Work Permits for Ireland

Expats that are EU citizens or citizens of Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein do not need a work permit to legally work in Ireland. Expats moving to Ireland from any other nation need an employment offer prior to applying for and obtaining a work permit in Ireland. Subsequently many hiring companies handle much of the visa transactions and costs.

In Ireland there are four formal types of work permits, the most common being the Green Card.

The Green Card is a type of work visa and is aimed at attracting skilled expats to Ireland. There are two ways to qualify for a Green Card, the first of which is to earn more than €60,000 a year from a proposed job offer, and the second type of Green Card eligibility is for professionals that will be able to fill skills gaps at a professional level in the Irish workforce. These salaries are below €60,000 but above €30,000 in types of employment that can range from IT, healthcare, construction, finances, and others. The work permit is valid for two years with options for renewal, and costs a €1,000 processing fee, which may be covered by an employer. 

There is also a work permit aimed at transferring employees within the same company. These employees must earn at least €40,000 annually and either be senior management, attending training or have a good reason for transferring. If the expat leaves the company their work permit is also terminated. Once a work permit is granted to an expat, their spouse and children can also qualify for a work permit without having to meet requirements that are as stringent.