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Critical Skills

Employment Permit

Our Employment Permit Consultancy Service has secured hundreds of Employment Permits for our clients. We will work closely with you from start to finish to ensure the right processes are followed.

Table of Content:

What do Employers Need to Know About the Critical Skills Employment Permit?

Applications will only be accepted from employers that are registered with the Revenue Commissioners and with the Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies, if applicable, and which are currently trading in the State.

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That an employer–employee relationship will exist in that the prospective employee concerned will be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer.

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An employment permit will not be issued unless at the time of application, at least 50% of the employees in a firm are EEA nationals (50:50 rule).  However, if the company is a start-up with no more than two years of operation, this restriction could be waived.

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Need immediate help and professional advice with your situation? Contact us now.

What are the requirements for employees to apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit?

There are certain conditions regarding the qualification and job offer that employees need to meet in order to be eligible under the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme.

Qualification:
Job Offer:

  • Job offer must from a Revenue Commissioners-registered and trading company (or employer).

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  • Job offer of at least two years.

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  • The Employee must be directly employed and paid by the employer in Ireland.

Important: Any Jobs offered through recruitment agencies and other intermediaries will not be acceptable for this permit.

The relevant educational qualifications, skills, and experience are required depending on the job type and the proposed annual salary.

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  • For eligible jobs with an annual salary of €38,000 or more, a relevant degree or higher qualification is required.

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  • For eligible jobs with an annual salary of €64,000 or over, a relevant degree or equivalent experience is required.

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  • In the case of nurses and midwives, a degree/diploma qualification recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland(NMBI) is required.

What are the benefits of the Critical Skills Employment Permit?

The Critical Skills Employment Permit provides permit holders and companies with an array of benefits, including:

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  • Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can take up permanent residence (Stamp 4) in Ireland after two years of employment.

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  • Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification.​

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  • Spouses/De facto partners who come to Ireland through the unification scheme can request the right to work for any employer.

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  • Employers are not required to complete a labour market test, which shortens the recruitment process and lowers the administrative burden and cost of overseas hiring.

What are the Application Procedure for Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland?

An application for any employment permit must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date. The following are three main stages of the Critical Skills Employment Permit application:

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1.        Complete the application form with the required documentation.

2.        The application is placed in the processing queue.

3.        An official with decision-making authority considers the application. The official may request further information if they deem it to be necessary to reach a decision.

 

The application form must include a full description of the employee’s proposed employment, remuneration (excluding bonuses) and start date. Information on the educational qualifications, skills, or experience required for the job will need to be included.

 

Does it sound like a long and complicated process? That’s why Future Direct is here for you! With our exceptional service in this area, we are committed to working closely with you throughout the application process and ensuring compliance with every requirement.


Contact us now for immediate help and professional advice with your situation.

What is the processing time for the Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland?

The current processing time for a critical skill employment permit application is within 4 to 6 weeks. However, if your employer is a trusted partner, the process will be shortened to 1 to 2 weeks.

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We understand that a long waiting time is always frustrating and anxious. Future Direct is committed to following up closely with the department to ensure a faster turnaround time in each case.

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Need immediate help and professional advice with your situation? Contact us now.

If you are from a country that is not in the European Economic Area(non-EEA), the UK or Switzerland, you must apply for the permit before you come to Ireland. You may also have to apply for a visa to come to Ireland.

If you already live in Ireland and have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with stamp 1, 1A, 2, 2A or 3, and have been offered a job in an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List will also be eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Who is eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit?

What jobs are eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permit?

Before jumping into more detail, please note that two types of occupation lists are issued by The Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment(DETE).

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Eligibility for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is largely determined by the type of occupation and proposed remuneration level. There are generally two routes:

The first route to a Critical Skill Employment Permit must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. The job offered must belong to one of the occupations listed under the Critical Skills Occupations List.

  2. The job offered must have a minimum salary of €38,000 per annum. (€44,000 per annum In 2025)

  3. The job offered must be of at least 2-year duration or on a permanent basis. 

  4. The prospective employee must have a degree qualification or higher and it must be relevant to the job offered. 

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The second route to a Critical Skill Employment Permit must meet all of the following requirements:

  1. All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest.

  2. The prospective employee must have a relevant degree qualification OR necessary level of experience.

  3. The job offered must be of at least 2-year duration or on a permanent basis. 

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​Employer Criteria

  1. ​Applications will only be accepted from employers that are registered with the Revenue Commissioners and with the Companies Registration Office/Registry of Friendly Societies, if applicable, and which are currently trading in the State.

  2. An employer–employee relationship will exist in that the prospective employee concerned will be employed, salaried and paid directly by the employer.

  3. An employment permit will not be issued unless at the time of application, at least 50% of the employees in a firm are EEA nationals (50:50 rule).  However, this restriction could be waived if the company is a start-up with no more than two years of operation.

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Contact us now for immediate help and professional advice with your situation.

Employment Visa in Ireland

This permit is deemed to be the most sought-after employment permit to obtain in Ireland. It is designed to attract highly skilled people into the Irish labour market with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in the State.


Eligible occupations under this type of permit are deemed to be critically important to growing Ireland’s economy, are highly demanded and highly skilled, and are in a significant shortage of supply in our labour market. The list of eligible occupations is set out in the Critical Skills Occupations List.

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Jobs which are eligible under the Critical Skills Employment Permit Ireland scheme do not need to undergo the Labour Market Needs Test.


The Green Card type employment permit has been replaced by the Critical Skills Employment Permit. This permit is deemed to be the most sought-after employment permit to obtain in Ireland.

Fast-Track Application

Track your application with the relevant department and liaise on your behalf.

Seamless Application Supports

Prepare files and manage immigration-related applications from start to finish for you.

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Access to the consultant on the phone for quick support without the barrier of a receptionist.

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Full-time focus to operate efficiently and effectively to deliver results on time.

Let us help with your application

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FAQ

If you hold a foreign qualification or have completed your studies overseas, you can compare your qualification type and level on the NARIC website, where you can obtain your Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and download a comparability statement.

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Usually, a bachelor's ordinary degree is NFQ level 7, an honours degree is NFQ level 8, and a master's is NFQ level 9.

Yes! The department will refund you. If your application is refused, you will receive a 90% refund of the fee paid. If the application is redrawn, you will receive a full refund. However, the refund process usually takes 7 to 8 weeks.

You can apply for your Stamp 4 once you have completed 21 months of continuous employment in Ireland, where you no longer need an employment permit to stay in Ireland. Find more info on stamp 4 here.

You must notify the DETE within four weeks of your date of dismissal. You will be granted up to six months to seek another employment.

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