Employment and Work Permits
If you have been waiting for at least six months from the date your application was received, as indicated on your Temporary Residence Certificate (TRC or "blue card") you are able to work.
You must apply for Labour Market Access Permission through the Immigration Service Delivery portal here.
If granted, this permission allows you to work or be self-employed in Ireland. The permission is typically valid for 12 months and can be renewed if you have not received a final decision on your application.
No. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals have an automatic right to work in Ireland without a visa or permit.
Yes, unless they are:
- Students (20 hrs/week during term, full-time in holidays)
- Stamp 4 holders
- Refugees (status granted)
- People with business permission in Ireland
- Holders of certain immigration statuses
There are 9 types of employment permits:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- General Employment Permit
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Dependant/Partner/Spousal Employment Permit
- Contract for Services Employment Permit
- Reactivation Employment Permit
- Internship Employment Permit
- Sport and Cultural Employment Permit
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
More information on the official Irish Government website.
No.
- If applying from inside Ireland, present at Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) with your permit to receive Stamp 1.
- If applying from outside Ireland, apply for entry/residency permission online via the Immigration Service Delivery portal.
It varies by permit type, but generally:
- Passport photo
- Copy of passport
- Contract of employment
- Employer registration proof (P30/letter)
- Proof of qualificationsSigned application pages (employee, employer, agent if applicable)
Full document checklist can be found on the official Irish Government website.
Doras can guide you on your employment journey, by directing you to courses and job websites, guiding you on how to update your CV and how/where to search for jobs, and we can help you apply for a working visa.
We cannot provide you with a job or apply for a job on your behalf.
At our weekly Employment and CV Hub you can get support with:
- Preparing your CV
- Guidance for job interviews
- Guidance for job search
Employment Hub happens every Tuesday, from 2pm-4pm, at our office at 2 The Crescent, Limerick, V94 P281. You can bring your child with you.
General Employment Permits are the primary vehicle used by the State to attract 3rd country nationals for occupations which are experiencing a labour or skills shortage.
All occupations are eligible unless excluded under the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
Either the foreign national or the prospective employer can apply for a General Employment Permit and the permit is issued to the foreign national, and a certified copy sent to the employer, which permits their employment in Ireland by the employer in the occupation and location/s specified on the permit.
A General Employment Permit can be issued for an initial period of 2 years and can then be renewed for up to a further three years. After 5 years, the applicant may apply to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) for long term residency.
Yes, if you hold valid status (stamps 1, 1A, 1G, 2, 2A, or 3 — except WHA holders).
If you are undocumented or on a Working Holiday Authorisation, you must apply from outside of Ireland.
Your family does not have an automatic right to join an employment permit holder in Ireland, unless they are citizens of the EEA (the EU, plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein), the UK or Switzerland.
Your spouse or de facto partner, and dependent children can apply to come to Ireland at the end of a 12 month waiting period. You must be earning enough money to support your family. If you have children, the levels of income that are used for qualifying for Working Family Payment are used to determine if you have the required salary.
If you have no children, then you must earn at least €30,000 per year for your spouse or partner to join you in Ireland.
- Occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List with salary €32,000+ (and relevant degree or higher)
- Any occupation with salary €60,000+ (not on Ineligible Jobs List)
- Must meet experience requirements
- Job offer of at least 2 years from a registered employer
- Workplace must meet 50:50 rule (at least half staff are EEA nationals)
Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can apply to come to Ireland without any waiting period.
