Can I get a General Employment Permit? Usually yes, if you have a job offer in Ireland paying at least €36,605 a year, the job isn't on the Ineligible List of Occupations, and the employer has advertised it through the Labour Market Needs Test (unless an exemption applies). Not sure? Get a free assessment and we'll tell you.
Who it’s for
The General Employment Permit covers far more jobs than any other permit. Every occupation is eligible unless it’s on the Department’s Ineligible List of Occupations, and jobs on the Critical Skills Occupations List can also use it. See our guide to the Ineligible List for the jobs that can’t qualify and the many exceptions, such as experienced chefs and HGV drivers.
You need a job offer from an employer that is registered with Revenue (and with the Companies Registration Office, where that applies) and is trading in Ireland. You must be employed and paid directly by that employer, and have the qualifications, skills or experience the job needs. Either you or your employer can apply, and the permit is issued to you.
Minimum salary
| Situation | Minimum a year |
|---|---|
| Most jobs | €36,605 |
| You have a relevant degree from an Irish third-level college, awarded in the last 12 months | €34,009 |
| Horticulture worker, meat processor operative, healthcare assistant, home support worker | €32,691 |
Only basic salary and qualifying health insurance payments count towards the threshold.
The Labour Market Needs Test
In most cases the employer must first show that the job couldn’t be filled from within the EEA. The job is advertised on the Department of Social Protection’s JobsIreland/EURES service and on at least one other online jobs platform, both for 28 days in a row. The adverts must give the job description, the employer’s name, the minimum annual pay, the location and the hours. The permit application then has to be made within 90 days.
The test isn’t needed where:
- the job is on the Critical Skills Occupations List;
- the salary is €68,911 or more;
- Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland recommends the job for one of their client companies;
- the applicant has been caring for someone with exceptional medical needs who now depends highly on them;
- the applicant held a General Employment Permit and was made redundant in the last six months, and told the Department within four weeks.
The 50:50 rule
When you apply, at least half of the employer’s staff must be EEA nationals. There are two exceptions: start-ups registered as an employer in the last two years with a letter of support from Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland, and employers with no staff yet, where the permit holder will be the only employee.
How long it takes
The Department deals with applications in date order. On 30 October 2026 it was working on new General Employment Permit applications received on 24 September 2026, about five weeks earlier, and on renewals received on 15 August 2026. See our processing times page, updated twice a week, for today’s position. Add the 28 days of advertising for the Labour Market Needs Test when you plan a start date. Applications go through the Employment Permits Online portal.
How long it lasts, and the fees
The first permit is issued for up to two years and can be renewed for up to three more. A renewal can be applied for in the four months before the permit expires.
| Government fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New permit, 6 months or less | €500 |
| New permit, over 6 months (up to 2 years) | €1,000 |
| Renewal, 6 months or less | €750 |
| Renewal, over 6 months (up to 3 years) | €1,500 |
If an application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded. An employer can’t deduct the fee from your pay.
Changing employer
You’re normally expected to stay with your first employer for nine months. After that you can change employer, as long as the new job is in the same type of occupation and your current permit has at least two months left to run. The new job can’t start until the permit has been reissued. Earlier moves are only possible in exceptional cases, such as redundancy.
Family
Spouses, partners and children of General Employment Permit holders can apply to join them through Immigration Service Delivery, but the permit holder must meet income requirements: for a spouse or partner, gross income above €30,000 in the previous year. These rules were updated on 12 June 2026. Family members aren’t eligible for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit and need their own permit to work.
Moving to Stamp 4
After 57 months (four years and nine months) working in Ireland on General Employment Permits, you can apply to move to Stamp 4, which lets you work without a permit. Time on a General Employment Permit can’t be combined with time on a Critical Skills permit to reach the 21-month route. See our Stamp 4 guide for how to apply. If you’ve been with the same employer for five years, a permit renewal can be issued with no end date and no fee.