Hiring into Ireland from outside the EEA.
Source-backed guides to Ireland's employment permit system, for the people who have to answer for it: in-house teams making the decision, and the agencies advising them. Every figure is dated and linked back to the Department.
The guides
Six evergreen guides covering the questions that stall a hire. Checked against official guidance on 15 August 2026.
How the system works
Hiring outside the EEA in Ireland: how the permit system works
The routes, the order they happen in, and the two decisions that cannot be undone later.
Read the guideGeneral Employment Permit
The General Employment Permit: Ireland's standard work permit route
Ireland's broad permit route: every occupation is eligible unless it is named on the Ineligible List, and the Labour Market Needs Test usually comes with it.
Read the guideCritical Skills Employment Permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit: the shortage route
No advertising test, a two year contract, and a faster path to longer term residence for the person hired.
Read the guideLabour Market Needs Test
The Labour Market Needs Test: 28 days, two places, one window
The advertising step that has to happen first, and the timing that decides whether it counted.
Read the guideCost of a permit hire
What an employment permit hire costs, from fee to start date
The published state fees, who normally pays which one, and the costs that never appear on a fee schedule.
Read the guideTrusted Partner Initiative
The Trusted Partner Initiative: retired, and what replaced it
The scheme was retired on 28 April 2025. Every employer now carries the verification it used to grant, through an Employment Permits Online portal account.
Read the guide
Check the role against the data
A guide explains the rule. These surfaces carry the source data the rule is applied to.
Ineligible List of Occupations
Every occupation code on the current DETE list, with the published wording.
Occupation code directory
The SOC 2010 classification the occupation lists are written against.
Employment permit directory
Issued-permit records by period, employer and occupation.
Licensed recruitment agency directory
Agencies on the WRC employment agency licence register.
Find a licensed agency for the role
Ireland’s recruitment agencies hold employment agency licences issued by the Workplace Relations Commission. The directory carries that register, so a role you have just confirmed is fillable can go to someone you have actually checked.
Important
IrishTalents is not a licensed employment agency and does not select or submit candidates. Any agency information reflects the wording found on agency websites only, not vacancies, sponsorship, or suitability.
An occupation (SOC) code classifies the kind of work. It does not by itself determine permit eligibility, Critical Skills status, or sponsorship. Job duties, salary, employer and permit route also matter.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. IrishTalents is not affiliated with the Irish government.