With enhanced and developed technological infrastructure and growing business potentials with the onset of leading companies in Ireland, undoubtedly it is one of the most sought-after destinations for foreign nationals to work and grow in Ireland.Non-EU/EEA nationals willing to work in Ireland will have to apply for an Ireland Work Visa from the Irish Immigration Authorities. Before applying for the Ireland Work Visa, one must secure a job from an authorized Irish employer and apply for Irish Work Permit from the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI).

Ireland Work Visa Requirements

Valid Passport.

Passport sized colour photographs according to the photo requirement norms of Ireland Immigration Department.

Submit Ireland Work Visa application form.

Proof of payment of work visa fee.

Legal address proof of an applicant’s country of origin.

Letter of intent explaining your purpose of visit as employment.

Provide sufficient proof that one will return to his/her country of origin on completion of his/her visa period.

Submit proof of educational qualification and certificates.

Details and proof of previous work experience.

To be eligible to apply for Ireland Work Visa, one must have an Ireland private medical insurance covering at least €25,000 for medical emergencies.

One must provide proof of having accommodation in Ireland. If an employer is providing with accommodation, furnish the details on your visa application.

Proof of financial capability to sustain oneself while in Ireland is mandatory. It is also important to provide bank statements of last 6 months with name, address and contact details. In case of any unusual transaction, one must explain it.

A pre-paid, self-addressed envelope containing valid job offer letter, work contract with job and salary details, Employment Permit Ireland’s Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation.

Ireland Work Permit Requirements

One must have a job offer or work contract from an Irish business establishment.

In case, a foreign national is applying for General Employment Permit, the annual salary must be minimum €30,000.

If one is applying for Critical Skills Employment Permit, the minimum annual salary must be within €30,000 or €80,000, depending on the type of occupation.

If one is applying for any other job other than the Critical Skills Employment, the employer must pass the Labour Markets Needs Test, which is to ensure that the Irish employer did not find any suitable Irish or EU/EEA/Swiss citizen for the job and hence he is hiring a foreign national.

The annual minimum salary must meet the National Minimum Wage.

For an employer to hire a foreign national it is imperative for the employers to be of Irish or EU/EEA/Swiss nationality.

Documents required for Ireland Work Permit

Passport sized colour photographs in accordance to Ireland’s photo requirement norms.

A copy of valid passport which clearly shows one’s signature, photo and personal details.

Copy of Letter of Support by IDA/Enterprise Ireland.

Copy of work contract signed between you and the employer.

Employer details, such as name, company registration number, address etc.

Employment details, such as, work and responsibilities, duration, salary, duties etc.

Relevant License/Registration number of the company issued by the Government Ministries or authorized Irish Regulatory Bodies.

Details of a contact person: name, contact details, position in company.

Ireland Work Visa Duration and Renewal

The Ireland Work Visa is valid for 90 days, however, the validity of one’s work visa also depends on the type of work permit. Usually, Ireland Work Permits are issued for 24 months initially and can be renewed for a maximum of 5 years. During that time, one can apply for permanent residency in Ireland. An Irish work permit can be renewed through EPOS.

Ireland Work Visa Residence Permit

While entering Ireland, the Immigration Officers at Border Control will put a stamp on a foreign nationals work visa. It shows, how many days one is allowed to stay in Ireland. Since the work visas are usually 3 months or 90 days, before expiring of these days a non-Irish or EU/EEA/Swiss national must register with Ireland’s Immigration Department to be eligible to stay for more than 90 days.

Exempted from Ireland Work Permit

• An international student studying in Ireland and doing part-time jobs is exempted from applying for Ireland Work Permit.
• In case, one has received a Refugee status in Ireland, he/she will not have to apply for the work permit.
• A foreign national carrying out scientific research for an authorized research organization is exempted from applying for a work permit.
• An international post-graduate student working as a part of the study program is not subjected to apply for an Irish Work Permit.

Types of Ireland Work Visas and Employments

• Critical Skills Employment Permit: This particular work permit is issued to highly skilled professionals to fill in the skill shortage in Ireland. An employer hiring for a critical skill occupation does not have to qualify for Labor Market Needs Test. The eligible jobs under the Critical Skills Employment Permit include skilled professionals in the fields of Engineering, Teaching and Education, ICT, Natural and Social Science, Health, Architecture, etc. Ireland’s Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation website listed all the eligible occupation under the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• General Employment Permit: Foreign nationals who do not qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit, can apply for this particular Irish Work Permit. Under this permit, one can apply for any kind of occupation in Ireland, until and unless the desired employment opportunity falls under the list of “Ineligible Categories of Employment for Employment Permits”.
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit: Ireland’s Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit is issued to those foreign nationals who want to transfer to the Irish branch of the company, they are already employed in. This Irish work permit is mostly issued to key trainees or personnel, senior management, etc.
• Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permits: This particular Irish Work Permit is issued to Dependent/Partner/Spouse of the foreign nationals who have applied for Critical Skills Employment Permit. If one receives a work permit as Dependent/Partner/Spouse of a Critical Skill worker then he/she can apply for work in any sector including those in the ineligible category, also the application charge will be free of cost.
• Internship Employment Permit: This permit is issued only for 12 months to those foreign students who are enrolled in a full-time study program and are willing to visit Ireland to gain work experience.
• Sport and Cultural Employment Permit: The Ireland Immigration Department issues this work permit to those foreign nationals who are renowned in the field of sport and culture and help to enhance these fields in Ireland.
• Contract for Services Employment Permit: The Irish Contract for Services Employment Permit is issued to those foreign nationals who already work in a foreign company and are willing to visit Ireland on behalf of their employer, to meet the contract requirements of an Irish national.
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit: This Ireland permit is eligible for those foreign nationals who are willing to work in Ireland under an International Exchange Agreement of which Ireland is a part of, The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE), The Fulbright Programme, or AIESEC.
• Reactivation Employment Permit: The Reactivation Employment Permit is available to those workers who once had an Irish work permit but it got invalid due to some workplace abuse or exploitation. Those workers can apply for an Irish Work Permit once again.

Benefits of working in Ireland

• Growing economic development: Top companies like- Pfizer, Apple, Facebook, Google, Intel chose Ireland as their base in Europe. With such a developed and innovative employment infrastructure, it is indeed one of the sought-after countries for foreign nationals to get employed in Ireland and get themselves acquainted with the raging economic development.
• English speaking country: Since Ireland is an English-speaking country, an international student won’t feel alienated while living and working here. Moreover, Ireland’s close economic and educational ties with English speaking countries, like the UK and the US makes it a more favorable destination for international job seekers to live and work in Ireland.
• Accessible public healthcare: Ireland’s public healthcare is funded by general taxes, hence anyone living in Ireland can access this facility without any additional charges.
• Secure and friendly inhabitants: Ireland ranks 12th in the 2020 Global Peace Index indicating the low crime rates of Ireland. Moreover, the friendly and welcoming inhabitants of Ireland help foreign nationals to assimilate and integrate with the Irish culture and habits.

Impact of Covid-19 on Ireland’s Work Visa Procedure

With the ongoing pandemic scenario, Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery has decided not to issue any new Irish Residence Permit (IRP), the issuance of new IRP will resume once the situation gets back to normal. ISD is not accepting new visa applications unless the visa applicants are health researchers, healthcare workers, diplomats, humanitarian aid workers, or military personnel. Wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing is mandatory in public places, failing to do so might attract a penalty.