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Critical Skills Employment Permit

Employment

The premium work route, for occupations on the critical skills list. It allows family to join immediately and leads to unrestricted permission after two years rather than five.

Who it is for. People with a job offer in an occupation on the critical skills list.

Researched, not independently verifiedlow confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026

Worth knowing. Salary thresholds for employment permits have been raised in stages since 2024 and differ between the critical skills and general permit types, and by occupation. Confirm the figure in force with the Department of Enterprise before relying on it.

Fact
Income required
€38,000

a year

Savings required
Not stated
Investment required
None
Application fee
€1,000
Processing time
30–120 days
Permission lasts
24 months

Renewable

Permanent residence
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 5 years
Remote work not coveredLocal employment allowedFamily can joinInsurance required
Apply through the authority, not through us: www.irishimmigration.ie (opens in a new tab)

Sources

Researched, not independently verifiedlow confidenceReviewed 20 September 2026

Worth knowing. Salary thresholds for employment permits have been raised in stages since 2024 and differ between the critical skills and general permit types, and by occupation. Confirm the figure in force with the Department of Enterprise before relying on it.

Check this against

Reference dataset, compiled 20 September 2026. This is a compiled reference dataset. Every figure is drawn from official material and cited, but no record has been signed off by a named editor working through the review console, so nothing here is marked verified. Immigration rules change without notice and consulates apply them differently. Check the linked authority before you act on anything. This site is not legal advice.