Ireland — Residency: Work Visa

Why this matters

Securing a work visa is crucial for non-EU/EEA citizens to legally work in Ireland and access healthcare, housing, and other benefits.

Key facts

• From 1 March 2026 the Critical Skills Employment Permit minimum salary rises from EUR 38,000 to EUR 40,904 for listed occupations and is EUR 68,911 for occupations not on the Critical Skills list; the graduate minimum is EUR 36,848.
• The General Employment Permit minimum rises from EUR 34,000 to EUR 36,605 on the same date.
• CSEP thresholds rose 7.66% rather than 15.8%, with further increases phased through 2030 under the Government roadmap.
• Some official pages and the DETE checklist still show the older EUR 38,000 and EUR 64,000 figures; check the live DETE page.

Steps

1. Step 1: Employer Sponsors the Application — The Irish employer must obtain a labour market permission from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
2. Step 2: Application Submission — The applicant must submit their application for a work visa to the relevant Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) office.
3. Step 3: Biometric Data Collection — The applicant may need to attend an appointment at an Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) office for biometric data collection.
4. Step 4: Residence Permit Application (if required) — If required, the applicant must apply for a residence permit in addition to the work visa.