General Employment Permit Ireland: Full Guide (2025 Rules)

The General Employment Permit is the most common route for non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland outside of the Critical Skills list. It's slower and more restrictive than the Critical Skills Employment Permit, but it covers a much wider range of occupations. Here's how it works in 2025.

What is a General Employment Permit?

Issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), the General Employment Permit allows a non-EEA national to work for a specific employer in a specific role in Ireland. Unlike the Critical Skills Permit, it doesn't come with an automatic path to a Stamp 4, and it's subject to a quota-style Labour Market Needs Test in most cases.

What is the minimum salary threshold?

As of 2024, the general minimum annual salary for a General Employment Permit is €34,000 (raised from €30,000 in January 2024), unless the role falls under an exempted category with a lower threshold — such as certain healthcare assistants (€27,000), some sectors within meat processing, or horticulture workers, which have specific carve-outs. Some occupations, like chefs, have their own tailored minimum thresholds (currently €32,000 for sous chefs and executive chefs meeting certain criteria). Always check the current DETE employment permits page as thresholds are reviewed periodically.

What is the Labour Market Needs Test?

Before applying for most General Employment Permits, the employer must advertise the vacancy for a minimum of 4 weeks:

2 weeks with the Department of Social Protection's EURES employment service, and
2 weeks in a national newspaper and either a local newspaper or a jobs website.

The employer must show no suitable EEA/Swiss/UK candidate applied or was available before offering the role to a non-EEA national. Some roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List are exempt from this test even under a General Employment Permit application; roles on the Ineligible List of Occupations cannot get a General Employment Permit at all.

What are the eligibility conditions?

Job offer must be for at least 2 years minimum duration (permits are typically granted for up to 2 years initially).
At least 50% of employees in the sponsoring company must be EEA nationals after the permit is granted (some exceptions for start-ups and small employers).
The role must not appear on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
The salary must meet or exceed the applicable minimum threshold for the occupation.

How do I apply, step by step?

Job offer — secure a written offer from an Irish-registered employer for a role at or above the salary threshold.
Labour Market Needs Test — employer advertises the role for 4 weeks (unless exempt).
Prepare documents — employment contract, proof of qualifications, employer's tax clearance certificate, proof of the advertising campaign, and your passport.
Submit application — either you or your employer applies online via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS), paying the relevant fee.
Processing — trusted partner applications and standard applications are processed in the order received; as of 2025, standard processing times are typically 6-12 weeks, though this varies with volume.
Travel and register — once granted, if you're outside Ireland you may need an entry visa (D-type) as well, then register your immigration permission (Stamp 1) at a Registration Office within 90 days of arrival.

What does it cost?

€1,000 for a permit of up to 2 years.
€1,500 for a permit of more than 2 years (up to the 3-year maximum for renewals).
A 90% refund is given if the application is refused; a 50% refund if withdrawn before a decision.

Can my family join me?

General Employment Permit holders do not get automatic family reunification rights in the same way Critical Skills Permit holders do. You typically need to hold the permit for 12 months and meet a minimum income requirement before you can apply for your spouse/partner and dependent children to join you, and their permission to work is not automatic — they usually need their own employment permit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a General Employment Permit and a Critical Skills Employment Permit?

The Critical Skills Permit is for occupations on Ireland's Critical Skills Occupations List (mostly tech, engineering, and healthcare roles with a €38,000+ or €64,000+ salary depending on the role), skips the Labour Market Needs Test, and leads to a Stamp 4 after 2 years. The General Employment Permit covers a much broader range of jobs at a €34,000 minimum but usually requires the Labour Market Needs Test and has a longer path to long-term residency.

Can I change employer on a General Employment Permit?

Yes, but only after holding the permit for at least 12 months with the original employer, and you need a new employment permit application for the new role.

How long does a General Employment Permit application take to process in Ireland?

As of 2025, standard applications typically take around 6-12 weeks, though this fluctuates with application volumes — check current processing times on enterprise.gov.ie before making travel or start-date plans.

Do I need a job offer before applying?

Yes — unlike some countries' points-based systems, Ireland's employment permit system requires a specific job offer from a specific employer before you can apply; there is no general "search visa."

Can a General Employment Permit lead to Irish citizenship?

Yes, indirectly. Time spent on a General Employment Permit counts toward the 5 years of reckonable residence needed for naturalisation, provided you later hold Stamp 4 or equivalent permission for at least some of that period, since Stamp 1 time only counts at half value for citizenship purposes.