Irish Work Visas
Ireland has one of the fastest-growing economies in the European Union, which makes it a great destination for those looking for employment abroad. If you are a citizen of a non-EEA country and you wish to work in Ireland, you will need to obtain an Irish Work Visa.
Call our lawyers on +1 844 290 6312 for expert legal advice and assistance with your Irish visa application.
Page contents:
- Can I work in Ireland?
- What are the different types of Irish Work Permits?
- How to apply for a work visa in Ireland?
- What documents are needed to apply for an Irish employment permit?
- What documents are needed to apply for a work visa in Ireland?
- How much does the work visa for Ireland cost?
- What is the Atypical Working Scheme?
- How can IAS help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work in Ireland?
Ireland is welcoming to foreign nationals who they believe will help contribute to the local economy with their skill sets. In fact, Irish employers frequently look for overseas employees to fill positions that are facing either labor or skills shortages.
Citizens of EU/EEA countries are eligible to work in Ireland without having to obtain an employment permit. Those who come from non-EEA countries, however, will need to apply for a work visa prior to arriving in Ireland to be eligible for employment.
If you are a non-EEA citizen and would like to come to Ireland for work, you will need to first apply for an Irish work permit followed by a corresponding Irish visa which will give you immigration permission to enter the country.
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What are the different types of Irish Work Permits?
Non-EEA citizens who are seeking employment in Ireland will need an Irish work permit. Applying for a work permit can be a complex process. There are several employment permits to choose from and each of these permits comes with a different set of requirements and eligibility criteria.
Depending on your field of expertise and work experience, you might be eligible for one of nine Irish employment permits which include the following:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Irish General Employment Permit
- Contract for Services Employment Permit
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Reactivation Employment Permit
- Internship Employment Permit
- Sport & Cultural Employment Permit
- Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit.
Obtaining a relevant employment permit is the first step of the application process for obtaining a work visa in Ireland. If you are not sure which of the nine employment permits is the right one for you, contact our lawyers. They can assess your situation and help you decide.
How to apply for a work visa in Ireland?
Before you can submit your application for a work visa in Ireland, you will need to get your work permit. To apply for it, you will need to submit an online application using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).
After you do that, an immigration officer will determine whether your skills and work experience match the requirements for the employment permit you chose.
Once your application is approved and you have received the employment permit, you can then apply for a work visa which will allow you to come to Ireland. Irish work visas belong to the Long Stay ‘D’ Visas category, which means that its holders can stay in Ireland for longer than 3 months. To apply for it, you have to complete an online application form and submit a number of supporting documents that prove your eligibility for it.
On average, applications for Irish Employment Visas are processed within eight weeks. However, if you fail to include some necessary documents or if you make mistakes in your application, the waiting time can be longer.
Keep in mind that to be able to get an employment permit and an Irish Work Visa, you will need to receive a job offer or valid employment contract before applying. Unfortunately, as a non-EEA citizen, you cannot arrive in Ireland first and look for employment after.
What documents are needed to apply for an Irish employment permit?
Individuals who are applying for an Ireland work permit through the online application system will need to upload the necessary documents to their online application. These may include the following documents:
- A digital copy of a valid passport (this should include the passport photo page and the signature page)
- A passport photo shot to the Irish visa photo requirements
- A copy of the employment contract signed by both employer and employee
- A copy of your current immigration status in Ireland (immigration stamp, Irish residence permit, etc)
- The personal detail of a contact person in Ireland (their name, position in company, phone number, email address, etc)
- The relevant registration/pin or license number of the Irish company (this must be issued by the appropriate Irish regulatory bodies or government ministers)
- A copy of the letter of support written by Industrial Development Agency (IDA)/Enterprise Ireland (if applicable)
- Details of the Irish employer (company registration number, address, name, and relevant certificates from authorized bodies, etc)
- Details of the applicant’s employment in Ireland (job role, salary, duties, and responsibilities, duration of the employment contract, etc)
What documents are needed to apply for a work visa in Ireland?
After you have received your Irish work permit, you can then start your application for a work visa in Ireland. After completing the visa application online through the AVATS system, you will then be required to submit the following documents:
- 2 color passport photos (these must not be more than 6 months old and must have your name and visa application number written on the back)
- A valid passport valid for at least 12 months after the intended date of arrival in Ireland
- A signed application letter that includes your full contact detail, the reason for visiting Ireland, intended duration of stay, details of any family members in Ireland or the EU, etc)
- Your Irish Employment Permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE)
- Your employment contract
- A letter from the Irish employer detailing the job, salary, and any details of accommodation (if provided)
- Evidence of your qualifications. This can include evidence of previous work experience, professional and/or training certificates)
- Proof of sufficient funds. This should include valid bank statements on headed paper from the last 6 months)
- Proof of private medical insurance
- Any evidence of past visa refusals (if applicable)
- Proof of paid work visa fees
How much does the work visa for Ireland cost?
The total price of a work visa for Ireland will depend on which of the nine employment permits you are applying for and on how long you intend to stay in Ireland.
The fees you might have to pay are:
- €1,000 for a General, Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, Contract for Services, Reactivation, Sport and Cultural and Internship Permits if you intend to spend up to 24 months in Ireland
- €500 for the same permits if you want to spend up to 6 months in Ireland
- €1,500 to renew your employment permit from 6 up to 36 months.
Then, in addition to the fee for the employment permit, you have to pay your work visa fees, which are:
- €60 for a single-entry visa to Ireland
- €100 for a multiple-entry visa to Ireland
If you are applying for the Exchange Agreement Permit and you intend to stay in Ireland for up to 2 years, you are exempt from paying the employment permit fee.
What is the Atypical Working Scheme?
The Atypical Working Scheme is an alternative route for those thinking of coming to Ireland to work. Nevertheless, while an employment permit allows non-EEA citizens to come to Ireland to work long-term, the Atypical Working Scheme is intended for those who want to work in Ireland for up to 90 days. During this period foreign citizens can engage in certain contract work that is not eligible for an employment permit.
To be eligible for the Scheme you have to have been offered a job in Ireland as one of the following:
- A worker who will fill a position dealing with a skills shortage
- A worker who will offer high skill to the industry
- Paid employee or intern
- Nurse or Midwife on the RCSI Clinical Adaptation and Assessment Programme
- Locum doctor
- Paid researcher
- A crew member of certain fishing fleets.
If your application for the Atypical Working Scheme is accepted, you will be able to work in Ireland in the job you indicated when applying for your visa. You will not be able to look for another position in Ireland, however.
Applications for the Atypical Working Scheme have to be submitted outside of the country. You can apply for the Scheme online and you need to wait for a Letter of Approval before you can travel to Ireland.
How can IAS help?
The application process for a work visa in Ireland can be complicated as each of the employment permits to Ireland comes with different criteria that foreign citizens need to meet. Our lawyers can help you understand what requirements apply to you and can help you complete your application.
Mistakes or missing information can cause delays in the processing of your visa or can even lead to it being rejected. By hiring a lawyer, you can make sure that you have filed everything correctly and that you included all the documents that might be required.
Our lawyers are highly professional and have years of experience. By hiring one of them you can maximize the chances of your Irish visa application being accepted.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how we can help.
Last modified on September 8th, 2023 at 6:00 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
The application fee for the Atypical Working Scheme is €250 and the payment needs to be made using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Keep in mind that this fee is non-refundable, which means you will not get your money back even if you withdraw your application or if it is unsuccessful.
Make sure to keep the receipt after paying the fee as you will need to submit it together with other supporting documents during the application process.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit is intended for foreign citizens who are highly skilled and who are coming to Ireland to work in an occupation facing skills or labor shortage in the Irish labor market. Occupations eligible for this permit can be found on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
Examples of jobs that might qualify you for this permit include engineers, pharmacists, nurses, or doctors.
Holders of the Critical Skills Employment Permit can initially stay in Ireland for up to 5 years with Stamp 4. After this period they can renew their status and eventually apply for permanent residency in Ireland.
Obtaining a work visa for Ireland should not be difficult provided that you meet the eligibility requirements and have the qualifications and work experience required for the job you have been offered in Ireland.
Nevertheless, going through the application process alone can be overwhelming as there are many requirements that applicants need to meet. That is why hiring an immigration lawyer is advisable.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to apply for a work visa in Ireland without having received a job offer in Ireland. If you submit your visa application and you cannot prove that you hold a job offer from an Irish employer, your application will automatically be rejected.
That is the case if you are a non-EEA citizen. Those who are citizens of EU/EEA countries can come to Ireland without a work visa or a job offer and can look for employment after they arrive.