Work Permits - Republic of Ireland

                           A work permit is required by an employer to employ any person who is not a national of an EU/EEA State. The Employment Regulation Section examines applications from employers and issues permits where appropriate. Official policy in this area is to ensure that job opportunities which arise in the State are, as far as possible, reserved for Irish or EU/EEA nationals. A scale of fees ranging from £25 to £125 applies depending on the duration of a permit.

Work Permit Criteria

1. Work Permits are not required for the following:
1. A citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA) and, where such a citizen is pursuing an activity as an employed or self-employed person within the State, his or her spouse and any of their children who are under the age of 21 years or are dependent on the EEA citizen. (The EEA comprises the European Union together with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein).
2. Persons who have been granted refugee status by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
3. Post graduate students where the work is an integral part of the course of study being undertaken. (This includes post graduate doctors and dentists with temporary registration.)
4. Persons who have been granted permission by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to remain in the State on one of the following grounds: (a) Persons with permission to remain as spouse of an Irish national, (b) Persons with permission to remain as the parent of an Irish citizen, (c) Persons who have been given temporary leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, having been in the asylum process.
5. Persons who are posted on an intra-corporate transfer/secondment for a maximum period of four years to an establishment or undertaking in Ireland which is owned by a company or group which has operations in more than one State.
6. Persons coming to Ireland from an overseas company for a maximum period of three years for training, whether or not it entails remunerated work, at an Irish-based company.


2. As the primary purpose of the work permits scheme is to preserve available employment for Irish and other EEA nationals, employers who apply for work permits are generally required to establish that it has not been possible, in spite of reasonable efforts being made (e.g., by way of advertising the vacancy, seeking applicants from FAS or employment agencies or other such means), to fill the vacancy with an Irish or other person for whom a work permit is not required. A permit is granted when the employer establishes this to the satisfaction of the officer examining the application; otherwise, it is refused. Permits may issue subject to conditions.



3. In addition to the circumstances outlined in paragraph 1.2, work permits are generally granted where it is established that the prospective employee:
1. Is a doctor who has full medical registration from the Irish Medical Council and who has been offered a specified position in a hospital recognised by the Irish Medical Council.
2. Is an entertainer who is coming to Ireland to perform at a particular event (this would include groups of performers and their back up crews and film crews).
3. Is a professional sportsperson and the granting of the permit would comply with the terms of an agreement made between the Department and the relevant sporting organisation.
4. Is a participant in an exchange programme recognised by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
5. Is entitled to take up employment in Ireland under the terms of any international bilateral agreement ratified by Ireland.


4. In addition to the circumstances outlined in paragraph 1.2, work permits will be refused where the prospective employee -
1. Has entered the State on the basis that he or she will not be taking up employment, i.e. visitors, students or tourists
2. Is in the State illegally or no longer complies with the conditions under which he/she was admitted
3. Has been asked by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to leave the State or is in the process of being deported or was in the State illegally and has been deported or has left the State having been asked to do so by the Department for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
4. Is seeking employment with a non EEA employer who is operating in the State without business permission from the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.


5. The following should be noted about certain categories of prospective employee:
1. Students: It is a primary condition of entry into the State for students that they be in a position to maintain themselves while they are studying here. They are therefore permitted to enter and reside in the State on condition that they do not enter employment. Accordingly, with very limited exceptions (notably, under special, reciprocal schemes in respect of students from the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand) work permits are not granted in respect of students.
2. Domestic staff: A very restrictive policy operates regarding the issue of work permits in this area. Applications will be entertained only where it has been established that the person has been in employment with a family abroad for at least one year, prior to the date of applying for a work permit. Permits, where issued are subject to strict conditions.
3. Ethnic restaurants: Because of the specialist nature of these establishments some permits per branch may be granted to ethnic restaurants in respect of qualified chefs/catering staff. The number of permits granted will depend upon the nature and scope of the restaurant and the number of EEA nationals employed in the business concerned.

Procedures For Applying

                           A work permit is required by an employer to employ any person who is not a national of an EU/EEA State. The Employment Regulation Section examines applications from employers and issues permits where appropriate. Official policy in this area is to ensure that job opportunities which arise in the State are, as far as possible, reserved for Irish or EU/EEA nationals. A scale of fees ranging from £25 to £125 applies depending on the duration of a permit.

For More Information

                           Some nationalities require entry visas. For a list of those who don't require visas (any country omitted from that list will automatically require one to enter the country) please contact the postal address below: Visas Section
Immigration Division
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
72/76 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2
Tel: 00353 1 6789711

                           From receipt of a work permit application, it takes approximately 4 weeks to process. Once the application has been fully considered a decision will be taken either to issue or refuse in the case concerned.