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Employment permit · IrelandIrelandEU
From €1,30010–30 working days
Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case.
For non-EEA professionals with a 2-year job offer in Ireland.
Check your eligibilityIreland does not operate the EU Blue Card; the Critical Skills Employment Permit is its route for highly skilled workers. For listed occupations with a relevant degree the salary floor is €40,904, and the job offer must run for at least 2 years.
Updated
IrelandEU
How it works
The permit has two salary bands, and which one applies depends on the occupation list, not on your seniority.
Occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List need €40,904 with a relevant degree, or €36,848 if the qualification was obtained in the previous 12 months. Any other eligible occupation needs €68,911.
There is no labour market needs test for this permit, which is the main difference from the General Employment Permit.
The permit fee is €1,000; 90% is refunded if the application is refused. The job offer must be for at least 2 years.
After the permit period, holders apply directly to the Department of Justice for Stamp 4; a support letter has not been needed since 30 November 2023.
We place the job against the occupation list, check the salary band and prepare the permit application; after the permit we prepare the Stamp 4 application.
What you getEU
Requirements
Three conditions on the offer; we check them before the employer signs.
Legal basis:Critical Skills Employment Permit
Minimum income€40,904/year
Family includedYes
The lower €36,848 figure applies only if the degree is less than 12 months old.
An occupation placed on the list when it is not there, or a contract shorter than 2 years.
Cost
Our fee and the €1,000 permit fee; the spouse permit is free.
| Who applies | Our fee from | Government fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single applicant | €1,300 | €1,000 | Not publishedGovernment fees beyond the permit fee are not published in our reference. |
| Couple | €1,300 | €1,000 | Not publishedGovernment fees beyond the permit fee are not published in our reference. |
| Couple with two children | €1,300 | €1,000 | Not publishedGovernment fees beyond the permit fee are not published in our reference. |
Government fees are paid separately at cost and are listed below with their source.
No investment is required.Conditions
Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case. We usually reply within one business day.
From €1,30010–30 working days
Process
Five steps across two authorities.
We check the occupation list, salary band and contract term.
Eligibility note
We prepare the online permit application; the permit fee is paid.
Filed permit application
You enter Ireland and register your permission.
Registered permission
After the permit period we prepare the Stamp 4 application to the Department of Justice.
Stamp 4 application
What you receive
Refusals
Three grounds from the permit conditions.
Checked on
| Reason for refusal | What closes it | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Salary below the band for the occupation | We check the band before the contract is signed.€40,904/year | Critical Skills Employment Permit |
| Occupation not on the list | We place the job against the list and switch to the €68,911 band if needed. | Not published |
| Contract under 2 years | We ask the employer for a 2-year term before filing. | Not published |
Long term
Stamp 4 years count as reckonable residence.
Changes
Updated
Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)Open
| Date | What changed | Applies to | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReformSARP extended to 2030; minimum base salary for new arrivals raised from EUR 100,000 to EUR 125,000. | Whole country | Revenue Commissioners | |
| TransitionMiCAR transitional period for Irish VASPs ended; crypto services require CASP authorisation. | Whole country | Central Bank of Ireland | |
| ReformGambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland formally established under the Gambling Regulation Act 2024; phased licensing. | Whole country | Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland | |
| ReformVAT registration thresholds raised to EUR 42,500 (services) and EUR 85,000 (goods). | Whole country | Revenue Commissioners | |
| ReformPillar Two 15% minimum tax for large groups enacted (Part 4A TCA 1997, Finance (No.2) Act 2023). | Whole country | Revenue Commissioners | |
| ReformCSEP holders no longer need a DETE Stamp 4 support letter; they apply directly to the Department of Justice. | Whole country | Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment | |
| ReformKnowledge Development Box effective rate increased from 6.25% to 10%. | Whole country | Revenue Commissioners | |
| ClosureImmigrant Investor Programme closed to new applications. | Whole country | Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice |
Documents
Five documents.
Checked on
| Document | Who issues it | Apostille | Translation | Who prepares |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant | ||||
| Valid passport | Country of citizenship | No | No | You provide |
| Degree certificate | University | No | Yes | You provide |
| Signed 2-year job offer | Irish employer | No | No | You provide |
| Permit application | Department of Enterprise online system | No | No | We prepare |
| Stamp 4 application | Department of Justice forms | No | No | We prepare |
Send us the offer; we reply with the band and the document list.Get a quote
Request
Occupation, salary and contract term are enough for a first answer.
The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
Legal disclaimerQuestions
Figures from the Department of Enterprise pages on our check date.
€40,904 for listed occupations with a relevant degree (€36,848 for degrees under 12 months old); €68,911 for other eligible occupations.
No. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is the Irish equivalent.
90% is refunded.
Sources
Irish government pages behind this page.
| Source | Publisher | Type | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government sites | |||
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment | Government sites | Checked on |