Critical Skills Employment Permit
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Critical Skills Employment Permit
The Critical Skills Employment Permit in Ireland is aimed at attracting highly skilled workers for roles crucial to the economy. To qualify, you need a job offer in a designated occupation with a minimum salary of €38,000 or €64,000 for certain high-demand roles.
- Benefits include:
- No need for a Labour Market Needs Test as skills are in short supply.
- Immediate family reunification.
- Fast track to residency, the ability to apply for a Stamp 4 after 21 months allowing you to live and work in Ireland without a permit.
- The permit is issued for at least 2 years and covers sectors like ICT, Professional Engineers, and healthcare. Check to see if your skills are set out on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
We have obtained many Critical Skills Employment Permits for the following type of roles:
- Mechanical Engineers
- Process Engineers
- Web Developers
- Chartered Accountants
- Architects
- Chemical Scientists
- Electrical Engineers
- IT Business Analysts
- Software Developers
- Data Analytics Professionals
- Quantity Surveyors
- ICT Professionals
Full Criteria for Eligibility for a Critical Skills Permit
- Employer Requirements:
- Must be a bona fide employer based and trading in Ireland.
- Registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, where applicable, the Companies Registration Office/Register of Friendly Societies.
- Eligibility:
Occupation & Remuneration:
Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €38,000, for strategically important roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List. Requires a relevant degree qualification or higher.
- Nurses or midwives must have a third-level degree or diploma accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
- All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration over €64,000, excluding those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or contrary to public interest. Non-EEA nationals without a degree must have the necessary level of experience.
- Job Offer:
- The prospective employee must have secured a 2-year job offer from the employer.
- Qualifications & Experience:
- The prospective employee must possess the necessary qualifications, skills, and experience required for the job.
- Company Composition:
- 50% or more of the firm’s employees must be EEA nationals at the time of application. This requirement may be waived for start-up companies within 2 years of establishment, supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.
Renewals
- Renewal Process:
- Holders of a Critical Skills Employment Permit and an immigration registration card expiring soon do not need to apply for a renewal permit through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
- Instead, they can apply directly to the Department of Justice for a Stamp 4, eliminating the need for a support letter from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment as of 30th November 2023
- Stamp 4 Eligibility
- Applicants must have complied with their previous immigration and employment permit conditions and be of good character.
- They will be granted immigration permission allowing them to reside and work in the State without needing a further employment permit.
- This permission, issued by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, is valid for 2 years and renewable if criteria on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website are met.
- Long-Term Residence
- After 60 months of residency, Critical Skills Employment Permit or Green Card Employment Permit holders can apply for long-term residence, with details available on irishimmigration.ie
- Stamp 1 Issuance
- If the qualifying criteria are not met, individuals will be issued a Stamp 1 by the Garda National Immigration Bureau and will still need an employment permit to work in the State