary below EUR 36,605 (or applicable reduced threshold of EUR 34,009 / EUR 32,691).

Application Process

Secure a job offer from an Irish-registered employer paying at least EUR 36,605/year (or applicable reduced threshold).

Employer (or applicant) completes the Labour Market Needs Test where required: 28-day EURES advert plus 3-day national and 3-day local newspaper advertising.

Submit the application online via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) on enterprise.gov.ie, paying the fee (EUR 500 for up to 6 months or EUR 1,000 for 6-24 months).

Respond to any 28-day information requests from the Employment Permits Unit during processing.

On approval, receive the permit (issued to the employee, copy to employer) and travel to Ireland; if visa-required, apply for an entry visa at the nearest Irish embassy/consulate.