ATTRACTIVE FEATURES

1. A Labor Market Needs Test is not required because the skills are identified as being in short supply.
2. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification. Once their dependants/partners/spouses are resident in the State they are eligible to seek any employment and apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit which is currently issued free of charge.
3. Permit holders may apply for permission to reside and work without requiring an employment permit upon completion of the Critical Skills Employment Permit’s duration.

1. The prospective employee or the employer can apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. The employment permit will be issued to the prospective employee (a certified copy will be issued to the employer).
2. The permit allows the prospective employee to be employed in the State by the named employer and in the occupation and location/s specified on the permit.
3. In support of the objectives of the Critical Skills Employment Permit and its generous ancillary benefits, they are only issued in respect of a job offer of 2 years’ duration.
4. For job offers of less than 2 years, a General Employment Permit may be applied for.

Eligibility for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is largely determined by the type of occupation, and proposed remuneration level. The following are eligible:

1. Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €38,000 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required.
2. In the case of a nurse or midwife, a third-level degree or diploma is accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland as a sufficient qualification for registration to practice as a nurse or midwife in the State.
3. All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest. A non-EEA national who does not have a degree qualification or higher must have the necessary level of experience.
4. The prospective employee concerned must have secured a 2-year job offer in respect of the eligible occupation from the prospective employer. 

Further criteria include:

1. The prospective employee concerned must possess the relevant qualifications, skills, and experience that are required for the employment.
2. 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 (that is, registered as an employer with Revenue) and which are supported by the enterprise development agencies, Enterprise Ireland, or IDA Ireland (this applies to client companies of Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland only). 

The full details of what is required are set out on the application form and include:

1. A full description of the proposed employment,
2. Starting date,
3. Annual remuneration excluding bonuses, and
4. Information in respect of the qualifications, skills or experience required for the employment.

There are up to three stages in the passage of an employment permit application:

1. Application received (awaiting processing): Once an application is submitted and the associated fees paid, the application is then placed in the relevant processing queue depending on the Employer type, that is, Trusted Partner or Standard. Please note that applications are processed strictly in date order by Employer Type and applicants can keep track of current processing dates. They can also check the progress of their specific application online.
   　 
2. Processing stage: This stage is where the application is considered by a decision maker, an official with decision-making authority. The processor may request additional information if required, which should be returned within 28 days. The processor will then either grant an application or refuse it for specific reasons.
3. Review: Where an applicant wishes a refusal decision to be reviewed then he/she may do so within 28 days on the prescribed Submission of a Decision for Review Form. The review will be considered by a separate and more senior official. The confirmation of a refusal decision on review does not preclude the applicant from submitting a new application following all of the relevant procedures for the specific employment permit type.

4. The processing fee for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is €1,000. If an application is unsuccessful then 90% of the fee will be refunded. While the fee may be paid by a third party, the current policy restricts refunds to applicants only (for example, if the applicant was an employee and the employer paid the fee, then the refund will still be issued to the employee). 

   Where the employer is the applicant, the employer may not make any deductions from the remuneration of, or seek to recover from, the holder of the employment permit concerned any charge, fee, or expense related to the application.

5. Following a successful application for an employment permit, and if visa required, an applicant should apply to his/her local Irish Embassy/Consulate for an entry Visa. Any persons wishing to enter the State, whether visa required or not, are subject to the usual immigration controls at the port of entry. Therefore, all relevant and supporting documentation, including the original employment permit, must be available for inspection by an Immigration Officer. Entry to the State is always at the discretion of the Immigration Officer.

6. An employment permit is not a Residence Permission. In order to be lawfully resident in the State, it is a requirement that all non-EEA nationals in possession of an employment permit must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. It is in the best interest of the persons concerned to register as soon as possible following arrival. Delay in registering with Garda National Immigration Bureau could affect applications in the granting of long-term residency and/or citizenship. Immigration permission to remain should, where applicable, be renewed at least one month before the expiry date in order to avoid unlawful presence in the State.