Working in Ireland,
permit by permit.

Salary floor

EUR 40,904 a year (2026 figure)Effective from 1 March 2026, per the salary-threshold roadmap DETE announced in December 2025. This is the floor for a role on the Critical Skills Occupations List that requires a relevant degree. Two other figures apply on the same permit: €68,911 a year for a role where the necessary experience can stand in for the degree, and €36,848 a year for the Graduate Critical Skills Employment Permit, open where the applicant graduated with a relevant Level 8 (or higher) degree within the 12 months before applying. DETE's roadmap phases in further increases through 2030 — confirm the figure in force on the date you apply.

Qualification

A relevant degree or higher, where the role is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and pays a minimum of €40,904 a year; the necessary level of experience can stand in for a degree where the role pays a minimum of €68,911 a year and is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

Minimum notice before the proposed start date

At least 12 weeks

Processing, published and updated by DETE

As of 7 August 2026, DETE was deciding Critical Skills applications received on 28 July 2026 — check the department's current processing-dates page for the queue on the day you apply

Employment permit application fee

€1,000, of which 90% is refunded if the application is refused

4 steps · 3 possible outcomes · 6 official sources

Salary floor

EUR 36,605 a year (2026 figure)Effective from 1 March 2026. A lower floor of €34,009 a year applies to the Graduate General Employment Permit, open where the applicant graduated with a relevant Level 8 (or higher) degree within the 12 months before applying. DETE also publishes a separate, lower floor for a short list of named occupations outside these two categories — check the department's current schedule if you are unsure which floor applies to your role. The roadmap phases in further increases across all of these thresholds through 2030, so confirm the figure in force on the date you apply.

Qualification

The qualifications, skills or experience the specific role requires. The permit covers any occupation not on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits, so what counts as sufficient depends on the job, not on one bar set for every applicant.

Minimum notice before the proposed start date

At least 12 weeks

Labour Market Needs Test advertising period

28 continuous days on each of two platforms, then apply within 90 days of the first publication

Employment permit application fee, up to 24 months

€1,000, of which 90% is refunded if the application is refused

Employment permit application fee, six months or less

€500

Renewal, up to 36 months

€1,500

4 steps · 3 possible outcomes · 7 official sources

Salary floor

EUR 49,523 a year (2026 figure)Effective from 1 March 2026, this is the floor for senior management and key personnel. A lower floor of €36,605 a year applies to trainees. Confirm the figure in force on the date you apply, since DETE's roadmap phases in further increases through 2030.

Qualification

For senior management or key personnel, a high level of qualification or experience and specialist knowledge essential to the Irish branch; trainees are admitted instead for a defined period of structured training.

Minimum notice before the proposed start date

At least 12 weeks

Permit granted

Up to 24 months in the first instance, extendable to a maximum of five years in total

Employment permit application fee, up to 24 months

€1,000, of which 90% is refunded if the application is refused

Employment permit application fee, six months or less

€500

4 steps · 3 possible outcomes · 5 official sources