Who qualifies
You need all of these at the same time. Missing one usually means the General Employment Permit is the better route.
- ·A signed job offer from an Irish employer for a contract of at least two years.
- ·An occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List, or any eligible role paying €64,000 or more.
- ·A relevant degree or higher qualification for the €38,000 threshold.
- ·An employer registered with the Revenue Commissioners and Companies Registration Office.
- ·A company where at least 50 percent of staff are EEA nationals, unless an exemption applies.
Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit
| Critical Skills | General Employment | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary floor | €38,000 or €64,000 | €34,000 for most roles |
| Labour market needs test | Not required | Usually required |
| Family reunification | Immediate | After 12 months |
| Partner's right to work | Stamp 1G, no permit needed | Own permit required |
| Route to Stamp 4 | After 2 years | After 5 years |
Thresholds change with government reviews. Always confirm the current figure on enterprise.gov.ie before you negotiate an offer.
Critical Skills permit: costs and timeline at a glance
The figures applicants ask about most. Source: enterprise.gov.ie and irishimmigration.ie.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Minimum contract length | 2 years |
| Application fee | €1,000 for a 2 year permit (refunded 90 percent if refused) |
| Salary floor | €38,000 with a relevant degree (list occupations) or €64,000 |
| Processing | Published weekly by the Employment Permits Section; Trusted Partner employers are processed faster than standard applications. Plan for weeks, not days |
| Entry visa (visa-required nationals) | Long stay D employment visa after the permit is granted, adds its own processing time |
| Register on arrival | IRP card within 90 days |
| Family reunification | Immediate; spouse or partner gets Stamp 1G and can work without a permit |
| Route to Stamp 4 | After 2 years on the permit |
Check the current processing dates on enterprise.gov.ie before you give notice or book flights.
How the application works
Confirm the occupation
Find your exact job title on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Job titles vary by company, so check the description rather than the label your employer uses.
Secure the two year contract
There is no self-sponsored route. The signed contract is the foundation of the application, and it must state a start date, salary and duration.
Apply online
You or the employer applies through the Employment Permits Online System with passport, qualifications, contract and employer registration numbers, plus the €1,000 fee.
Entry visa if required
Visa-required nationals apply for a long stay D employment visa once the permit is granted. Non-visa nationals travel and register on arrival.
Register on arrival
Within 90 days, register for your IRP card, get a PPS number and open a bank account so payroll can start on time.
Keep going
What clients say about working with us
“My experience with HULA Career exceeded my expectations. They provided exceptional guidance throughout every step of my dream job search. I am incredibly grateful to Hugo and Laura for their unwavering support.”
“Hugo is a friendly and dedicated professional who can help you with career coaching. He was very attentive to me, making calls to teach me strategies to get the perfect job and providing accurate and professional material.”
“If you're looking for any career related help or advice in Ireland, HULA is the one for you. Hugo and Laura are two of the sweetest and kind hearted people who go above and beyond to support you.”
“I had an amazing experience with HULA Career! Their team provided outstanding support in improving my LinkedIn profile and CV, making them more professional and impactful. Their guidance was clear, personalized, and extremely helpful.”
“I've been a client of HULA Career for a while now, and working with them has been one of the best decisions I've made for my professional growth. From the very beginning, they made me feel seen and heard.”
“I had a very good experience with HULA! Hugo is an amazing professional who always goes beyond to provide the best service he can. I learned a lot from our sessions and would recommend 100% for anyone who needs help finding a new job.”
“HULA met my expectations perfectly. I was looking for guidance to create a standout resume, and they fully understood my needs. The team was extremely attentive and delivered excellent services.”
“They are excellent professionals and exceed expectations. They helped me in a practical way, but also in a psychological way so that I could position myself in the labour market in another country. Thank you so much, you're amazing.”
The permit is paperwork. The offer is the hard part.
In the free consultation we look at whether your occupation qualifies, which employers realistically sponsor at your level, and what your CV needs to say for an Irish recruiter to shortlist you.
Written by
Hugo Faria
Career coach and co-founder of HULA. He works every week with international professionals hiring into Ireland, the UK and Portugal, and coaches them through CV, LinkedIn, applications and interviews. More about Hugo.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Critical Skills Employment Permit?+
It is Ireland's permit for occupations the country is short of. It carries a higher salary threshold than the General Employment Permit, skips the labour market needs test, allows your family to join you immediately, and opens a route to Stamp 4 after two years.
What is the minimum salary for a Critical Skills Employment Permit?+
€38,000 per year for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List where you hold a relevant degree, and €64,000 for other eligible roles not on the ineligible list. The salary must be the actual contracted base, not base plus bonus.
Do I need a degree for a Critical Skills permit?+
For the €38,000 threshold you normally need a relevant degree or higher qualification. Without one you can still qualify at the €64,000 threshold, or use the General Employment Permit route instead.
How long is a Critical Skills Employment Permit valid?+
Two years initially. After that you can apply for a Stamp 4 permission, which removes the need for a permit and lets you change employer freely.
Can my partner work in Ireland on my Critical Skills permit?+
Yes. Spouses and de facto partners of Critical Skills permit holders get a Stamp 1G permission that allows them to work without their own employment permit.
Can I change employer on a Critical Skills permit?+
After twelve months with your first employer. The new job needs its own permit application and must still meet the occupation and salary rules.