Critical Skills Employment Permit
Who it's for: Highly skilled people with a job offer in Ireland; the permit aims to encourage them to settle permanently.
Information, not immigration advice. This page summarises what the government publishes. Confirm every figure on the official page before you pay or apply.
Last checked 1 Nov 2026
Requirements at a glance
- Job offer needed: Yes
- Minimum education: Bachelor's degree
- Main fee: €1,000
- Salary threshold: €40,904
- Family can join: Yes
- Can lead to permanent residence: Possible
- Decision time: Official processing-time tool
Figures and costs
| Item | Amount | In your currency | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main fee | €1,000 | — | enterprise.gov.ieOfficial · 1 Nov 2026 |
| Salary threshold | €40,904 | — | enterprise.gov.ieOfficial · 1 Nov 2026 |
Figures marked check could not be confirmed on a live official page, or come from a secondary source.
What the official pages say
7 points recorded from official pages. Open a point to see the official wording.
Job offer neededYesOfficial wording
“The prospective employee concerned must have secured a 2-year job offer in respect of the eligible occupation from the prospective employer.”
Minimum educationBachelor's degreeOfficial wording
“Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €40,904 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required.”
Main fee€1,000Official wording
“The processing fee for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is €1,000.”
Salary threshold€40,904Official wording
“Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €40,904 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required.”
Family can joinYesOfficial wording
“Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification from the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD)”
Can lead to permanent residencePossibleOfficial wording
“On achieving 60 months residency permission, Critical Skills Employment Permit or Green Card Employment Permit holders will then be permitted to make an application for long term residence”
Decision timeOfficial processing-time tool ↗Official wording
“applicants can keep track of our current processing dates”
We have not yet recorded: Study place needed; Work experience; Language; Age limit; Money to show; Occupation list. That does not mean there is no rule — confirm on the official page. Official page.
Other work with a sponsor routes in Ireland
All visa types in Ireland
Every visa type we have listed, grouped by purpose, with links to the official pages.
Ireland visa typesBefore you pay anyone
- Nobody can guarantee a visa. Only the government of the country you apply to decides.
- UK employers must not charge you for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
- German missions say you don't need an agent to get a visa appointment.
- Check any adviser or recruitment agent on an official register before you pay.