Changes to Irish employment permit rules, salary thresholds, and occupation lists that affect job seekers.
Informational
Notice for Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders awaiting Stamp 4 immigration permission from Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
Minister Brophy announced interim measure while ISD address their backlog updating applicant’s IRP cards. Holders of a CSEP who have applied for a Stamp 4 immigration permission before the expiry of their employment permit can continue to work on their original employment permit and immigration Stamp up to the 31st Aug
Employment Permits Occupations Lists: Report of the Review 2025
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, and Minister of State with special responsibility for Retail, Small Businesses and Employment Alan Dillon, have announced a series of updates to Ireland’s employment permits system to address ongoing skills and labour shortages across key sectors. The measure
The Employment Permits Regulations 2024, Statutory Instrument No. 444/2024, established a quota for Catering and Bar Manager/Hotel and Accommodation Manager/Restaurant and Catering Establishments Manager/Publican and Manager of Licensed Premises at a maximum quota of 292 General Employment Permits. This quota has now b
Update on quota for Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, motor vehicle technician
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 2025, Statutory Instrument No. 119/2025 established an increase in the quota for car mechanic, motor mechanic, auto electrician, motor vehicle technician at 200 General Employment Permits. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processin
Minimum salary for General Employment Permits increased to €36,605 (from €34,000). Critical Skills CSOL threshold now €40,904. Critical Skills high-salary threshold now €68,911. Recent graduate thresholds also adjusted.
Several roles added to the CSOL including additional healthcare positions and construction project management roles. Some ICT roles reclassified with updated SOC codes.
From 1 January 2026 the National Minimum Wage (NMW) will increase to €14.15 per hour or €28,696.20 per annum. All employment permit applications submitted with effect from this date must show that the prospective employee’s basic salary is the current NMW rate or higher in order for an employment permit to be issued. I
New employment permit quotas announced for agri-food sector
The Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD and Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail Alan Dillon TD has announced new general employment permit quotas to support workforce needs in meat processing and dairy farming. A quota of 1,000 permits for Meat Processing Operatives an
Critical Skills permits now processed in 3–5 weeks (down from 6–8 weeks). General Employment Permits at 8–10 weeks. Trusted Partner employers seeing 1–2 week turnaround for Critical Skills.
High Impact
Update on quota for Dairy Farm Assistant applications
The Employment Permits Regulations 2024, Statutory Instrument No 444/2024 established the maximum number of general employment permits that may be granted to Dairy Farm Assistants. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for Dairy Farm Ass
Update on quota for Paper and Wood Machine Operatives
The Employment Permits Regulations 2024, Statutory Instrument No 444/2024, established the maximum number of general employment permits that may be granted to Paper and Wood Machine Operatives. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for W
Horticulture and meat processing thresholds lowered
New reduced salary thresholds introduced for specific sectors: horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, healthcare assistants, and home support workers can now apply at €32,691.
High Impact
Update on quota for Moulders, Core Makers and Die Casters
The Employment Permits Regulations 2024, Statutory Instrument No 444/2024, established the maximum number of general employment permits that may be granted to Moulders, Core Makers & Die Casters. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for
The reduced salary threshold for recent Irish graduates now also applies to Critical Skills permits (€36,848 for CSOL roles). Previously only General Employment Permits had a graduate discount.
Informational
EPOS system upgrade
The Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) received a major upgrade with improved tracking, document upload, and employer account management. Applications can now be tracked in real-time.
Medium Impact
Update on the roles of Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician, HGV/Bus mechanic and Vehicle body builder and repairer / Body Shop Panel Beater
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2025, Statutory Instrument No 119 /2025, came into force 7 April 2025. To further support the vehicle maintenance and repair sector, three quotas have been extended. The quota for Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician has been exte
Annual review of the Ineligible Occupations List completed. No significant changes: most hospitality, retail, and elementary occupation restrictions remain in place.
Medium Impact
Update on role of Town Planner and extension of quota for Home Carer/Care Worker
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2025, Statutory Instrument No 64/2025 came into force 10 March 2025. To further support the planning system, the role of Town Planning Officer has now been made added to the Critical Skills Occupations List. This means that this role, listed under code 2432 on the S
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2023, Statutory Instrument No 680/2023, set a maximum quota of 200 General Employment Permits for HGV/Bus Mechanics. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for HGV/Bus Mechanics should
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2023, Statutory Instrument No 680/2023, set a maximum quota of 50 General Employment Permits for Vehicle Paint Technicians. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for Vehicle Paint Tec
Update on quota for Vehicle Body Builders and Repairers applications
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2023, Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, set a maximum quota of 50 General Employment Permits for Vehicle Body Builders and Repairers. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for Vehicl
Update on quota for Transport and Distribution Clerk applications
The Employment Permits (Amendment) Regulations 2019, Statutory Instrument 138/2019, set a maximum quota of 300 General Employment Permits for Transport and Distribution Clerks. This quota have now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications for Transport and Dis
Healthcare Assistant and Home Carer / Care Worker: Increase to Minimum Annual Remuneration
The Roadmap for Minimum Annual Remuneration Thresholds (MAR) set out a number of major adjustments to the remuneration thresholds for employment permits. The first round of increases commenced in January 2024 for most permit types and occupations. Following engagement with the sector and the Department of Health, it wa
Deferral of increases to Minimum Annual Remuneration
Proposed increases to Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) for employment permits will not take place in January 2025, pending the outcome of a review. Read the full notice: Deferral of increases to Minimum Annual Remuneration for employment permits
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 2023, Statutory Instrument No 680/2023, announced a quota for Meat Processing Operative at a maximum quota of 1,000 General Employment Permits. This quota has now been filled. Applications submitted and awaiting processing will now be rejected. No new applications f
Update on quota for Car Mechanic, Motor Mechanic, Auto Electrician, Motor Vehicle Technician
The Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 4) Regulations 2024, Statutory Instrument No 598/2024 has extended the quota for Car mechanic, Motor Mechanic, Auto Electrician, Motor Vehicle Technician by 200 General Employment Permits.
Employment Permits Act 2024 commencement and information note
The Employment Permits Act 2024 comes into effect on Monday, 2 September 2024 and introduces new and amended provisions to the current legislation. The information note on key changes highlights the new provisions and provides users of the employment permit system with guidance on how applications for employment permit
The role of sea fisher in the Irish fishing fleet is now eligible for a General Employment Permit with a minimum salary requirement of €34,000, up to a quota of 150 permits. This has been introduced to address skills shortages in the Irish fishing fleet. This new quota has been introduced following a recommendation by
Notice regarding Temporary Suspension of 'Return and Refund' process
The Employment Permit System is currently experiencing a high level of demand. In order to meet this demand and improve the way in which the service is delivered, a review of the ‘Return and Refund’ process is currently being conducted. Therefore, from 19 June 2024 the Return and Refund process for General Employment P
For the attention of companies in the agricultural sector
Following the outcome of the recent Review of the Occupational Lists by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, a number of quotas were established from 17 January 2024. 5431 – Butcher/ Boner (350)9119 – Horticulture Worker (1,000)8111 – Meat Processing Operative (1,000) It is important to note that applica
Outcome of the Review of the Employment Permits Occupations Lists and Minimum Annual Remuneration Thresholds
The public consultation on the review of the occupations lists launched on 26 June 2023. It provided an 8-week period for sector representatives and employers to make evidence-based submissions seeking changes to the lists of eligible occupations. In parallel to the 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupations Lis
Effective from 30 November 2023, applicants for a Stamp 4 immigration permission will no longer be required to obtain a letter of support from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Stamp 4 applications and checks will be handled entirely by the Department of Justice. Applications for a Stamp 4 lett
Major changes are summarised by hand; everything else is synced weekly from DETE's own notices page and may include minor or narrowly-scoped updates. Check DETE news directly.