Meeting the General Employment Permit requirements in Ireland is the first step for any non-EEA worker hoping to legally take up a job here. The rules cover your salary, your occupation, your employer’s status, and a mandatory advertising process — and getting any one of these wrong means a refused application and a lost fee.
This guide covers every General Employment Permit requirement you need to know for 2026, including the updated salary thresholds that came into force on 1 March 2026 and the job-change rules introduced by the Employment Permits Act 2024.
By the end, you’ll know exactly whether you and your employer qualify, what documents you need, what it costs, and how to apply correctly.
Table of Contents
General Employment Permit Requirements at a Glance
To get a General Employment Permit in Ireland in 2026, you need all of the following:
- A full-time job offer from a registered, actively trading Irish employer
- A salary of at least €36,605 per year (standard rate from 1 March 2026)
- A role that does not appear on the government’s Ineligible List of Occupations
- Evidence that a Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) was completed (in most cases)
- The qualifications, skills, or experience required for the role
- An employer who meets the 50% EEA workforce rule
The permit is valid for up to 2 years initially and can be renewed for 3 more. After 57 months, you can apply for a Stamp 4, which allows you to work freely without any permit.
Who Needs a General Employment Permit in Ireland?
If you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, or Switzerland, you need an employment permit to work in Ireland in most cases. EEA nationals, British citizens, and Swiss nationals can work in Ireland without any permit.
You also don’t need a permit if you already hold certain immigration stamps. Stamp 4 holders have full labour market access and can work in any job without restriction. If your Stamp 4 is nearing expiry and cannot be renewed, applying for an employment permit is one option.
Can I Apply from Inside Ireland?
Yes, in some cases. If you’re already living in Ireland and hold a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with Stamp 1, 1G, 2, 2A, or 3, you can apply for a General Employment Permit from inside Ireland without needing to leave.
If you’re outside Ireland at the time of application, you apply first and arrange your entry visa separately once the permit is approved.
General Employment Permit Salary Requirements 2026
Salary is one of the most common reasons General Employment Permit applications are refused. Make sure you’re working with the correct 2026 figures.
Standard Minimum: €36,605 Per Year
From 1 March 2026, the standard minimum annual salary for a General Employment Permit is €36,605. This replaced the previous threshold of €34,000.
This figure must be your guaranteed basic pay only. Bonuses, overtime, allowances, and any non-guaranteed payments cannot be counted toward the minimum.
Warning: Many online guides still show €34,000. That figure is outdated. Applications submitted with a salary below €36,605 will be refused, and the fee is not refunded.
This increase is part of a phased Minimum Annual Remuneration roadmap published by DETE that will continue with further increases through to 2030. When negotiating your employment contract, build in some headroom above the current minimum — the threshold will rise again before your permit comes up for renewal.
Lower Threshold Roles: €32,691 Per Year
Some specific roles qualify at a reduced minimum of €32,691 per year (from 1 March 2026):
- Healthcare Assistants (HCAs) — must hold a Level 5 QQI qualification or a comparable qualification, or commit to obtaining one within 2 years
- Home Carers / Home Support Workers — same QQI Level 5 requirement applies
- Horticulture Workers
- Meat Processing Operatives
For healthcare assistants and home carers, the equivalent minimum hourly rate is €16.12.
High-Salary Exemption: €68,911+
If your annual salary is €68,911 or above, you are exempt from the Labour Market Needs Test (explained below). This is a significant time-saver for senior roles.
Eligible and Ineligible Occupations
What Jobs Qualify for a General Employment Permit?
The General Employment Permit works on a “permit-unless-excluded” basis, as set out in the Employment Permits Acts. This means all occupations are eligible unless they specifically appear on the Ineligible List. This is quite different from the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which only covers a defined list of occupations.
Common eligible roles include healthcare assistants, nurses, chefs, restaurant managers, hotel supervisors, construction tradespeople, site supervisors, truck drivers, warehouse supervisors, retail managers, pharmacy technicians, and lab technicians across pharma and food sectors.
What Jobs Are Blocked? The Ineligible List
Some occupations are excluded from all employment permit types, regardless of salary. As of 2026, blocked categories include most entry-level hospitality and retail roles, general clerical and administrative positions, domestic work, and most unskilled agricultural and transport roles.
Before starting any application, check the current Ineligible List of Occupations on the DETE website. This list is updated periodically, so always use the live version.
Common Mistake: Assuming a high salary overrides the Ineligible List. It does not. A refused application due to an ineligible occupation results in no fee refund.
Quota-Restricted Roles: Check Before You Apply
Some occupations are eligible for a General Employment Permit but have a government-imposed quota. Once the quota fills, no further applications are accepted until it is reviewed.
In recent months, the quota for car mechanics, motor mechanics, auto electricians, and motor vehicle technicians reached its limit. Applications in those categories are currently being rejected. Meat Processing Operatives also previously reached their quota.
Pro tip: Check the DETE latest updates page before applying if your role is in a sector prone to quotas. A refused application wastes your fee.
Employer Requirements for the General Employment Permit
The requirements aren’t just on the employee side. Your employer must meet strict criteria too — and many applications fail here.
Revenue and CRO Registration
Your employer must:
- Be registered with Revenue (hold a valid Employer Registration Number)
- Be registered with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) or the Registry of Friendly Societies
- Be actively trading in Ireland — registration alone is not enough
- Not have carried out redundancies in the same role within the previous 6 months
The 50% EEA Workforce Rule (The “50:50 Rule”)
At least 50% of your employer’s entire workforce must be EEA nationals at the point your application is submitted. This is one of the most commonly overlooked requirements — and one of the most common causes of refusal.
Start-up exception: Companies registered for 2 years or less with a valid letter of support from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland may be exempt. However, the 50:50 rule must be met by the time the permit comes up for renewal, or only a 1-year permit will be issued.
If the company has zero employees and you would be the only employee, the authorities must be satisfied this situation will continue for an appropriate period.
Direct Employment Only
You must be directly employed and directly paid by the sponsoring company. Subcontracting, agency, or third-party employment arrangements are not permitted under a General Employment Permit.
The Labour Market Needs Test: How It Works
The Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) requires your employer to prove they tried to recruit an Irish or EEA worker first and couldn’t find a suitable candidate. It’s the most common cause of application delays and refusals when done incorrectly.
Step-by-Step: Running a Valid LMNT
The advertising must run for a minimum of 28 consecutive days — not 28 working days, 28 calendar days. The clock cannot be paused or interrupted.
Your employer must advertise the vacancy:
- On the Jobs Ireland website (run by the Department of Social Protection)
- On the EURES (European Employment Services) online network
The job advert must clearly state: the employer’s name, a full job description, the annual salary, the work location, and the number of hours per week.
Warning: The LMNT advertising must reflect the correct salary. If the advert shows the old €34,000 threshold and your contract shows €36,605, DETE may flag this inconsistency. Ensure the advert salary matches or exceeds the current minimum before you start advertising.
Keep records of all adverts, including the dates posted, screenshots of the listings, and logs of any applications received and why they were unsuitable.
When Is the LMNT Not Required?
The LMNT is waived in these situations:
- The role appears on the Critical Skills Occupations List
- The annual salary is €68,911 or above
- The employer has a recommendation from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland (applies to client companies only)
- The applicant was made redundant from a previous valid General Employment Permit within the last 6 months and notified DETE within 4 weeks
- The role involves caring for a person with exceptional medical needs and the foreign national has already been providing that care
Documents Required for a General Employment Permit Application
You’ll need a clean set of documents from both the employee and the employer side. Missing or unclear documents are a frequent cause of delays.
Employee Documents Checklist
- Valid passport (clear copy of photo page and all pages with visa stamps)
- Passport-sized photograph meeting Irish passport photo standards
- Copies of educational qualifications relevant to the role (degree certificates, diplomas, professional registrations)
- Evidence of work experience (reference letters, CV, employment contracts)
- Details of any previous visa permissions or employment in Ireland
- IRP card details (if you are already living in Ireland — the 6-digit GNIB/IRP pin from the back of your card)
Employer Documents Checklist
- Employer Registration Number (ERN) from Revenue
- CRO registration number and company type details
- Full job description (title, detailed duties, location, hours per week)
- Written confirmation that no redundancies occurred in the last 6 months for the same role
- Number of non-EEA nationals currently employed (to verify 50:50 compliance)
- LMNT evidence: screenshots of EURES and Jobs Ireland adverts with dates, records of applications received
- If LMNT is not required: a written explanation of the applicable exemption
The DETE publishes an official General Employment Permit checklist — download it and tick off every item before you submit.
Pro tip: Apply at least 12 weeks before your proposed start date. This is a mandatory requirement built into the EPOS system. Applications submitted fewer than 12 weeks ahead are not accepted.
How to Apply for a General Employment Permit: Step-by-Step
All applications go through the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS), available at epos.enterprise.gov.ie. There are no paper applications.
Step 1: Run the Labour Market Needs Test (allow 5–6 weeks) Start the EURES and Jobs Ireland adverts. They must run for a full 28 consecutive days before you submit your application. Keep screenshots and records.
Step 2: Gather All Documents (allow 1–2 weeks) Use the official DETE checklist to collect and scan all employee and employer documents. Everything is uploaded digitally so scan quality matters.
Step 3: Create EPOS Accounts (1–2 days) Both the employer and employee must create separate accounts on the EPOS portal. An immigration agent may also have a third account. Verify accounts via multi-factor authentication.
Step 4: Complete the Online Application (1–3 days)
Important: Once you start an application in EPOS you have 28 days to submit it. Don’t start until your documents are ready. A lapsed application has to be restarted from scratch.
Fill in all sections — both the employer and employee parts must be complete. You’ll receive a MyWork-ID number to track your application.
Step 5: Upload Documents and Pay (same day as Step 4) Upload all scanned documents and pay the application fee by card within EPOS. For most GEP applications (contracts up to 24 months), the fee is €1,000.
Step 6: Track Your Application Log in to EPOS to check your status. DETE also publishes current processing dates online — check this regularly to see which submission dates are being processed.
If DETE issues a Request for Further Information (RFI), respond within the specified timeframe. Delayed responses extend your processing time significantly.
Step 7: Receive Your Permit and Arrange Entry Once approved, if you’re from a visa-required country (such as India, the Philippines, South Africa), apply for a Long-Stay D employment visa using your approved permit. Visa-exempt nationals can travel to Ireland with the permit directly. On arrival, register with immigration to get your IRP card.
General Employment Permit Costs and Fees
Here’s a full breakdown of what to budget for:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| GEP application fee (contract up to 6 months) | €500 |
| GEP application fee (contract 6–24 months) | €1,000 |
| IRP registration on arrival in Ireland | €300 |
| Irish Long-Stay D visa (if required) | ~€60–€100 |
| Immigration solicitor fees (optional) | €500–€2,000 |
Refund policy: The €1,000 fee is refunded in full if your application is refused. If you withdraw the application yourself before a decision is made, you receive a 90% refund. If your application is refused due to an ineligible occupation or another non-appealable reason, no refund is issued. Always check eligibility before paying.
For the most current fee schedule, see the DETE employment permit fees page.
How Long Does a General Employment Permit Take?
As of May 2026, DETE is processing:
| Application Type | Current Processing Time |
|---|---|
| New General Employment Permit | 9–11 weeks |
| GEP Renewal | 10–11 weeks |
| Critical Skills Employment Permit (new) | 5–6 weeks |
These times apply to fully complete applications. A missing document or an RFI response delay can add several weeks. There is no premium or fast-track processing for General Employment Permits.
DETE updates its processing dates weekly. Check the current application processing dates page for the latest figures before planning your start date.
Pro tip: Submit your application at least 16–20 weeks before your intended start date, not the mandatory 12-week minimum. Given the current 9–11 week processing window, 12 weeks barely leaves any margin for an RFI or a minor document issue.
After Approval: What Happens Next
Register for Your IRP Card
When you arrive in Ireland, register at your local immigration office. In Dublin, this is the Burgh Quay Registration Office. Outside Dublin, it’s your local Garda station. You’ll pay €300 and receive your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card — your proof of legal residence in Ireland.
Bringing Your Family to Ireland
After 12 months of holding your General Employment Permit and working in Ireland, you can apply to bring qualifying family members under Ireland’s Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy. Your spouse, civil partner, and dependent children may be eligible. Family members typically receive Stamp 3 initially, which does not automatically give them the right to work.
Renewing Your Permit
General Employment Permits are issued for a maximum of 2 years. Renewal is for up to 3 additional years. Apply via EPOS, and do so within 16 weeks before your permit expires — not after.
At renewal, the employer must again confirm the 50:50 rule is met and that you’ve been paid the correct salary throughout the permit’s life.
Path to Stamp 4 and Citizenship
After 57 months on a General Employment Permit, you can apply to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) for a Stamp 4 permission. Stamp 4 means you can work in any job in Ireland without a permit — a major milestone.
Doctors working for the HSE or a HSE-funded agency on Stamp 1H qualify for Stamp 4 after just 21 months.
After 5 years of legal residence, you may be eligible to apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation. Time on a valid General Employment Permit counts toward the residency requirement.
Changing Jobs on a General Employment Permit
This is one of the most significant changes introduced by the Employment Permits Act 2024, which came into effect on 2 September 2024.
Since that date, General Employment Permit holders can change to a different employer after 9 months of their first employment, without needing to apply for a brand-new permit. The permit is reissued rather than replaced. However, you must move within the same occupation type — a healthcare assistant can move to another healthcare assistant role, for example, but cannot switch to a completely different occupation.
You cannot start work with your new employer until the reissued permit arrives. Once it is issued, you have 1 month to start with the new employer.
The 2024 Act also permits internal promotion and transfer within the same company, provided you’re using the same skills.
If you are made redundant: Submit the Notification of Redundancy Form to DETE within 4 weeks of your redundancy date. This gives you 6 months to find a new job in Ireland. Failing to notify DETE within 4 weeks means you lose this 6-month grace period.
Common Mistakes That Get General Employment Permit Applications Refused
Using the wrong salary figure. Thousands of applications still reference €34,000 — the pre-March 2026 rate. The current standard minimum is €36,605. If your contract shows a figure below this, you’ll be refused.
Including non-guaranteed pay in the salary. Bonuses, commission, and allowances don’t count. Only guaranteed basic pay counts toward the minimum.
Not checking the Ineligible List first. Applying for a blocked occupation costs you €1,000 and weeks of time. Check the list before anything else.
Running the LMNT too late. The 28-day advertising period must be fully complete before your application is submitted. Many employers start this at the same time as the application — that’s invalid.
Employer failing the 50:50 check. The employer not realising they’re just below the 50% EEA threshold until after refusal. Get legal advice if your employer is borderline.
Missing the EPOS 28-day deadline. Starting an application in the portal and then taking too long to gather documents. The system times out after 28 days and you start over.
Not applying early enough. Submitting fewer than 12 weeks before the start date, or submitting 12 weeks out and assuming that’s enough buffer given current 9–11 week processing times.
Not responding to an RFI promptly. DETE’s Request for Further Information must be responded to within the specified timeframe. Treat any RFI as urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions About General Employment Permit Requirements in Ireland
What is the minimum salary for a General Employment Permit in Ireland in 2026?
The standard minimum is €36,605 per year from 1 March 2026. Some roles (healthcare assistants, home carers, horticulture workers, and meat processing operatives) qualify at a reduced minimum of €32,691 per year. Bonuses and non-guaranteed payments cannot be included in this calculation.
How long does it take to get a General Employment Permit in Ireland?
As of May 2026, new General Employment Permit applications are taking approximately 9 to 11 weeks from the date of receipt of a fully completed application. Renewals are running at a similar pace. Plan accordingly and apply well in advance.
What is the Labour Market Needs Test and do I need one?
The LMNT is a requirement for your employer to advertise the role for at least 28 consecutive days on Jobs Ireland and EURES to show that no suitable EEA candidate was available. Most GEP applications require one. Exemptions apply for Critical Skills Occupations List roles, salaries above €68,911, and a few other specific situations.
Can I change employers while on a General Employment Permit?
Yes, since the Employment Permits Act 2024 came into force on 2 September 2024, you can change employer after 9 months of your first employment — but only within the same occupation type. You cannot start with the new employer until the permit is reissued.
Can my family join me in Ireland on a General Employment Permit?
Yes, after 12 months of holding your permit and working in Ireland. Family members apply separately under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy. They’ll typically receive Stamp 3, which does not give them the right to work.
How much does a General Employment Permit application cost?
The standard fee for a permit valid up to 24 months is €1,000. For contracts of 6 months or less, the fee is €500. The fee is refunded in full if the application is refused. If you withdraw the application before a decision, you receive a 90% refund.
What jobs are ineligible for a General Employment Permit in Ireland?
Ineligible roles include most entry-level hospitality and retail positions, general administrative and clerical roles, domestic work, and most unskilled agricultural and transport roles. Some sectors also have quota restrictions — check the DETE latest updates page before applying.
Do I need an immigration solicitor to apply for a General Employment Permit?
You don’t legally need one. However, if your situation is complex — you’re already in Ireland on a different visa, your employer is a start-up, your role is borderline on the Ineligible List, or you’ve had a previous application refused — professional advice often saves money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes.
Conclusion
Getting the General Employment Permit requirements right in Ireland is absolutely achievable — but the margin for error is small and the process takes more time than most people expect. The key is to start early, use the correct 2026 salary figures, and make sure your employer is compliant before a single document is submitted.
Here’s what to do now:
- Check the Ineligible List — confirm your occupation is eligible at enterprise.gov.ie
- Verify your salary meets the €36,605 minimum (or the relevant exception threshold)
- Ask your employer to start the LMNT — at least 6 weeks before you plan to submit
- Download the official DETE checklist and gather documents in parallel
- Create your EPOS account at epos.enterprise.gov.ie
- Submit at least 16 weeks before your intended start date given current processing times
