Ireland - Highly-qualified worker
Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to work as a highly-skilled employee in Ireland? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.
To work as a highly-skilled worker, you must, in general, have:
- a valid entry visa (if necessary);
- a valid Critical Skills Employment Permits; and
- a certificate of registration called an Irish Residence Permit issued by the GNIB/local Immigration Officer after you arrive in Ireland.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
To obtain a Critical Skills Employment permit, you must have a job offer for at least two years duration and an annual salary of above € 60,000 per year other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment PermitsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• or which are contrary to the public interest.
For strategically important occupationsSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• listed on the Critical Skills list, the minimum remuneration is €30,000 plus the requirement for the non-EEA national to hold a qualification at degree level relevant to the occupation.
You must possess the relevant qualifications, skills and experience that are required for the employment.
An employment permit will not be granted to companies unless 50% or more of the employees in the firm are EEA nationals at the time of application. However, this restriction may be waived in respect of start-up companies within 2 years of their establishment (i.e. registered as an employer with Revenue) and which are supported by the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.
You or your future employer must complete the employment permit application form.
| Documents required | In addition to the completed employment permit form and paying the required fee, you must have a job offer and provide:
Your employer must be registered with the Office of the Revenue CommissionersSearch for available translations of the preceding link and with the Companies Registration Office and must operate his/her trading in Ireland. |
| Long-term residence | After five years of legal residence in Ireland, you may apply for long-term residence and/or citizenship, subject to conditions being fulfilled. The status is granted at the discretion of the Minister for Justice and Equality . After eight years of legal residence in Ireland, you may apply for leave to remain Without Condition As To Time (WCATTSearch for available translations of the preceding link). Until either long-term residence or citizenship is granted, you are required to maintain a residence permit. More on long-term residenceSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on citizenshipSearch for available translations of the preceding link |
Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits
Employments in respect of which an employment permit shall not be granted
This list is set out in Schedule 4 of the Regulations.
This list is effective from 27 October 2021, when the Employment Permits (Amendment) (No 2) Regulations 2021 came into effect.
The Ineligible List of Occupations is organised using the Standard Occupational Classification system (SOC 2010), a system which classifies workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. The list indicates the broad employment category, but not all employments which come into these categories are necessarily ineligible for Employment Permits. Specific employments within the broader occupation group that are ineligible are listed under ‘Ineligible Employments’ – in most cases, applicants may not apply for employment permits in respect of these employments (other than the exceptions listed).
In respect of the Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit Scheme and the Reactivation Employment Permit Scheme, foreign nationals are eligible to undertake any employment on this list, provided it does not take place in a domestic setting (other than certain carers) or is contrary to public interest.
SOC-3 | Categories of employment | SOC-4 | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
122 | Managers in Hospitality and Leisure Services | 1225 | Leisure and sports facilities managers |
1226 | Travel agency managers | ||
124 | Managers in Health and Care Services | 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers |
125 | Managers in Other Services | 1251 | Property, housing and estate managers |
1252 | Garage managers | ||
1253 | Hairdressing and beauty salon managers | ||
1254 | Shopkeepers – wholesale and retail | ||
1255 | Waste disposal and environmental services managers | ||
1259 | Other managers in other services not elsewhere classified (includes Betting shop manager, Graphic design manager, Library manager, Plant hire manager, Production manager) (with the exception of Safety Manager) | ||
222 | Therapy Professionals | 2229 | Other therapy professionals not elsewhere classified (with the exception of orthoptists, and chiropractors who are members of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland) |
244 | Welfare Professionals | 2443 | Probation officers |
2449 | Other welfare professionals not elsewhere classified | ||
312 | Draughtspersons and Related Architectural Technicians | 3121 | Town planning technicians |
321 | Health Associate Professionals | 3217 | Pharmaceutical technicians |
3218 | Dental technicians only | ||
3219 | Other health associate professionals not elsewhere classified (includes Acupuncturists, Homeopaths, Hypnotherapists, Massage therapists, Reflexologists, Sports therapists) | ||
323 | Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals | 3231 | Youth and community workers |
3233 | Child and early years officers | ||
3234 | Housing officers | ||
3235 | Counsellors | ||
3239 | Other welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified | ||
331 | Protective Service Occupations | 3311 | NCOs and other ranks |
3312 | Police officers (sergeant and below) | ||
3313 | Fire service officers (watch manager and below) | ||
3314 | Prison service officers (below principal officer) | ||
3315 | Police community support officers | ||
3319 | Other protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified | ||
344 | Sports and Fitness Occupations | 3443 | Fitness instructors |
352 | Legal Associate Professionals | 3520 | Legal associate professionals (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a State which is not a member of the EEA and who has market knowledge of that non-EEA state) |
354 | Sales, Marketing and Related Associate Professionals | 3544 | Estate agents and auctioneers |
3546 | Conference and exhibition managers and organisers | ||
356 | Public Services and Other Associate Professionals | 3561 | Public services associate professionals |
3563 | Vocational and industrial trainers and instructors (with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) | ||
3564 | Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists (with the exception of career guidance teachers in secondary schools) | ||
3565 | Inspectors of standards and regulations | ||
3567 | Health and safety officers (with the exception of Construction Safety Officers) | ||
411 | Administrative Occupations: Government and Related Organisations | 4112 | National government administrative occupations |
4113 | Local government administrative occupations | ||
412 | Administrative Occupations: Finance | 4121 | Credit controllers (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, in a role in credit control where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency) |
4122 | Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA in a role in accounts payable where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency) | ||
4123 | Bank and post office clerks | ||
4124 | Finance officers | ||
4129 | Other financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
413 | Administrative Occupations: Records | 4131 | Records clerks and assistants |
4132 | Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants | ||
4133 | Stock control clerks and assistants | ||
4135 | Library clerks and assistants | ||
4138 | Human resources administrative occupations | ||
415 | Other Administrative Occupations | 4151 | Sales administrators |
4159 | Other administrative occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
416 | Administrative Occupations: Office Managers and Supervisors | 4161 | Office managers |
4162 | Office supervisors | ||
421 | Secretarial and Related Occupations | 4211 | Medical secretaries |
4212 | Legal secretaries | ||
4213 | School secretaries | ||
4214 | Company secretaries | ||
4215 | Personal assistants and other secretaries | ||
4216 | Receptionists | ||
4217 | Typists and related keyboard occupations | ||
511 | Agricultural and Related Trades | 5111 | Farmers |
5112 | Horticultural trades | ||
5113 | Gardeners and landscape gardeners | ||
5114 | Groundsmen and greenkeepers | ||
5119 | Other agricultural and fishing trades not elsewhere classified | ||
521 | Metal Forming, Welding and Related Trades | 5211 | Smiths and forge workers |
5212 | Moulders, core makers and die casters | ||
5214 | Metal plate workers, and riveters | ||
523 | Vehicle Trades | 5231 | Vehicle technicians, mechanics and electricians (with the exception of –
|
5232 | Vehicle body builders and repairers | ||
5234 | Vehicle paint technicians | ||
5236 | Boat and ship builders and repairers | ||
5237 | Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers | ||
524 | Electrical and Electronic Trades | 5241 | Electrical fitters |
5244 | TV, video and audio engineers | ||
5249 | Other electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified | ||
525 | Skilled Metal, Electrical and Electronic Trades Supervisors | 5250 | Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors |
531 | Construction and building trades | 5319 | Other construction and building trades not elsewhere classified |
541 | Textiles and Garments Trades | 5411 | Weavers and knitters |
5412 | Upholsterers | ||
5413 | Footwear and leather working trades | ||
5414 | Tailors and dressmakers | ||
5419 | Other textiles, garments and related trades not elsewhere classified | ||
542 | Printing Trades | 5421 | Pre-press technicians |
5422 | Printers | ||
5423 | Print finishing and binding workers | ||
543 | Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades | 5431 | Butchers (with the exception of boners (meat)) |
5432 | Bakers and flour confectioners | ||
5433 | Fishmongers and poultry dressers | ||
5434 | Chefs (with the exception of –
who will be employed in establishments other than fast food outlets) | ||
5435 | Cooks | ||
544 | Other Skilled Trades | 5441 | Glass and ceramics makers, decorators and finishers |
5442 | Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers | ||
5443 | Florists | ||
5449 | All other skilled trades not elsewhere classified | ||
612 | Childcare and Related Personal Services | 6121 | Nursery nurses and assistants |
6122 | Childminders and related occupations | ||
6125 | Teaching assistants | ||
6126 | Educational support assistants | ||
613 | Animal Care and Control Services | 6131 | Veterinary nurses |
6132 | Pest control officers | ||
6139 | Other animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of work riders) | ||
614 | Caring Personal Services | 6142 | Ambulance staff (with the exception of paramedics) |
6143 | Dental nurses | ||
6144 | Houseparents and residential wardens | ||
6145 | Care workers and home carers (with the exception of a carer in a private home) | ||
6146 | Senior care workers | ||
6147 | Care escorts | ||
6148 | Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants | ||
621 | Leisure and Travel Services | 6211 | Sports and leisure assistants |
6212 | Travel agents | ||
6214 | Air travel assistants | ||
6215 | Rail travel assistants | ||
6219 | Other leisure and travel service occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of tourist guides fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA) | ||
622 | Hairdressers and Related Services | 6221 | Hairdressers, barbers, and related occupations |
6222 | Beauticians and related occupations | ||
623 | Housekeeping and Related Services | 6231 | Housekeepers and related occupations |
6232 | Caretakers | ||
624 | Cleaning and Housekeeping Managers and Supervisors | 6240 | Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors |
711 | Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers | 7111 | Sales and retail assistants |
7112 | Retail cashiers and check-out operators | ||
7113 | Telephone salespersons | ||
7114 | Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants | ||
7115 | Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers | ||
712 | Sales Related Occupations | 7121 | Collector salespersons and credit agents |
7122 | Debt, rent and other cash collectors | ||
7123 | Roundspersons and van salespersons | ||
7124 | Market and street traders and assistants | ||
7125 | Merchandisers and window dressers | ||
7129 | Other sales related occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
713 | Sales Supervisors | 7130 | Sales supervisors |
721 | Customer Service Occupations | 7211 | Call and contact centre occupations (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency and is in—
|
7213 | Telephonists | ||
7214 | Communication operators | ||
7215 | Market research interviewers | ||
7219 | Other customer service occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
722 | Customer Service Managers and Supervisors | 7220 | Customer service managers and supervisors |
811 | Process Operatives | 8111 | Food, drink and tobacco process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative and Meat processor operative) |
8112 | Glass and ceramics process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8113 | Textile process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8114 | Chemical and related process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8115 | Rubber process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8116 | Plastics process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8117 | Metal making and treating process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8118 | Electroplaters (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8119 | Other process operatives not elsewhere classified (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
812 | Plant and Machine Operatives | 8121 | Paper and wood machine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) |
8122 | Coal mine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8123 | Quarry workers and related operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8124 | Energy plant operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8125 | Metal working machine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8126 | Water and sewerage plant operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8127 | Printing machine assistants (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
8129 | Other plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
813 | Assemblers and Routine Operatives | 8131 | Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) |
8132 | Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) | ||
8133 | Routine inspectors and testers | ||
8134 | Weighers, graders and sorters | ||
8135 | Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters | ||
8137 | Sewing machinists | ||
8139 | Other assemblers and routine operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
814 | Construction Operatives | 8142 | Road construction operatives |
8143 | Rail construction and maintenance operatives | ||
8149 | Other construction operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
821 | Road Transport Drivers | 8211 | Large goods vehicle drivers (with the exception of heavy goods vehicle drivers who have-
|
8212 | Van drivers | ||
8213 | Bus and coach drivers | ||
8214 | Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs | ||
8215 | Driving instructors | ||
822 | Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives | 8222 | Fork-lift truck drivers |
8223 | Agricultural machinery drivers | ||
8229 | Other mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
823 | Other Drivers and Transport Operatives | 8231 | Train and tram drivers |
8232 | Marine and waterways transport operatives | ||
8233 | Air transport operatives | ||
8234 | Rail transport operatives | ||
8239 | Other drivers and transport operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
911 | Elementary Agricultural Occupations | 9111 | Farm workers (with the exception of dairy farm assistants) |
9112 | Forestry workers | ||
9119 | Other fishing and other general agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of horticulture worker) | ||
912 | Elementary Construction Occupations | 9120 | Elementary construction occupations |
913 | Elementary Process Plant Occupations | 9132 | Industrial cleaning process occupations |
9134 | Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers | ||
9139 | Other elementary process plant occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
921 | Elementary Administration Occupations | 9211 | Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers |
9219 | Other elementary administration occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
923 | Elementary Cleaning Occupations | 9231 | Window cleaners |
9232 | Street cleaners | ||
9233 | Cleaners and domestics | ||
9234 | Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers | ||
9235 | Refuse and salvage occupations | ||
9236 | Vehicle valeters and cleaners | ||
9239 | Other elementary cleaning occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
924 | Elementary Security Occupations | 9241 | Security guards and related occupations |
9242 | Parking and civil enforcement occupations | ||
9244 | School midday and crossing patrol occupations | ||
9249 | Other elementary security occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
925 | Elementary Sales Occupations | 9251 | Shelf fillers |
9259 | Other elementary sales occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
926 | Elementary Storage Occupations | 9260 | Elementary storage occupations |
927 | Other Elementary Services Occupations | 9271 | Hospital porters |
9272 | Kitchen and catering assistants | ||
9273 | Waiters and waitresses | ||
9274 | Bar staff | ||
9275 | Leisure and theme park attendants | ||
9279 | Other elementary services occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
All | Work in the private home | All | Domestic operatives |
