Hiring International Employees
Hiring from outside the EEA is a system that rewards preparation. Get the sequence right and it is very workable. Get it wrong and a refusal joins a review queue that runs for months.
Do you qualify to sponsor?
Your company will need
- Registered as an employer with Revenue, and with the CRO or Registry of Friendly Societies where applicable
- Genuinely trading in the State
- A direct employer-employee relationship with the hire, with a signed contract of employment
- A validated employer account on Employment Permits Online
- A workforce at least 50% EEA nationals on the date of application, unless a startup or sole-employee waiver applies
- A salary at or above the current minimum for the permit type
A permit will not work if
- The role is on the Ineligible Occupations List: this still covers most retail, admin and general catering roles
- You want to engage the person as a self-employed contractor rather than a direct employee
- More than half your workforce is non-EEA and no waiver applies
- The work is a short specialised assignment under 90 days, which is the Atypical Working Scheme through ISD, not an employment permit
- The candidate already holds Stamp 4, Stamp 1G, or a spouse/partner Stamp 1G; they can work for you with no permit at all
CSEP vs GEP: which permit for this hire?
| Route | Salary floor | Labour market test | Job offer | Retention path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills (CSEP) | €40,904 (listed role) or €68,911 (any role) | Not required | Minimum 2 years | Stamp 4 at 21 months, family joins immediately |
| General (GEP) | €36,605 most roles, €32,691 lower-paid sectors | Required, 28 days on 2 platforms | No minimum term | Renewable to 5 years, Stamp 4 after |
| Graduate Critical Skills | €36,848 (recent graduate) | Not required | Level 8+ degree in the last 12 months | Stamp 4 at about 21 months |
| Graduate General | €34,009 (recent graduate, Irish degree) | Required unless waived | Level 8+ degree in the last 12 months | Stamp 4 at about 57 months |
How the process works
Check whether a permit is needed at all
EEA, UK and Swiss citizens need no permit. Neither do candidates already holding Stamp 4, graduates on Stamp 1G, or spouses and partners of Critical Skills permit holders on Stamp 1G. Confirm the candidate's current immigration status before running any process.
Choose the route: Critical Skills or General
If the role sits on the Critical Skills Occupations List and pays at least €40,904 with a job offer of 2 years or more, CSEP is almost always the answer: no labour market test, and a faster decision. Otherwise confirm the role is not on the Ineligible Occupations List and build a General Employment Permit application at €36,605 or above (€32,691 for horticulture, meat processing, home support and healthcare assistant roles).
Register your employer account on EPOS
Every application runs through Employment Permits Online. Your company needs a validated employer account, built on Revenue documentation and your CRO number, before anything can be filed. Nothing is submitted until the account is validated.
Run the labour market needs test (GEP only)
The vacancy must run on jobsireland.ie and one other online platform, each for at least 28 consecutive days, unamended. The advert must state the job description, company name, minimum salary, location and hours. You then have 90 days from first publication to file the application.
Submit the application and fee
Either the employer or the candidate can apply and pay. The permit issues to the worker, with a certified copy to the employer. DETE recommends applying at least 12 weeks before the intended start date.
Decision and start date
Current DETE processing times move regularly. Check the live figures below before committing to a start date. A refused application joins a review queue that can run for months, so getting the eligibility check right upfront matters more than speed.