Ireland's General Employment Permit (GEP) is the most widely used work route for non-EU workers who are not in the ultra-specialised occupations covered by the Critical Skills Employment Permit. It covers everything from hospitality managers and chefs to sales executives, administrators, and skilled trades — as long as the job is not on Ireland's ineligible list and the salary clears the current threshold. If you have a job offer from an Irish employer, this permit is very likely your route into the country. This guide walks through every step: the 2026 salary thresholds, which occupations qualify, how your employer applies, what it costs, how long it takes, and how the permit eventually leads to Stamp 4 long-term residency.
Immigration rules and salary thresholds change regularly — Ireland raised its minimum salary thresholds on 1 March 2026 and plans further phased increases through 2030. Always confirm the current figures and rules on the official Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) website before applying. This guide is information only, not legal advice.
What the General Employment Permit is
The General Employment Permit is an employer-sponsored work permit issued by DETE. It lets a non-EEA national work in Ireland for a named employer in a named occupation. The permit is typically issued for up to 2 years initially and can be renewed for up to 3 years at a time. Unlike the Critical Skills route, there is no requirement that the occupation appear on a shortage list — the GEP is designed to fill ordinary labour market gaps, which is why it covers such a broad range of jobs.
The key trade-off is that your employer must first show that the job could not be filled by someone already in Ireland or the wider EEA labour market (the Labour Market Needs Test), and the job must meet the salary threshold. Once you hold the permit, you get a Stamp 1 immigration permission in your passport, which you register with immigration after arriving in Ireland.
How it differs from the Critical Skills Permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is the faster, more privileged route — but only for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List (mostly tech, engineering, and certain medical roles) and with a higher salary threshold. CSEP holders can bring family immediately and qualify for Stamp 4 after two years. GEP holders have longer waits for both family reunification and Stamp 4, but the GEP is available to far more people because it is not limited to shortage occupations.
Our full side-by-side comparison breaks down the two routes in detail: Ireland Critical Skills Permit vs General Employment Permit 2026. If your occupation and salary could qualify for either, read that comparison before deciding — the long-term differences are significant.
Salary thresholds in 2026
This is where most applications fail, so read this section twice. Ireland published a roadmap of phased salary increases, and the first step took effect on 1 March 2026. The figure that matters is annual remuneration — guaranteed basic salary only. Bonuses, commission, overtime, allowances, and tips do not count toward the minimum. If your contract shows €36,000 basic plus a €5,000 "expected bonus", you are below the threshold and will be refused.
| Permit type / role | Minimum annual salary from 1 March 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Employment Permit (standard) | €36,605 | Up from €34,000 — further phased rises planned to 2030 |
| GEP for recent Irish graduates | €34,009 | Lower starting threshold within the first year after graduating from an Irish institution |
| Healthcare assistants, home carers, horticulture and meat-processing roles | €32,691 | Reduced rate being phased out by 2030 |
| Critical Skills Permit (degree relevant to the role) | €40,904 | €68,911+ without a relevant degree |
At renewal, your salary must still clear whatever threshold is in force at the time — with thresholds rising through 2030, build a salary review into your contract expectations rather than assuming your starting figure will always be enough. If you are targeting a specific salary level, check which Irish sectors pay what in our highest-paying jobs in Ireland guide.
Which occupations qualify — and which are blocked
The GEP is open to almost any occupation except those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. The ineligible list is reviewed periodically and has historically included roles such as:
- Chefs and catering roles below a certain skill/experience level (speciality chefs can be eligible — check the current list)
- Most retail sales assistants, shop assistants, and general labourers
- Drivers for private cars/taxis and many transport support roles
- Domestic workers, cleaners, and similar household roles
- Many clerical and administrative roles at the lowest skill levels
The list changes, and exemptions exist for specific roles, so never rely on memory: check the current Ineligible List on the DETE website before your employer starts the process. Applying for a blocked occupation wastes the fee and weeks of time. If your target role is ineligible, look at the broader picture in our complete guide to jobs in Ireland for non-EU citizens for alternative routes.
The application process, step by step
Step 1: Secure a job offer of at least 12 months
The GEP requires a genuine job offer from an Irish employer for at least 12 months (shorter permits of 6 months or less exist for specific cases). The offer must be in writing and state the annual remuneration, duties, and hours. The employer will be the applicant on the permit — you cannot apply for a GEP yourself without an employer sponsor.
Step 2: The Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT)
Before applying, the employer must advertise the vacancy for at least 28 days on specified platforms (including JobsIreland and typically a national newspaper or recognised job board) and demonstrate that no suitable EEA candidate could be found. This is the employer's responsibility, but it affects your timeline: the advertising period must be fully complete before the application is submitted, not run in parallel with it. Start it early.
Step 3: The employer applies through EPOS
All applications go through DETE's Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). The employer creates the application, uploads documents digitally (PDF or JPG, each under 10MB), pays the fee, and submits. Incomplete applications can time out in the portal, so have everything ready before starting.
Step 4: Processing and decision
DETE publishes current processing dates for each permit type, and times vary with demand — plan for several weeks to a few months and apply well before your intended start date. If DETE needs more information, it issues a Request for Further Information (RFI): treat this as urgent, because missing the response window can lead to refusal. If refused, 90% of the fee is refundable on request, and there is a review/appeal process with a 28-day window.
Step 5: Enter Ireland and register
Once the permit is granted, non-visa-required nationals can travel; visa-required nationals need an entry visa first. After arrival, register with the immigration authorities (ISD) to receive your Irish Residence Permit card with a Stamp 1 permission, which is what legally authorises your stay and work.
Documents checklist
| Document | Provided by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Signed job offer / contract | Employer | Must show annual remuneration at or above the threshold |
| Evidence of LMNT advertising | Employer | 28 days of advertising, completed before applying |
| Company registration and accounts | Employer | New sponsors need financial documentation |
| Passport (valid, with blank pages) | You | Valid well beyond the permit start date |
| Qualifications and CV | You | Degrees, certificates, references for the role |
| Relevant professional registration | You | Only for regulated professions (e.g. nursing, teaching) |
Your employer must also satisfy the 50:50 rule: at least 50% of the company's employees must be EEA nationals. Very small or newly established companies sometimes trip on this, so raise it with your prospective employer early.
Fees
As of 2026, the General Employment Permit costs €1,000 for a permit of up to 24 months and €500 for permits of six months or less. Employers normally pay this, though in practice the arrangement is between you and the employer. If the application is refused or withdrawn before a decision, 90% of the fee is refunded on request. Confirm current fees on the DETE fees page, as fee regulations are updated periodically.
Changing employers
One of the biggest improvements under the Employment Permits Act 2024 is that GEP holders can now change employers more freely than under the old rules. Under the new framework, permit holders may move to a new employer after a qualifying period (generally understood as 9 months with the first employer), with the new employer applying for a permit in their name. You do not have to leave Ireland to do this. Confirm the current qualifying period and procedure with DETE before resigning, because moving too early can put your immigration status at risk.
The pathway to Stamp 4
Stamp 4 is the permission that frees you from the employment-permit system entirely — you can work for any employer, be self-employed, and live in Ireland without a permit. After five years of lawful employment on a General Employment Permit, you can apply to DETE for a Stamp 4 support letter. This is one of the main reasons the GEP, despite its slower privileges, is a genuine route to long-term settlement: it converts into independence, and it counts toward the five years of reckonable residence needed for Irish citizenship by naturalisation.
Start planning for this from day one: keep copies of every permit, contract, and payslip, and renew your permit before it expires — even a short gap can complicate the five-year calculation.
Family reunification
Unlike the Critical Skills route, the GEP does not offer immediate family reunification. In practice, GEP holders can generally apply to bring a spouse/partner and children after a qualifying period of employment in Ireland, subject to income and housing requirements assessed by immigration. Family rules are assessed case by case, so read our dedicated family reunification visas Europe 2026 guide and confirm the current position with ISD before making promises to family.
Practical tips before you apply
- Verify the salary in writing. Get the guaranteed basic salary figure in the contract before the LMNT starts — a last-minute pay change means restarting.
- Check the ineligible list first. It costs nothing to check and saves a €1,000 mistake.
- Time the LMNT. The 28-day advertising must finish before submission — late starts delay everything.
- Plan your relocation in parallel. Housing in Dublin and Cork moves fast; our moving to Ireland checklist and the broader relocating to Europe checklist cover what to arrange while the permit is processing.
- Understand Irish workplace norms. Once you land, our Irish work culture guide will help you settle into your new team.
The General Employment Permit remains Ireland's broadest door for skilled workers from outside the EEA — and with thresholds rising on a published schedule, the workers who get in early and renew consistently are building toward Stamp 4 and, eventually, citizenship. Browse current Irish openings on the Ireland country page to start your search.