Essential Employment Paperwork in Ireland

 

 

Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and British dependent territories do not need a visa to go to Ireland. Some of the other visa-exempt countries are United States, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Italy, Japan, Hong Kong, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, the Netherlands and Mexico. 

Residents of the European Union are allowed seek employment in Ireland without a work permit while foreign nationals who came from countries that are strictly required to first obtain a work permit. Keep in mind that those who will attempt to enter Ireland without the legal paperwork will be denied of entry. Expats can contact the Irish Embassy/Consulate  in their home country for an up to date immigration procedure. 

Work Permit 

Before applying for a visa, an expat must have a work permit which issued by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is usually valid from six months up to two years with options for renewal. The Irish work permit is classified into four categories, but the main two types for expats are: 

Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit 

This type of permit is issued to foreign nationals who will be transferred to Ireland under the same company. It is imperative that employees who fall under this category have annual earnings of at least €40,000. Bear in mind that the Intra-Company Transfer permit is employer-specific which means that the permit will be terminated in case the expat decided to leave the company. 

Critical Skills Permit 

Also known as the Green Card, the Critical Skills Permit is designed to attract highly-skilled foreign nationals to work in Ireland. It is offered to expats whose proposed salary is beyond €60,000 annually or to those whose position is included in the Highly Skilled Occupations List. The said list usually highlights shortages in jobs in leading industries such as finance, construction, health care and Information Technology. The Critical Skills Permit is valid for up to two years and doesn’t require to be renewed instead; expats will be issued with a stamp which will allow them to work in Ireland for another two years after the initial permit expires. 

Application Procedure and Requirements 

Applications for the work permit should be made by the employer on behalf of the expat employee so expats must first secure a firm job offer from an Irish company. All requests are to be submitted to the Employment Permits Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment whereas the general processing time takes about three months. The fee required would depend on the term of validity of the work permit. Some of the requirements for the application are: 

  • Valid Passport
  • Evidence that a labour market test has been undertaken
  • Certifications that will show the expatriate’s professional qualifications
  • Fee of €500 (six-months valid work permit)

Fee of €1500 (two to three years valid work permit)