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Work Visas & Permits in Ireland

All Countries > Ireland
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Capital

Dublin

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Official Language

English, Irish

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Currency

Euro

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Payroll cycle

Monthly or weekly

Via offers complete Payroll, EOR and Contractor mangement services for Ireland
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Quick facts about Ireland

Ireland is home to a number of major tech companies, including Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. Known as a friendly country with high levels of education, Ireland is a booming talent hotspot for companies looking to recruit top talent. With significant growth in sectors such as IT, energy, environmental engineering, and medical devices, the country is quickly becoming one of the most important economies in the European Union.

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If you’re a foreigner or an expat looking for employment in Ireland, you will likely need a work visa & permit to get hired and live in the country. Ireland’s labor market is booming, and the appeal of living in Ireland has attracted companies (ranging from small startups to major enterprises) to the country.

Here’s everything employees and employers need to know about the visa application process.

What is an Irish work visa?

An Irish work visa is a document that allows individuals from outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and the United Kingdom (UK) to work in Ireland. Typically, this work visa is reserved for high-skilled work or those in sectors with a shortage of workers.

Types of work visas

Ireland has two work visas: a short stay ‘C’ visa–good for three months–or a long stay ‘D’ visa–good for stays exceeding three months. If you intend to stay in Ireland longer, you must state your intention and apply for an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) using the right form.

What is an Irish work permit?

An Irish work permit is a document foreign individuals must possess if they are from outside the EU, EEA, or UK. To obtain this permit, the individual must also have an official job offer or contract from an Irish employer or business.

You will need to present your work permit paperwork to the immigration officer in the airport or (if you arrive by boat) at the port of entry. Otherwise, you will not be able to move to Ireland.

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What foreign workers in Ireland need to know

How to apply for a work permit and visa for Ireland

To apply for a work visa and permit in Ireland, you will need to secure a job and receive a work permit before being issued a visa.

To land a job, you can visit job boards like Indeed, post your resume online, reach out to your network, and apply for positions that suit you. Once you have received an official job offer or contract, you can move on to the next step and submit your application.

Applications for an Ireland work permit are completed online through Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. To complete the work visa application, you will also need to apply online, but through Ireland’s Department of Justice and Equality. The website will list all relevant visa requirements, as well as instructions for how to submit your application and supporting documents.

Do you need a work permit?

In most cases, foreigner workers will need a work permit. This document is not required for expats from the EU, EEA, or UK.

Types of work permits

There are nine different work permits in Ireland, but the two most commonly granted ones are the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the General Employment Permit. 

The former is designed for highly-skilled individuals who will fill positions in a labor shortage and benefit the Irish economy. To qualify, your role must be included on a specified list of eligible positions. The latter, on the other hand, is much more open-ended and does not have a list of eligible positions.

Some roles, including exhibition organizers, home carers, and post office clerks, are on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

There is an extensive list of requirements necessary to apply for an work permit in Ireland, which you can view here. Make sure you have a valid passport before beginning the process.

Duration of Work Permit

If a work permit is granted, it is good for two years with the possibility of being renewed for an additional three years’ time. After the five-year limit, the individual should apply for long-term residency. 

Extend or change work permit conditions

An Irish work permit is only valid for the employer and employment stated on the permit. If you change employers, you must apply for a new permit.

You should reapply within 16 weeks of your permit’s expiration date using the Employment Permit Online System (EPOS) website. 

Finding a Job in Ireland as a foreigner

How to check if your employer in Ireland is compliant

If you’re looking for a job in Ireland as an expat, you want to make sure that the company has the HR structure to help you get onboarded and added to payroll legally.

Be sure to check that your employment contract has all of the necessary information. It might be helpful to look over the relevant documents with a local Irish lawyer.

Find a job in Ireland as a foreigner

Finding a job in Ireland can be done through online job boards like Jobs.ie, Monster.ie, Recruitireland.com, and job recruitment companies. But Irish employers must prove they cannot find natural citizens to fill the positions before hiring foreign workers, so finding a job in Ireland may be challenging. You will also want to check if your employer providers benefits such as travel insurance and health insurance.

It is worth mentioning Ireland recognizes two official languages–Irish and English. Most jobs require employees to speak English, so studying and speaking Irish is usually not a prerequisite for getting hired. However, there are options available for learning Irish if you should want the knowledge.

Employers in Ireland

Employers in Ireland should be aware of the kinds of employees they can hire and what’s required of them regarding compliance.

Hire a permanent foreign worker

To hire a foreign worker, an Irish employer must provide the individual with an official job offer or contract. Once the foreigner has these documents, they can begin the work visa & permit application process.

Hire a temporary foreign worker/contractor

Hiring temporary foreign workers in Ireland is similar to hiring permanent foreign workers. However, the individual will still require a job offer or contract to apply for a short stay ‘C’ visa. Temporary employment usually gives holders permission to remain in Ireland for six months.

A foreign independent contractor performs a specific job for which they are paid–no employer-employee relationship exists. Companies do not have to withhold income taxes or pay Social Security, Medicare, or Unemployment tax. Foreign independent contractors are responsible for paying Self-Employment Tax.

In general, businesses hire contractors to accomplish very specific tasks, such as designing a website or developing a social media strategy. Contractors tend to be more efficient, which makes them appealing.

Hire an intern

Hiring interns in Ireland is similar to hiring other workers. Interns are entitled to basic employment rights, which include the right to a safe work environment, data protection rights, protection against discrimination, breaks, holidays, and the option to join a union. 

An intern’s wages depend on the type of internship and the company, but if they bear comparable duties and responsibilities to other employees, then they should be compensated at least at the national minimum wage.

As the employer, it is crucial to have a well-defined role in mind to select the right intern for the job, as interns often turn into permanent employees. Interns usually have fewer qualifications.

Maintaining compliance

Maintaining compliance with foreign workers is vital. An employer can manage such information and legal logistics on their own, or they can work with an EOR. An EOR is well-versed in compliance and employment laws for any country they provide service. 

Too many companies misclassify workers as contractors because it saves them time and money upfront. However, this approach is not scalable and can cause problems down the line.

Why companies partner with Via

Both large and small companies want to hire employees in Ireland, but are unsure of how to navigate the country’s payroll and labor laws. Via makes hiring talent in Ireland and building your global team seamless. Our easy-to-use platform helps you manage the local HR processes for benefits, international payroll services, background checks, and more. We have a local team of lawyers and on-the ground experts that understand compliance as you expand abroad.

As your employer-of-record/entity in Ireland, Via assumes responsibility for employment liability, so that you can focus on what matters: recruiting and managing your team.

With Via’s transparent pricing, you can pay full-time employees or contractors in Ireland with no hidden set-up fees, no foreign exchange or transaction fees, and no minimums–start with 1 employee and scale up at your own pace.

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Frequently asked questions

  • What type of visa do I need to work in Ireland?

    If you live outside of the EU, EEA, or UK, you will need either a short stay ‘C’ visa or a long stay ‘D’ visa to work in Ireland. This grants applicants permission to work and live in the country. A ‘C’ visa is only good for three months, while a ‘D’ visa is good for stays exceeding three months. After 90 days, applicants will need to apply for an Irish Residence Permit.

  • Is the work permit in Ireland the same as the work visa?

    No, receiving an Irish work visa is contingent upon receiving a work permit and an official job offer, including relevant details. The work visa grants an individual permission to travel to Ireland, but Immigration decides whether they can enter. The work permit enables them to work there for a specified amount of time.

  • How much is a work visa in Ireland?

    A work visa in Ireland usually costs around 80 EUR for a single entry. For a multiple-entry visa, the processing fee is around 100 EUR.

  • Are you eligible to work in Ireland?

    Individuals are eligible to work in Ireland if they have the proper documents, an official job offer or contract, and if there is a shortage in that particular position or job field. Make sure you have the right education background.

  • Who applies for work permits in Ireland?

    Anyone living outside of the EU, EEA, or UK must complete the application form for an Ireland Work Permit if they wish to work in Ireland. If the individual lives in the EU, EEA, or UK, they do not need a work permit. Many foreign nationals move to Dublin, Cork, or Galway.

  • What is an Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit?

    An Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit enables senior management, executives, and other personnel who are not EEA nationals to transfer from one branch of a multinational company, corporation, or enterprise to the brand in Ireland.

  • What is the Critical Skills Employment Permit?

    Like a Green Card in the US, the Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland attracts top talent from around the world, with the hope that they will enter the labor market and become permanent Irish residents.

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