Ireland visaWork in IrelandIreland employment permits and work visa for Indian professionals
Working in Ireland takes two steps: the employer or worker obtains an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, then the Indian worker applies for a long stay D employment visa (EUR 60) at VFS Global Ireland. The Critical Skills Employment Permit covers roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List at EUR 40,904 or more (EUR 68,911 for other roles with a degree) from 1 March 2026, needs no labour market test and leads to Stamp 4 after 2 years; the General Employment Permit covers most other roles at EUR 36,605 after a 28-day labour market needs test. Permits cost EUR 1,000 for up to 2 years, decisions take 4 to 8 weeks (faster for Trusted Partner employers), and the visa adds about 8 weeks.
7 min read Verified 30 October 2026 against irishimmigration.ie · How we verify
Ireland employment permit and work visa: quick answers
- Which permit applies to an Indian hire?
- Software engineers, data scientists, engineers, accountants, nurses, doctors and other roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List with an offer of at least EUR 40,904 a year (2-year contract minimum) use the Critical Skills Employment Permit; any role with a degree paid EUR 68,911 or more also qualifies. Other roles, from chefs and care workers to technicians and drivers, use the General Employment Permit at EUR 36,605 after the employer advertises for 28 days with the Department of Social Protection and in national media. Intra-company transfers, researchers under hosting agreements and spouses of Critical Skills holders have their own routes. The employer must have at least 50 per cent EU or EEA staff (the 50:50 rule) unless starting up.
- What does it cost?
- EUR 1,000 for an employment permit of 6 to 24 months (EUR 500 for up to 6 months), paid by the employer or the worker and refunded at 90 per cent on refusal; EUR 60 for the single-entry D visa (EUR 100 multiple) at VFS Global with its service fee of about INR 2,300; and EUR 300 for the Irish Residence Permit on registration. There is no skills levy or health surcharge. Vistolane charges the EUR 60 visa fee at the official rate and shows the permit and IRP separately.
- How long does it take from India?
- Standard employment permit applications take 4 to 8 weeks and Trusted Partner employers about 2 to 4 weeks; the D visa then takes about 8 weeks at the New Delhi visa office. Plan 3 to 5 months from offer to first day, longer for General Employment Permits because of the 28-day labour market needs test.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Long stay D employment visa after an employment permit; Stamp 1 on registration |
| Government fee | EUR 60 visa; permit EUR 1,000 (up to 24 months) or EUR 500 (up to 6 months); IRP EUR 300 |
| Processing | Permit 4 to 8 weeks (Trusted Partner 2 to 4); visa about 8 weeks |
| Critical Skills salary | EUR 40,904 for Critical Skills Occupations List roles; EUR 68,911 for other roles with a degree (from 1 March 2026) |
| General Employment Permit salary | EUR 36,605 (EUR 34,009 for recent graduates); 28-day labour market needs test |
| Family | Critical Skills: spouse and children immediately with Stamp 1G work rights; General: after 12 months |
| Residence | Critical Skills: Stamp 4 after 2 years; General: after 5 years; citizenship after 5 years |
| Verified | 30 Oct 2026 against enterprise.gov.ie and irishimmigration.ie |
Critical Skills or General Employment Permit: which route
| Permit | Who | Salary from 1 March 2026 | Labour market test | Family and residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | Roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List (ICT, engineering, health, finance), or any degree role at the higher threshold | EUR 40,904 (list roles with a degree); EUR 68,911 (other roles); graduate rate EUR 36,848 | None; 2-year contract required | Family immediately, spouse on Stamp 1G; Stamp 4 after 2 years |
| General Employment Permit | Most other roles not on the Ineligible Occupations List | EUR 36,605; EUR 34,009 for graduates; sector rates for care and meat processing | 28 days with the Department of Social Protection and national press | Family after 12 months with income test; Stamp 4 after 5 years |
| Intra-Company Transfer | Senior managers, key personnel, trainees moving within a group | EUR 46,000 to 60,000 depending on grade | None; 6 months' prior employment | Family after 12 months; no direct residence path |
| Dependant or Spouse Permit | Spouses of Critical Skills holders (now Stamp 1G, no permit needed) | National minimum wage | None | Follows the sponsor |
The 2025 roadmap review raised the thresholds from 1 March 2026 (General EUR 34,000 to 36,605; Critical Skills EUR 38,000 to 40,904 and EUR 64,000 to 68,911) with further steps planned to 2030, and the national minimum wage of EUR 14.15 an hour sets the floor for every permit. Employers must pass the 50:50 rule (at least half the workforce EU or EEA) and be registered with Revenue and the Companies Registration Office. Indian IT and pharma professionals dominate Critical Skills grants, and the health service recruits Indian nurses under the General Employment Permit with a EUR 34,000 sector threshold rising in line with the roadmap.
Since 2024 the Department processes permits through its online portal with a Trusted Partner track for frequent employers, and from 2026 a combined permit-and-visa process is being phased in so that the visa office receives the permit decision directly; until it reaches India, the worker still lodges the D visa at VFS. Permits are granted for up to 2 years and renewed for 3 (General) or converted to Stamp 4 (Critical Skills), and a worker may change employer after 9 months with a new permit.
Fees and who pays them
| Item | Fee | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Employment permit, 6 to 24 months | EUR 1,000 | Employer or worker; 90 per cent refunded on refusal |
| Employment permit, up to 6 months | EUR 500 | Employer or worker |
| Long stay D employment visa | EUR 60 single; EUR 100 multiple | Worker |
| VFS Global service fee | About INR 2,300 | Worker |
| Irish Residence Permit (Stamp 1) | EUR 300 a year | Worker |
| Permit renewal (General, 3 years) | EUR 1,500 | Employer or worker |
| Spouse and children's D visas | EUR 60 each | Family |
Ireland charges no immigration skills charge or health surcharge; workers pay PAYE income tax at 20 and 40 per cent, USC and PRSI, and can claim the Special Assignee Relief Programme in limited cases. Vistolane charges the EUR 60 visa fee at the official rate and shows the permit separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Offer and permit application
Employer (or worker) applies on the Employment Permits Online System with the contract, job description, salary, company registration and, for General permits, the 28-day labour market needs test evidence; EUR 1,000.
- 2
Permit decision
4 to 8 weeks standard, 2 to 4 for Trusted Partners; the permit is issued to the worker and employer.
- 3
Apply for the D visa at VFS Global Ireland
AVATS form, passport, permit, contract, qualifications, PCC if requested; pay EUR 60; biometrics; about 8 weeks.
- 4
Travel and register
Enter on the D visa, register for Stamp 1 and the IRP (EUR 300) within 90 days; obtain a PPS number.
- 5
Renew or convert
Critical Skills holders apply for Stamp 4 after 2 years; General holders renew the permit (EUR 1,500 for 3 years).
Timeline for an Indian hire
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Labour market needs test (General only) | 28 days | Advertising with DSP and press |
| Permit decision | 4 to 8 weeks | 2 to 4 for Trusted Partner employers |
| D visa | About 8 weeks | New Delhi visa office |
| Registration | Within 90 days of arrival | Stamp 1, IRP card |
| Stamp 4 | After 2 years (Critical Skills) | No employer tie; any work |
Critical Skills hires can plan 3 to 4 months from offer to first day; General Employment Permit hires 4 to 6 months because of the labour market needs test.
After arrival: changing jobs, family and residence
Permit holders may change employer after 9 months with a new permit (or earlier on redundancy), and Critical Skills holders who complete 2 years receive Stamp 4, which allows any employment without a permit and counts fully toward naturalisation. Spouses and children of Critical Skills holders apply for D visas immediately and the spouse receives Stamp 1G with full work rights; General Employment Permit holders sponsor family after 12 months on a permit, showing income above the Working Family Payment threshold for their family size, as the Ireland family route page explains.
After 5 years of reckonable residence (Stamp 1 and 4 count; Stamp 2 does not) workers apply for citizenship by naturalisation (EUR 175 application, EUR 950 certificate), or for long-term residency; the Ireland citizenship route page sets out the residence count. Ireland permits dual citizenship, but India does not.
Document checklist: applicant
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid beyond the permit | Plus previous passports |
| Degree certificate and transcripts | Relevant to the role; English translation if needed |
| CV and experience letters | Roles, dates, letterhead |
| Indian police clearance certificate | If requested by the visa office |
| Two photos and AVATS summary | Lodged within 30 days |
Employer and permit
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Employment permit | Critical Skills or General; original or copy |
| Signed employment contract | Salary at or above the 2026 threshold; 2 years for Critical Skills |
| Labour market needs test evidence | General permits: 28 days with DSP and press |
| Company registration and 50:50 compliance | CRO and Revenue registration |
In Ireland
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Registration appointment | Within 90 days; EUR 300 |
| PPS number | For payroll and tax |
| Family D visa applications | Critical Skills: immediately |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Salary below the threshold
Offer under EUR 40,904 or EUR 36,605 after 1 March 2026.
The fix. Raise the contract to the current threshold; check sector rates.
50:50 rule not met
Employer's workforce under 50 per cent EU or EEA.
The fix. Use the start-up exemption or recruit under a different employer entity.
Labour market needs test defective
Advertising shorter than 28 days or not on the required channels.
The fix. Re-advertise with the Department of Social Protection and national press for the full period.
Role on the Ineligible Occupations List
General permit requested for an excluded role.
The fix. Check the list; use a different role or a Critical Skills-eligible position.
Visa documents incomplete
Permit copy, contract or qualifications missing at VFS.
The fix. Lodge the full set; the visa office requests missing items only once.
Official sources
Ireland employment permit and work visa questions
Other Ireland routes
Visit Ireland
Short stay visa (type C)
EUR 60 single entry (EUR 100 multiple entry); free with a qualifying UK visa under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme
Read the route
Study in Ireland
Study visa (type D) and Stamp 2
EUR 60 single entry D visa (EUR 100 multiple); Irish Residence Permit EUR 300 after arrival
Read the route
Join family in Ireland
Join family visa (type D)
EUR 60 single entry D visa per family member (EUR 100 multiple); Irish Residence Permit EUR 300 each after arrival
Read the route
Settle in Ireland
Long-term residence and citizenship by naturalisation
EUR 175 naturalisation application; EUR 950 certificate fee on approval (EUR 200 for minors)
Read the route