Ireland Work Visa: Types of Visa and Requirements

There are lots of job opportunities in Ireland. Start by reading this article about Ireland work visa: types of visa and requirements, ensuring a smooth transition into employment in this vibrant country.

A work visa is mandatory for every non-EU national who wants to live and work in Ireland. More importantly, you need a valid job offer from an Irish company or employer to make you eligible for a work visa application.

Types of Work Visas in Ireland

Ireland has nine different visa types. However, most people apply for the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit.

Here is an overview of what the different work visas entail.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is reserved for people in professions with skill shortages in Ireland.

You must have a tertiary-level education, although practical experience is an acceptable substitute for some jobs. Also, the job must be paying at least €38,000 yearly.

General Employment Permit

You can apply for a General Employment Permit if your employer offers an annual remuneration exceeding €34,000. After working for a year, your family can join you in Ireland.

Dependant/Spouse/Partner Employment Permit

If you have a Critical Skills Employment Permit, your partner or spouse doesn’t require a permit to work in Ireland. However, your dependents will need to apply for this visa.

Otherwise, the dependants, spouses, and partners of individuals holding other visa types aren’t eligible for this visa. They must make independent applications.

Contract for Service Employment Permit

A Contract for Service Employment Permit is a work visa available to individuals employed by companies contracted to work in Ireland.

You must have worked for your employer for at least six months. The permit is only valid for the length of the contract and can’t exceed five years.

Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

If your job pertains to sports and culture, you can apply for the Sport and Cultural Employment Permit. You must demonstrate adequate skills and relevant qualifications during your application.

Intra-company Transfer Employment Permit

You can apply for an Intra-company Transfer Employment Permit if your employer transfers you to Ireland.

This visa is exclusively open to senior managers and specialists earning €46,000 and above, and trainees making at least €34,000 yearly.

Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

Exchange Agreement Employment Permits are available to international students supported by programs like AIESEC, the Fulbright Programme, IAESTE, and Vulcanus in Europe. These permits are valid for one year.

Internship Employment Permit

If you’re a full-time student in a university outside the EU, you can apply for the Internship Employment Permit to get work experience in Ireland.

You must be undertaking a course whose profession is in the critical skills category.

Reactivation Employment Permit

If you were previously working in Ireland and became undocumented by error or through bad treatment by your employer, you can apply for this permit.

Currently, the Irish government is planning to introduce a Seasonal Employment Permit, pending approval by parliament.

Ireland Work Visa Requirements

Here are the requirements for an Irish work visa.

A job offer or contract from an Irish company.
Unless you’re applying for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, your prospective employer must prove they couldn’t find Irish nationals suitable for the job.
Besides the specific requirements for Critical Skills and General Employment Permits, other job offers must meet the National Minimum Wage requirements.
At least 50% of the employees of the company hiring you must be Irish, Swiss, or from EU countries.