Ireland Employment Visa
If you are a non-EEA citizen and you want to come to Ireland to work, you need to obtain an Employment Permit and an Irish Employment Visa. There are many types of employment permits you can choose from depending on your field of expertise.
For assistance with your application, call our lawyers at +1 844 290 6312.
What is the Irish Employment Visa?
The Irish Employment Visa, also called the Irish Work Visa, is intended for non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland to work. Non-EEA citizens need to have a job offer and obtain an Irish Work Visa to be able to come to Ireland to enter into employment. Unfortunately, they cannot arrive in Ireland first and look for work once they are in the country.
Before you can submit your application for the Employment Visa, you need to get an Employment Permit. There are 9 Employment Permits you can choose from, depending on your qualifications.
If your application for the Irish Work Visa is successful, you will have the right to come to Ireland and remain there for longer than 3 months.
EU/EEA citizens can come to Ireland to work without having to apply for a visa. Initially, they can spend up to 3 months in Ireland visa-free. However, if after the initial 3 months they can prove that they are working in Ireland, they can remain in the country longer.
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What types of Irish Employment Permits are there?
To be able to apply for the Irish Employment Visa, you first need to get one of the following employment permits:
- General Employment Permit
- Critical Skills 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
The General Employment Permit and the Critical Skills Employment Permit are the most sought-after.
The former is intended for non-EEA citizens coming to Ireland to work in positions that are facing labor or skills shortages on the Irish market. It covers practically all occupations, except for the ones that have been listed on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.
The latter is intended for non-EEA citizens who are highly skilled and are coming to Ireland to work in positions included on the Critically Skilled Occupations List. Only specific occupations such as doctors, engineers, midwives, or nurses, qualify for this permit.
Our lawyers can help you determine which of the Irish Employment Permits is the right one for you. They can also tell you in detail what requirements you need to meet to obtain it as each of the permits comes with different eligibility criteria.
What is the application process for the Irish Employment Visa?
Before you can submit the application for the actual Employment Visa, you need to obtain an Employment Permit. To apply for it, you have to submit an online application using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). In the application, you need to indicate which of the employment permits you are applying for and you need to provide information about your work experience and qualifications. Once you submit the form, an immigration official will review the details you provided and determine whether you qualify for the permit you chose.
After you successfully obtain the Employment Permit, you also have to apply for the Irish Employment Visa. You can submit your application online and you need to include a number of supporting documents that prove your eligibility for it. These include:
- Your valid passport
- Your signed and dated application summary sheet (displayed after you submit the online form)
- Confirmation that you have obtained the Employment Permit
- Two passport-sized photographs
- Letter from your prospective employer in Ireland confirming your job offer
- Proof confirming your qualifications
- Proof of having enough money to support yourself after you arrive
- Proof of having private medical insurance
- Application letter in which you explain why you want to come to Ireland.
If you hire one of our lawyers, they will guide you through each step of the application process, making it straightforward and stress-free. Thanks to their help you can be sure that you included all the necessary information and documents.
What is the cost of applying for an Employment Visa?
The total cost of applying for the Irish Employment Visa varies depending on which employment permit you get. As part of the application process, you need to pay the fee for your employment permit, as well as the visa application fee.
The fees you might have to pay for the Employment Permit are:
- €1,000 if you apply for the General, Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, Contract for Services, Reactivation, Sport and Cultural and Internship Permits and you want to spend up to 24 months in Ireland
- €500 if you apply for one of the permits mentioned above but you want to spend up to 6 months in Ireland
- €1,500 if you want to renew your employment permit from 6 up to 36 months.
As for the visa application fee, you will have to pay €60 for a single entry visa or €100 for a multiple-entry visa.
There might also be additional fees you have to pay, for example, for having your supporting documents issued or translated.
If you want to apply for the Exchange Agreement Permit intended for those who come to Ireland to work under an international agreement for up to 2 years, you do not have to pay a fee for your permit.
How can IAS help?
The process of applying for the Irish Employment Visa can be complex as each of the employment permits comes with different requirements. At IAS, we have a team of highly qualified lawyers who have helped many clients successfully apply for their Irish Work Visas. They can help you determine whether you are eligible to apply and can guide you through the application process.
If you are not sure which of the employment permits is the right one for you, your lawyer can assess your qualifications and help you make a decision.
By hiring an immigration lawyer, you can make sure that your application has been completed to the highest standard and that you submitted all the documents that might be necessary.
Call us today at +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how our team can help.
Last modified on September 8th, 2023 at 7:16 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Critical Skills Employment Permit is intended for non-EEA citizens who are highly skilled and who want to come to Ireland to work in an occupation that has been included in the Critically Skilled Occupations List. Examples of eligible professions include biologists, doctors, engineers, web development professionals, and architects. Nevertheless, other occupations might also qualify. Talk to our lawyers and they will tell you whether or not you can apply for the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
To be able to obtain the Critical Skills Employment Permit, you need to have an annual income of at least €32,000. If your profession is not included on the Critically Skilled Occupations List, you might also be able to apply for this permit provided that you earn at least €64,000 per year.
Unfortunately, non-EEA citizens cannot apply for the Irish Employment Visa if they do not hold a job offer from an Irish employer. That means that you are not allowed to come to Ireland first and look for a job once you are there. No matter which of the employment permits you want to obtain, you have to have a job offer. Otherwise, your application will automatically be rejected.
EU/EEA citizens, as well as citizens of Switzerland, have the right to come to Ireland to work without having to obtain a visa. You do not have to have a job offer in Ireland before arriving. You can come to Ireland without having to meet any specific requirements and you can seek employment once you are in the country. Initially, EU/EEA citizens can spend up to 90 days in Ireland visa-free. If, however, you can prove that you are employed or self-employed there, you can stay in the country longer.
There are nine employment permits in Ireland and which one you should get depends on your qualifications and work experience. During the application process you can choose to apply for one of the following permits:
- General Employment Permit
- Critical Skills 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.
If you hire one of our lawyers, they will help you determine which of these permits is the best for you. They will also tell you in detail what requirements you need to meet to successfully obtain it.