Does this job qualify for an employment permit?

A job may qualify for an Irish employment permit if the occupation, salary, contract, employer and candidate all meet the rules for a particular permit type.

The job title alone is not enough. Two vacancies with similar titles can have different duties, salaries or contract terms, and those differences can change the result.

This guide focuses on the two routes most professional jobseekers encounter: the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit.

Start with your own right to work

Before assessing the vacancy, confirm whether you need an employment permit at all. Irish, EEA, Swiss and British citizens do not need one. Some non-EEA nationals can also work without a permit because of their Irish immigration permission.

If you are unsure, start with Do I need an employment permit to work in Ireland?.

Check the occupation, not just the title

Employment-permit decisions are based on the actual employment. Read the duties, seniority and required skills, then compare them with the current occupation lists published by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

For a Critical Skills Employment Permit, the job may qualify if it is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and meets the applicable pay and qualification requirements. Some highly paid roles may qualify even if they are not on that list, provided they are not on the Ineligible List and meet the other conditions.

For a General Employment Permit, occupations are generally eligible unless they appear on the Ineligible List. This does not mean every role outside the list will be approved. The salary, employer and other permit conditions still apply.

Do not rely only on the wording used in a job advertisement. An employer may use an internal title that does not clearly match the occupation classification used by DETE.

Compare the salary with the current threshold

As of 28 September 2026, the standard minimum annual remuneration is generally:

• €40,904 for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List, where the relevant qualification rules also apply;
• €36,848 under that Critical Skills route where the applicant received the relevant qualification within the 12 months before the permit application;
• more than €68,911 for other occupations considered under the high-salary Critical Skills route, unless the occupation is ineligible; and
• €36,605 for a General Employment Permit, or €34,009 where the applicant received a relevant degree from an Irish third-level college within the previous 12 months.

The two graduate thresholds are different. The Critical Skills reduction refers to a relevant qualification received within the previous 12 months. The General Permit reduction specifically requires a relevant degree issued by an Irish third-level college within the previous 12 months.

A €32,691 General Permit threshold also applies to certain named occupations, including horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, health care assistants and home support workers. Public-sector pay agreements can affect the Critical Skills calculation.

These figures can change. Check the current DETE page before relying on a salary threshold.

The advertised salary also needs careful reading. Bonuses are not automatically treated as part of eligible remuneration. Hours matter too, especially where DETE applies an hourly-rate requirement. If a vacancy gives a wide salary range, do not assume the top of the range will be offered.

Check the contract length

A Critical Skills Employment Permit normally requires a job offer of at least two years.

A General Employment Permit may be available for a contract of at least 12 months, subject to the other conditions. A permanent role can meet a minimum-duration rule, but it does not bypass the occupation, salary or employer checks.

Look for the proposed start date as well. DETE says an employment-permit application must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed start of employment. A start date that leaves no time for the permit process may need to be changed.

Check whether the employer can support the application

The employer must be a genuine employer trading in Ireland and registered with Revenue and, where applicable, the Companies Registration Office or Registry of Friendly Societies.

The employment must normally create a direct employer-employee relationship. The named employer should employ, pay and direct the worker. Arrangements involving an agency, client site or overseas entity need closer examination.

The 50:50 rule also applies to many applications. In general, at least half of the employer's workforce must be EEA nationals at the time of application. There are defined exceptions, including some qualifying start-ups and sole-employee situations.

You may not be able to verify every employer condition yourself. That is one reason an apparently eligible role can still fail at application stage.

Find out whether a Labour Market Needs Test is required

For many General Employment Permit applications, the employer must first advertise the role through EURES and on an additional online platform in the way DETE specifies.

There are exceptions. For example, the test is generally not required for an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List or for an eligible role above the applicable high-salary threshold.

This is mainly an employer responsibility, but it affects timing. If the test is required, DETE says the EURES advertisement must run for at least 28 days before a valid application can be submitted.

Look for clear evidence in the vacancy

A useful vacancy should tell you enough to assess:

• the actual duties and level of responsibility;
• the employer's legal name;
• salary or salary range;
• expected working hours;
• contract length;
• work location; and
• any statement about employment-permit support.

If important details are missing, ask the recruiter before investing heavily in the process.

An occupation being eligible does not mean the vacancy offers sponsorship. Only treat permit support as confirmed when the employer explicitly says it will support the application for that role.

Use a simple three-part check

Before applying, ask:

1. Could the job qualify? Check the occupation, salary, hours and contract.
2. Could the employer qualify? Check the legal employer and ask whether it can meet the employer requirements.
3. Will the employer participate? Look for an explicit statement or ask directly.

A strong answer to the first question does not answer the other two.

Common misunderstandings

"The title is on the Critical Skills list, so the job qualifies"

Not necessarily. DETE considers the duties, salary, qualifications, contract and employer as well as the occupation classification.

"The salary is high enough, so the occupation does not matter"

Not always. Even the high-salary route excludes occupations on the Ineligible List and remains subject to other conditions.

"The company has hired permit holders before, so this vacancy sponsors"

No. Permit history is company-level evidence based on official Irish Government employment-permit data. It does not guarantee sponsorship for a particular role.

"A recruiter said sponsorship may be possible, so approval is likely"

Employer support is important, but DETE makes the permit decision. No employer or recruiter can guarantee approval.

This guide provides general information, not legal advice. Employment-permit rules and salary thresholds can change, so check the official sources before acting.