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General
Employment Permit

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

Table of Content:

What is the General Employment Permit?

A General Employment Permit is one of the most common type of work permit in Ireland. The permit offers more flexible salary requirements and a broader range of occupations than a Critical Skills Employment Permit. The General Employment Permit is also the next option for employees ineligible to apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

General Employment Permits assume all occupations are eligible unless otherwise specified. Therefore, all occupations are eligible unless excluded under the Ineligible List of Occupations. All occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List are also deemed eligible for a General Employment Permit.

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If you are unsure if you are eligible for an Employment Permit, please contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation.

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

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If you already live in Ireland and have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with stamps 1, 1A, 2, 2A, or 3 and have been offered a job in an occupation not listed on the ineligible list of occupations, you have partially fulfilled the requirements to apply for the General Skills Employment Permit.

Who is eligible for General Employment Permit?

What jobs are eligible for General Employment Permit?

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

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The eligible jobs for a General Employment Permit are more straight forward than a Critical Skills Employment Permit. Provided that the occupation is not within the Ineligible List of Occupations and:

  • Jobs with a minimum annual salary of €34,000

  • Posted the relevant qualifications, skills or experience that are required for the employment

  • If you are a Horticulture worker or meat Processor Operator, the minimum annual salary is €30,000, and the minimum hourly rate is €14.79.

  • If you are a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) or Home Support Worker, the minimum annual salary is €27,000

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If you are unsure if you are eligible for an Employment Permit, please contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation.

What are the requirements for employees to apply for General Employment Permit?

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

Qualification:

  • For jobs with an annual salary of €34,000 or more, a relevant degree or higher qualification is required.

  • As a Horticultural worker or meat processor operating, the minimum annual salary is €30,000, and the minimum hourly rate is €14.79.

  • As a Healthcare Assistant (HCA) or Home Support Worker, the minimum annual salary is €27,000.​

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If you are unsure if you are eligible for an Employment Permit, please contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation.

What do Employers Need to Know About the General Employment Permit?

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has established a few criteria for employers to apply for a General Employment Permit.

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  • Employers must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners and the Companies Registration Office, which are currently trading in Ireland

  • The employee is being directly employed and paid directly by the employer.

  • The organisation must have at least 50% of EEA national employees unless the company is a start-up with no more than two years of operation

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A Labour Market Needs Test is required in a General Skills Employment Permit application unless

  • The occupation is on the critical skills occupations list.

  • The annual salary of the occupation is higher than €64,000.

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If you are unsure if you are eligible for an Employment Permit, please contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation.

What are the benefits of the General Employment Permit?

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

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  • General Employment Permit holders can take up permanent residence (Stamp 4) in Ireland after 5 years of employment.

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  • General Employment Permit holders can apply for family reunification immediately after 1 year of employment.

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Need help with your work permit application? Contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation. Future Direct is here to take the stress out of you and ensure you obtain your work permit without any concerns!

What are the Application Procedure for General 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 General Employment Permit application:

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  • Complete the application form with the required documentation​, including the labour market need test.

  • The application is placed in the processing queue.

  • Application is considered by an official with decision making authority. The official may request further information if they deem it to be necessary in order to reach a decision.

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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.

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The application may only be granted for a maximum period of 24 months. Therefore, permit holders will need to renew their general employment permit. The renewal must be done within 16 weeks before the expiry of the permit.

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Need help with your work permit application? Contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation. Future Direct is here to take the stress out of you and ensure you obtain your work permit without any concerns!

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 5 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 help with your work permit application? Contact us now for instant help and assistance on your situation. Future Direct is here to take the stress out of you and ensure you obtain your work permit without any concerns!

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Have question?

Call us at +353 (01) 513 4085​ or send us your request by filling in this form. One of our consultants reply shortly.

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.

No, a General Employment Permit application can be submitted if you have the relevant qualifications, skills or experience.

Yes, the Labour Market Need Test is generally required. However, a  Labour Market Need Test is not required if your occupation is within the Critical Skills Occupation List.

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 57 months of continuous employment in Ireland, where you no longer need an employment permit to stay in Ireland.

​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.

FAQ

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