Critical Skills Employment Permit for Ireland: requirements and salary
Ireland's Critical Skills Employment Permit is built for occupations in short supply, which include ICT professionals and engineers. There is no labour market test, and family members can join you straight away.
Checked against the official sources below on 2026-10-22. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm on the official page before you apply.
- Occupations on the Critical Skills list: €40,904 a year with a relevant degree
- Graduated in the last 12 months: €36,848 a year
- Any eligible occupation: Over €68,911 a year
- Fee: €1,000 (90% refunded if refused)
Visa-sponsored jobs in Ireland
32 visa-sponsored tech jobs in Ireland on The Stack right now, from 11 companies, the latest posted on 2026-10-21. See all visa sponsorship jobs in Ireland
Companies sponsoring
Who qualifies
- A job offer of at least 2 years from an employer trading in Ireland and registered with the Revenue Commissioners.
- An occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List with a salary of at least €40,904 and a relevant degree, or €36,848 if you got the degree in the 12 months before applying.
- Or any occupation not on the ineligible list with a salary of over €68,911.
- At least half of the employer's employees must be EEA nationals, unless it is a start-up within 2 years of registering that is a client of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.
How it works
- You or the employer apply on Employment Permits Online at least 12 weeks before the start date.
- Applications are processed in date order. The Department publishes its current processing dates.
- If you need a visa, you apply for an entry visa after the permit is granted, then register with immigration once you arrive.
- You are expected to stay with the first employer for at least 9 months.
- When the permit ends, you can apply to the Department of Justice for Stamp 4 permission, which lets you live and work in Ireland without an employment permit.