Are you growing your company in the Republic of Ireland? Whether you plan to make the move with a talented team of existing workers or open positions to applicants around the world, many employees will need a visa to legally live and work in the Republic of Ireland.
The process of obtaining these visas can be a bit complex depending on the employees’ country of origin and the nature of the work they’ll be doing for your company.
Types of work visas in the Republic of Ireland
Like other countries within the European Union (EU), the Republic of Ireland allows citizens of EU member nations to work without a special permit or visa. Citizens of countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are also eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland without a visa. Anyone else will require a work permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE).
There are several different types of permits for individuals from outside Europe who are planning to stay in the Republic of Ireland and legally work. Here are a few that may be relevant to employees:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: This permit is available for employees who have a job offer or employment contract secured for at least 2 years to work in the Republic of Ireland in a role that pays a minimum of EUR 64,000 per year, or a minimum of EUR 32,000 per year if the job is a high-skill occupation in the Republic of Ireland.
- Working holiday visa: This work permit is available for individuals traveling to the Republic of Ireland for up to 1 year who plan to work during their stay. To be eligible, they must be between the ages of 18 and 30 and be a citizen of a select nation — Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, and the U.S. Canada allows a stay of up to 24 months, contrary to the 12 month limitation of the other countries. Certain countries also have a limitation on how long employees can work for a specific employer. Additionally, for all applicants, the main purpose of the trip should simply be holiday or to travel – work should be a secondary priority.
- Intra-Company Transfer Permit: This visa applies to employees of multinational companies who are coming to a branch in the Republic of Ireland. Eligibility depends on the employee’s salary and the length of their employment term.
The Republic of Ireland plans to implement changes to the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) to allow non-EEA nationals to work in the country for up to 90 days total spread out over 6 months. This will allow non-EEA nationals to take on short-term contract work in the Republic of Ireland that would normally be ineligible for an employment permit.
Requirements to obtain Republic of Ireland work visas
The Republic of Ireland has strict requirements for individuals outside of the EU, EEA countries, and Switzerland. Work visas will only be granted for high-skill work or employment where there is a shortage of skills in the Republic of Ireland. An employment contract or job offer is also required before employees can apply for a work permit.
As of July 2023, healthcare assistants can renew their General Employment Permits more easily. Workers possessing qualifications equivalent to a Level 5 QQI qualification no longer need to specifically hold a Level 5 QQI to apply for renewal.
Application process
Employees should apply for a visa 3 months before traveling to the Republic of Ireland. Before applying for a employment visa, they must also apply and qualify to receive immigration permission to work in the Republic of Ireland.
Employees will need to fill out and submit the visa application online. They must then submit their passport and other identifying documents for processing. Details about where to send these documents are explained during the application process.
Upon approval, employees will need to present their passport, employment contract, and other supporting documents to be allowed entry into the Republic of Ireland. Finally, they must register with immigration and apply for permission to stay in the country.
Other important considerations
Employees from countries within the EU, EEA, and Switzerland do not need a permit to work in the Republic of Ireland, but they still need to provide evidence that they have a job or sufficient funds to support themselves if they want to stay in Ireland for over 6 months.
Individuals can remain in Ireland for over 6 months if:
- They are employed or self-employed.
- They have enough resources to support themselves and their dependents.
- They are a student, have enough resources to support themselves, and have comprehensive health insurance.
Employees should also be aware that a valid multi-entry visa is necessary if they plan to leave the Republic of Ireland for a short time and then return.
Family members of individuals holding a Critical Skills Employment permit or those affiliated with an Irish, EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen have the opportunity to secure a residence permit. This permit, granted as a family member, affords the right to work in Ireland for any employer.
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At this moment, G-P does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.