How To Get Critical Skills Visa In Ireland

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is a new and different immigration permit, which has been introduced to address the skills gaps in the Irish workforce. The Critical Skills Employment Permit intends to attract highly-skilled and specialised workers, who can fill the positions that cannot be filled by the labour force in Ireland. To apply for Critical Skills Visa in Ireland, you must meet essential criteria and include all supporting documentation. The main purpose is that this new immigration permit, Critical Skills Employment Permit will allow companies to recruit highly-skilled workers from outside of the European Union.

Ireland has always been a very inviting land to live in. The people are friendly, the cities are very developed and yes, it’s just a great country. Ireland has always been a popular destination for any English immigrant because of the friendly locals and their welcoming nature. It therefore comes as no surprise that Ireland has attracted many foreign nationals to become residents. There has always been a lot of competition for any Critical Skills visa in Ireland because such a big number of countries rely on the Irish economy. This is because the economy provides employment to both skilled and unskilled workers from all around the world. The intention of this guide is to give you an expert advice on how to obtain your Critical Skills visa in Ireland without running into too much trouble or losing hope when the conditions seem insurmountable.

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How To Get Critical Skills Visa In Ireland

If you have a degree in any discipline, you might wonder whether you can apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland. The Critical Skills Employment Permit program was designed to bring highly skilled individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to work with an organization that is a client of the recruitment firm. The aim of this “‘fast-track’ employment permit is to attract foreign workers who are deemed to have skills absolutely essential to Ireland’s economic needs”.

In the ever changing and highly competitive world, Immigration is one of the important terms that are taken into consideration by people. Some of the countries are adopting immigrant friendly policies to ensure that they get these skilled workers in order to make their economy stronger. Ireland is one such place where highly skilled workers are given good perks and facilities as these professionals work hard to contribute towards the economy of Ireland.

What Is A Critical Skills Visa

If you are from a country that is outside the European Economic Area (the EU, plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein), the UK or Switzerland, you need permission to work in Ireland. In most cases, this means you have to apply for an employment permit.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is for skilled workers who are qualified in professions where there is a shortage of skills in Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has a Critical Skills Occupation List.

The Irish Critical Skills Employment Permit is a job-offer based work permit which allows immigrants to work in Ireland in a role that pays at least €60,000 per year; or at least €30,000 per year if the job is on Ireland’s Highly Skilled Occupations List. Either the worker or the employer can apply for this visa.

Length of stay

Ireland’s Critical Skills Employment Permit is issued for a period of 2 years. After this period immigrants may apply for a Stamp 4, which allows them to live and work in Ireland on a permanent basis.

Job offer

The migrant worker must have an existing job offer in Ireland before applying for this visa, and must have all the appropriate skills, experience, and qualifications for the role. The employment contract must state that the permit holder will be employed for a minimum of 2 years.

Either the worker or the employer can apply for this visa. If the employer applies then they must plan to employ and pay the migrant worker directly; meaning employment agencies and the like cannot apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Labour Market Needs Test

Jobs offered to migrants through the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme are not subject to the Labour Market Needs Test.

Minimum salary

Jobs offered to migrants through the Critical Skills Employment Permit scheme must pay a minimum of either:

• €60,000 per year (in most cases), OR; 
• €30,000 per year 

You apply for it before you come to Ireland in most cases. You may also need to apply for a visa to come to Ireland.

Once you have arrived in Ireland, you have to register and get an Irish Residence Permit.

There are other types of employment permit issued by DETE.

Critical Skills Work Permit Ireland

Who is eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit?

You (or the employer) can apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit if you are offered a job that has either:

• An annual salary of at least €32,000 a year in an occupation that is on the Critical Skills Occupation List
• An annual salary of €64,000 a year in an occupation that is not on the list of ineligible occupations

You cannot get a permit to work for a company where more than 50% of the employees are non-EEA nationals. This requirement may be waived in the case of start-up companies which are supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.

You must apply for the permit before you come to Ireland. If you already live in Ireland and have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with stamp 1, 1G, 2, 2A or 3 permission, you can apply for the permit if you satisfy the criteria.

Qualifications

You must have the relevant qualifications, skills and experience needed for the job.

For eligible jobs in the €32,000 or more salary range you must have a degree or higher qualification.

For eligible jobs with an annual salary of €64,000 or over, you must have a degree or equivalent experience.

For nurses and midwives, you must have a qualification that is recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for registration to work in Ireland.

Job offer

You must have a job offer from a company or employer who is registered with Revenue, trading in Ireland and registered with the Companies Registration Office.

You must be directly employed and paid by your employer in Ireland. Job offers from recruitment agencies and other intermediaries are not acceptable for this permit.

The job offer must be for 2 years or more.

Labour market needs test

A labour market needs test is not required for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. This means that the employer does not need to advertise the job with the Department of Social Protection, European Employment Service (EURES) or in newspapers.

Coming to Ireland for a job interview

If you have been invited to come to Ireland for an interview for a job on the Critical Skills Occupations List, you can apply for a Highly Skilled Job Interview Authorisation. This allows you to remain in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days.

Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit Requirements

How to apply

Either you or the employer can apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit to the Employment Permits Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

You apply online with the required documentation, using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). You can use the Critical Skills Employment Permit checklist to help you apply.

Either you or your employer must pay a fee of €1,000. If your application is refused you will get 90% of your application fee back.

After you have applied

The application processing times are on the Department’s website. If your application is refused, you must be given the specific reasons it was refused. You can appeal this decision within 28 days, using the form to submit a decision for review.

Immigration and registration

If your application is successful and you live outside of Ireland, you still have to apply for a visa to enter Ireland if you are from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Ireland. You must present your employment permit to the immigration officer in the airport or port of entry to Ireland.

You must register with your local registration office in the area where you intend to live when you arrive in Ireland. Once you are registered, you will get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

If you are already living in Ireland on another immigration permission, you must go to your local registration office to change your registration permission.

Your Family

People who have a Critical Skills Employment Permit can bring their family to live with them in Ireland.

Family are from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Ireland: they must all apply for separate visas.

Family are from a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland: they must show proof that they are the family members of a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder to an immigration officer in the airport or port where they enter Ireland.

Preclearance for de-facto partners

A de-facto partner is someone who you are in a committed relationship with that is like a marriage, but you are not married to each other. If your de-facto partner is joining you in Ireland, they must apply for either:

• A visa if they are from a country whose citizens need a visa to enter Ireland
• Preclearance if they are from a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland

Your children must also apply the same way as your de-facto partner.

Registration and work

Your spouse or de-facto partner and any child aged 16 and over must register and get an IRP.

Your spouse or partner can get a Stamp 1G IRP which gives them the right to work without a work permit. Other family members can apply for a Dependent/Spouse/Partner Employment Permit.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Applying for a Stamp 4 after two years

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is issued for 2 years. After this, you can get a Stamp 4 permission to live and work in Ireland without an employment permit.

You must complete a request form to get a support letter from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment confirming your current employment. You apply by emailing the completed form to EPStamp4@enterprise.gov.ie. The decision on your application will be sent to you by email.

You then register with your local immigration officer – see above. You must have the following documents with you:

• Your passport
• Your Certificate of Registration (IRP card)
• Your Critical Skills Employment Permit
• A letter from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment confirming your continuing employment

If you are granted a Stamp 4 permission, it will be issued for 2 years and can be renewed provided you continue to satisfy the criteria. When you have been legally resident for 5 years, you can apply for citizenship by naturalisation.

If you are not eligible for a Stamp 4, you may be issued with a Stamp 1 and you will continue to need an employment permit to work in Ireland.

Changing or Losing Your Job

Changing your job

If this is your first employment permit in Ireland then you must stay with your employer for 12 months (unless there are exceptional circumstances). After that, you can change employer if you make a new application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

If you qualify for a Stamp 4 after two years, you can change jobs without needing to apply for an employment permit.

Losing your job

If you are made redundant you should notify the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation using the redundancy notification form within 28 days of dismissal. The Department will allow you 6 months to find another job. When you find another job, you can apply for a new Critical Skills Employment Permit even if the job is now in one of the ineligible categories.

You must contact your local immigration registration office to confirm your immigration status. If you have more than 6 months before your immigration permission expires, you can reside in Ireland for 6 months. If you have less than 6 months’ immigration permission you can have your immigration permission extended to 6 months which means you will have to pay for a new IRP. If you have not found a new job after 6 months you may have to leave Ireland.

If you then get an offer of employment in Ireland, you can apply for a new employment permit.

Fee

The fee for a Critical Skills Employment Permit must be paid by the applicant. The applicant can be the employer, the employee, a connected person or contractor, or an authorised agent. Payments from businesses are made by electronic fund transfer (EFT).

Permit	Fee	Duration
New	€1,000	Up to 2 years

If an application is refused or withdrawn, 90% of the fee will be refunded to the applicant.

The fee for registering with immigration and getting an IRP is €300.

You can read more about fees for employment permits on enterprise.gov.ie.

Where to apply

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Employment Permits Section

• Earlsfort Centre
• Lower Hatch Street
• Dublin 2
• D02 PW01
• Ireland

Opening Hours: Helpline only: Monday to Friday 9:30am – 5pm

• Tel: +353 1 417 5333
• Locall: 0818 808 090
• Fax: +353 1 631 3268
• Homepage: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/
• Contact Form: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/employment-permit-status-form/
• Email: employmentpermits@enterprise.gov.ie