Work in Ireland

British citizens can live and work in Ireland without a work permit, because of the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland. Most other non-EEA nationals, including people who live in the UK on a UK visa, need an Irish employment permit before they start work. The two main permits are the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which from 1 March 2026 needs a salary of at least €40,904 (with a relevant degree) for occupations on the Critical Skills list, and the General Employment Permit, which needs at least €36,605 and usually a labour market test. Employment permits cost €1,000 for most applications longer than six months. GIEC Global UK supports applicants and employers as an Ireland work permit agency, helping with eligibility checks, permit applications and the visa and registration steps that follow.

Can UK citizens work in Ireland?

Yes. Under the Common Travel Area, British citizens can live, work, study and access public services in Ireland without needing permission, and Irish citizens have the same rights in the UK. You do not need an employment permit, visa or registration with Irish immigration. You will need a Personal Public Service (PPS) number for tax and social welfare, which you apply for after you arrive in Ireland with proof of address.

This only applies to British citizens. If you live in the UK on a Skilled Worker, Graduate or other UK visa, or with settled status but not British citizenship, you are treated according to your nationality. Most non-EEA nationals need an employment permit to work in Ireland.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is designed to attract highly skilled people into roles where Ireland has shortages, especially in ICT, engineering, health, science and finance. Key features:

• Salary: at least €40,904 for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List with a relevant degree, or €68,911 for most other eligible occupations.
• Job offer: for at least two years.
• No labour market needs test.
• Family: partners can usually join you with permission to work.
• Long-term residence: after two years on a CSEP, you can usually move to Stamp 4, which lets you work without a permit.

General Employment Permit

The General Employment Permit (GEP) covers a wider range of occupations not on the ineligible list. Key features:

• Salary: at least €36,605, with specific lower thresholds for recent Irish graduates and certain care roles.
• Labour market needs test: usually, the employer must advertise the role with the Department of Social Protection’s employment services and EURES, and in other media, for a set period before offering it to a non-EEA national.
• 50:50 rule: at least half of the employer’s staff must generally be EEA nationals.
• Duration: initially up to two years, renewable.

Since the Employment Permits Act 2024, workers can usually change employer after nine months (rather than 12), and a new Seasonal Employment Permit has been introduced for some sectors.

Other Irish employment permits

• Intra-Company Transfer: for senior managers, key personnel and trainees moving from an overseas branch.
• Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit: for some family members of permit holders, though many partners now have work rights through their immigration stamp.
• Contract for Services: for workers of a foreign company providing services to an Irish client.
• Internship and Exchange Agreement permits: for specific programmes.
• Reactivation Employment Permit: for people who fell out of the system through no fault of their own.

“Unskilled jobs with visa sponsorship in Ireland”: what is realistic?

Many people search for unskilled jobs with visa sponsorship in Ireland. The honest answer is that Ireland’s Ineligible Occupations List excludes many lower-skilled roles from permits, such as most general retail, administrative and many hospitality jobs. Some roles are available, for example healthcare assistants, home carers and certain meat and horticultural roles, but they come with specific conditions and salary thresholds. Be very careful with agents who promise “unskilled” jobs with guaranteed permits: employers cannot charge you for a permit, and many such offers are fraudulent.

Employment permit requirements

• A job offer from an Irish employer that is registered with the Revenue Commissioners and the Companies Registration Office (or registered as a business).
• Salary at or above the relevant threshold, paid through Irish payroll.
• Qualifications and experience relevant to the job, including a degree for many CSEP roles.
• A valid passport and passport-style photo.
• Professional registration if the role is regulated (for example nurses and doctors with their Irish regulators).
• For GEP: evidence of the labour market needs test, unless an exemption applies.

How the process works

1. Get a job offer from an eligible Irish employer in an eligible occupation.
2. Apply for the employment permit online through the Department of Enterprise’s system. Either the employer or the employee can apply.
3. Pay the fee: usually €1,000 for permits over six months, or €500 for six months or less.
4. Receive the permit decision. Processing times are published by the Department and vary by permit type.
5. Apply for an entry visa if your nationality needs one (Irish visas cost €60 for single entry and €100 for multiple entry).
6. Travel to Ireland and present your permit at the border.
7. Register with immigration to receive your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which costs €300.
8. Get your PPS number and start work.

Costs at a glance

Item	Cost
Employment permit (over 6 months)	€1,000
Employment permit (6 months or less)	€500
Irish entry visa (if required)	€60 single / €100 multiple
Irish Residence Permit registration	€300
British citizens	No permit or registration fees

If the application is refused, 90% of the permit fee is usually refunded.

In-demand jobs in Ireland

The Critical Skills Occupations List includes many roles in:

• ICT: software developers, cloud and data specialists, cyber security professionals.
• Engineering: civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical and biomedical engineers.
• Healthcare: doctors, nurses, radiographers, pharmacists and therapists, all of whom must register with Irish regulators.
• Science and pharma: chemists, biologists and quality specialists in a sector where Ireland is a global hub.
• Finance: accountants, actuaries and risk specialists.
• Construction: quantity surveyors, project managers and some skilled trades.

The lists are reviewed regularly, so check the current Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations lists before you apply.

Nurses and doctors moving to Ireland

Ireland recruits large numbers of internationally trained healthcare professionals. Nurses and midwives must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), and doctors with the Medical Council, before starting clinical work. Non-EEA nurses and doctors often qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. Registration bodies may ask for English test evidence; if you need one, our IELTS coaching can help you reach the required scores. British-trained nurses and doctors who are British citizens still need registration but not a permit.

For employers: hiring non-EEA staff in Ireland

Irish employers who want to hire from outside the EEA should check four things before making an offer: that the occupation is eligible, that the salary meets the 2026 threshold for the right permit, that the company meets the 50:50 rule where it applies, and whether a labour market needs test is required. Employers can apply on the employee’s behalf, and it is usually faster when the employer prepares company documents (Revenue registration, CRO details and the job description) in advance. As an Ireland work permit agency, we can coordinate this with both sides so the application is complete the first time.

A realistic timeline

Allow time for each stage: advertising for the labour market test (where needed), the permit decision, any entry visa, and registration after arrival. Together these can take several months, so non-EEA applicants should not resign from current jobs until the permit and visa are granted. British citizens can usually move as soon as they have a job and somewhere to live.

Working in Ireland from the UK: practical tips

For British citizens, moving to Ireland is mainly practical rather than legal. Many UK workers move to Dublin, Cork, Galway or Limerick for jobs in technology, pharmaceuticals, finance and healthcare. Rents in Dublin are among the highest in Europe, so research housing early and budget for a deposit and first month’s rent before you arrive. Irish tax uses PAYE like the UK, with income tax, the Universal Social Charge and PRSI. The UK and Ireland have agreements that protect social security rights and healthcare access for people moving between the two countries. If you are a non-British UK resident, plan for the employment permit and visa timeline before you resign from your UK job.

After you arrive: renewals and long-term residence

Keep your permit, IRP card and passport valid at all times, and apply to renew your permit before it expires if your job continues. General Employment Permit holders can usually renew for up to three years, and after five years of permits they may be able to apply for Stamp 4 permission. Critical Skills holders usually move to Stamp 4 after two years. Long residence can later support an application for Irish citizenship by naturalisation, which requires a period of reckonable residence and good character. Keep payslips, tax records and permit copies in one place, because you will need them for every future application.

Common mistakes we see

• Assuming a UK visa or UK residence allows work in Ireland. It does not.
• Accepting a job in an occupation on the Ineligible Occupations List.
• Salary offers that fall below the threshold after the 1 March 2026 increases.
• Employers that do not meet the 50:50 rule for a General Employment Permit.
• Starting work before the permit is granted.
• Paying recruiters or agents for a “guaranteed” permit or job.

Choosing an Ireland work permit agency

Ireland does not have a single licensing scheme for immigration consultants as some countries do, so it is especially important to choose carefully. Solicitors in Ireland are regulated by the Law Society of Ireland, and reputable agencies will be transparent about who does what. When comparing Ireland work visa consultants or Irish work permit consultants, ask:

• Have you handled permits for my occupation and nationality recently?
• Will you check the Critical Skills and Ineligible lists and salary thresholds before applying?
• Will you work with my employer on the labour market test and 50:50 rule?
• Are your fees fixed and in writing, and do you charge for job offers? (A trustworthy agency does not sell jobs.)

How GIEC Global UK helps

As an Ireland work permit agency, we help non-EEA professionals and their employers check eligibility, choose the right permit, prepare and submit employment permit applications, and plan the visa, travel and IRP registration that follow. We also help British citizens with practical relocation planning. We do not sell jobs and cannot guarantee permit decisions, which are made by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. Learn more about us or book a consultation.

Compare other options

If Ireland’s lists or thresholds do not fit your profile, compare work in the UK, work in Canada and work in Australia, or browse all work abroad guides. Considering further study first? See study in Europe. For wider European moves, see migrate to Europe.

Sources and review

Reviewed on 31 October 2026 against the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s employment permit pages and minimum remuneration thresholds effective 1 March 2026, the Employment Permits Act 2024, Irish Immigration Service Delivery guidance on visas and registration, and Citizens Information guidance on the Common Travel Area. Thresholds are scheduled to rise again in later years, so check official sources before applying. This page is general information, not legal advice.