What is an Irish Work Permit and How to Get It?

Atomic Answer: What Is An Irish Work Permit And How To Get It? is a critical component of the Canadian immigration framework. As of 2026, applicants navigating this pathway must adhere to the latest IRCC guidelines, ensure all documentation is properly prepared, and meet the specific eligibility requirements. Processing times and exact costs will vary based on individual circumstances.

An Irish work permit is a visa that all citizens of the world, except citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries, must have in order to work legally in Ireland. Depending on the Irish work permit, there are many different ways to obtain an Irish work visa.

Citizens from countries outside the EU and EEA, skilled workers and self-employed individuals must apply for an Irish work visa which will grant them temporary or permanent residence in Ireland.

The requirements for obtaining a work permit in Ireland are listed below.

The employer must be registered in Ireland
At least 50% of the company's employees in Ireland must be European Economic Area (EEA) citizens. This requirement does not apply to start-ups.
The job for which the Irish work visa application is made is not on the “unsuitable employment list”
The annual salary for the position for which the Irish work visa application is made must be at least €30,000. Bonuses and allowances are independent of this amount.

What Documents Are Required for an Ireland Work Visa?

The documents required for an Ireland work visa are listed below.

Ireland work visa application form: The online application form must be filled out on the official website.
Irish work permit: Applicants for an Irish work visa must have a work permit issued by the Irish Immigration Department.
A valid passport: A passport with at least 12 months validity after the date of arrival in Ireland and with the last 2 blank pages
Irish visa photo: 2 Irish visa photos measuring 35 mm wide and 45 mm high with a white background. The photos must not be older than 6 months.
Contact information: Current contact and address information must be included in the documents. Visa fee payment receipt: Receipt showing that the Irish work visa fee has been paid
Letter of intent: A letter of intent and visa request stating that the purpose of travel is work.
Details of previous visas and travel history (if applicable): All approved and rejected visa application details and travel history documents are among the required documents.
Details of previous work experience such as a CV: Documents proving work experience must be included in the visa application file.
Proof of educational qualifications and degrees: Diploma, graduation certificate must be on file.
Proof of sufficient funds: Bank statements and account statements for the previous six months on bank headed paper must be attached to the file and must demonstrate that the applicant can meet all living expenses whilst resident in Ireland without the need for government funds.
Loyalty to Turkey: Documents supporting the return to the country of origin at the end of the Irish work permit and visa period.
Letter from employer in Ireland: A letter containing details of the job in Ireland, salary details, accommodation details should be written by the employer in Ireland and addressed to the relevant authority.
Irish health insurance policy: In Ireland, private health insurance must be taken out with a minimum of €30,000 to cover accidents, illness and hospitalisation.

What Visas Are Available to Work in Ireland?

There are generally two types of Irish work visas issued to people who want to work in Ireland.

Irish work visa for critical skills (Irish skilled work visa)
Ireland general work visa

Ireland general work visas are divided into different categories. Below is a list of visas that can be obtained to work in Ireland:

Ireland Partner/Spouse work visa
Ireland intra-company transfer work visa
Ireland contract service work visa
Work visa for Irish sports and cultural activities
Ireland reactivation work visa
Ireland exchange agreement work visa

Irish critical skills (higher skilled) work permits allow those with critical skills in the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, architecture, healthcare, etc. to apply for an Irish work permit. Critical skills work permit applicants must not be included in the Irish Republic’s list of “occupations not eligible for work permits”.

The list of occupations that are not eligible for Irish work permits can be found at https://enterprise.gov.ie/. Individuals can apply for occupations that are defined by the Irish Government as “highly skilled”. Below is a list of Irish highly skilled occupations.

Natural and Social Sciences (chemists, biologists, biochemists, physicists and medical laboratory scientists);
Engineering;
Information and communication technology (IT and ITC);
Healthcare professions (doctors, dentists, pharmacists, etc.);
Social Services (managers and directors);
Nursing and midwifery;
Academicians with a doctorate degree equivalent;
Those working in the fields of Business Administration, Research and Management;
Architecture (urban planners and surveyors);
Those working in the media field (art director in 2D or 3D animation)
Designing;
Sports and Fitness;
Sales and marketing staff.

The current and full list of highly skilled occupations in Ireland can be found at https://enterprise.gov.ie/en .

There are additional requirements that individuals must meet when applying for an Irish work permit for critical skills. These requirements are listed below:

Individuals included on the Irish highly skilled occupations list must receive an annual salary offer of at least €30,000.
Applicants whose profession is not included in the Irish list of highly skilled occupations must receive an annual salary of at least €60,000.
The employment contract must be at least 2 years.
Individuals must have the skills and attributes appropriate to the job position they are applying for in Ireland.

The general Irish work visa is issued for all other work permits that are not included in the highly skilled occupations list. The general Irish work permit application requirements are listed below:

Must have an annual salary of at least €30,000.
The Irish employer and organisation must be officially registered in Ireland.
At least 50% of the applicant company population must be citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) countries. This condition is not required for newly established companies.
Individuals must be suitable for the position applied for.

What Stamp Should Be Put in Your Passport to Work in Ireland?

Passports of individuals traveling to Ireland are stamped when entering Ireland. These stamps indicate the activities that individuals may undertake in Ireland and the length of their stay.

There are 9 different types of stamps that citizens visiting the Republic of Ireland have in their passports. Each stamp has a different meaning. Below is a list of the types of Irish passport stamps that the Republic of Ireland has in its passports .

Stamp 0
Stamp 1
Stamp 1A
Stamp 1G
Stamp 2 (2A)
Stamp 3
Stamp 4
Stamp 4S
Stamp 5
Stamp 6

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 1 Visa?

Stamp 1 is issued to individuals who wish to work full-time or set up a business in Ireland. In order to obtain the Stamp 1 stamp, the employer in Ireland must provide an Irish work permit for the employee moving from Turkey.

Individuals who do not have an Irish work permit cannot legally work in Ireland unless they have a letter or special permission from INIS (Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service). In order to be eligible for the Irish Stamp 1 stamp, individuals must also have private Irish health insurance before entering the country.

Below is a list of what individuals can do in Ireland under the Irish Stamp 1 visa.

Can participate in investor and entrepreneur programs
Can set up a private business
They can work for an employer who holds Irish citizenship or permanent residence and is a registered organisation.

In order to be granted a work permit in Ireland with a Stamp 1 visa, a job offer letter must be received from a company or employer that pays at least €30,000 per year. The Stamp 1 visa application fee is €1000. In the event of rejection or withdrawal of the Irish Stamp 1 visa application, €900 is refunded to the applicant.

Individuals entering Ireland with a Stamp 1 visa must work for at least 1 year in the company they have received a job offer from. The Irish Stamp 1 visa is issued for 2 years. There is no extension application for the Stamp 1 visa, but individuals who meet the necessary conditions and need to reside in Ireland for a longer period have the right to apply for a Stamp 4 visa before the visa expires.

Stamp 1 visa holders cannot work in Ireland for less than 12 months.

The processing of Irish Stamp 1 visa applications may take 1-2 months due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 1A Visa?

The Irish Stamp 1A visa is issued to individuals who will attend full-time and paid accounting training in Ireland for a certain period of time. Individuals cannot work or engage in any other trade in Ireland with a Stamp 1A visa unless it is stated in the INIS permission letter that an application is made for a different scope.

There are 3 approved institutions providing accounting education in Ireland under the Stamp 1A visa. These institutions are listed below:

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants Ireland (CPA)
The Association of Chartered Accountants Ireland (ACI)
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Ireland (ACCA)

The Stamp 1A visa allows individuals to reside in Ireland for a maximum of 4 years. It is possible to renew an Irish Stamp 1A visa. Registration must be renewed by going to the immigration office in Ireland at least 2 weeks before the visa expires.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 1G Visa?

There are two different ways to obtain a work permit in Ireland with a Stamp 1G visa.

The Irish Stamp 1G visa provides individuals who have graduated from a third-level postgraduate programme in Ireland with permission to work after their studies.
Stamp 1G is required to ensure that the spouse or partner of an Irish critical skills work visa holder is allowed to work in Ireland.

Individuals who have graduated from a third-level postgraduate programme under the Irish Stamp 1G visa can work full-time in the country, but are not allowed to set up or run their own business. A Stamp 1G permit obtained as part of a postgraduate degree does not allow individuals to be self-employed.

From 6 March 2019, the Stamp 1G visa also provides work permits for spouses and de facto partners of highly skilled workers who are resident in Ireland. Individuals are employed in the country under a Hosting Agreement with a Stamp 1G visa. The conditions of the Irish Hosting Agreement are set out below:

You have the right to work without having an Irish work permit.
It is not permitted to open a business or operate a workplace in Ireland.
Self-employment is not permitted in Ireland.
Stamp 1G registration must be renewed annually. It can be extended for a maximum of 5 years.
Periods spent in Ireland under Stamp 1G are considered a calculable period of stay for the purposes of applying for Irish citizenship.

The Stamp 1G visa allows individuals to reside and work full-time in Ireland for 2 years. The conditions for the Stamp 1G permit are the same as Stamp 2 and Stamp 2A.

The Irish Stamp 1G visa can be extended for up to 5 years. However, after the Stamp 1G visa extension period has expired, it is necessary to apply for Stamp 1, Stamp 4 or Irish citizenship.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 2 Visa?

To obtain permission to work in Ireland with a Stamp 2 visa, individuals must enroll in full-time courses listed in the “Eligible Programmes” list at http://www.inis.gov.ie/ . To apply for a Stamp 2 visa, you must apply to study at a certified language school, university or institute of technology in Ireland.

Within the scope of the Irish Stamp 2 visa, individuals are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the course period. During the holidays, the Irish work permit period increases to 40 hours per week. However, individuals are not allowed to work or engage in business anywhere outside of the course program applied for under Stamp 2.

The Stamp 2 visa is initially issued for 2 years. Individuals have the right to renew their Stamp 2 visa every year during their studies in Ireland. Individuals entering the country under the Irish Stamp 2 visa cannot receive any assistance and cannot apply for state funds. They also cannot benefit from services provided by the state (going to public hospitals etc.). In other words, after residing in Ireland with a Stamp 2 visa, individuals do not have the right to apply for citizenship with this period of residence.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 2A Visa?

The Irish Stamp 2A visa is issued for courses and training that are not listed on the eligible programmes at http://www.inis.gov.ie/ . Individuals entering Ireland under a Stamp 2A visa are responsible for all tuition and living expenses.

The requirements for obtaining a Stamp 2A visa and a work permit in Ireland are listed below. Studying at universities or colleges in Ireland.
Studying at a private secondary school in Ireland.

Applicants for a Stamp 2A visa cannot apply for any aid or government funding and cannot benefit from the free education, healthcare etc. provided by the Irish State. The Stamp 2A visa, like the Stamp 2, is not included in the period of residence in Irish citizenship applications.

Individuals studying at university level under the Irish Stamp 2A visa are allowed to work for 20 hours per week, which is increased to 40 hours per week during holidays. Students are prohibited from working outside of their designated working hours in Ireland. Individuals studying at a university in Ireland are not allowed to be self-employed or enter into a business.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 4 Visa?

The Irish Stamp 4 visa is the most comprehensive visa type granted to individuals to work and set up a business in Ireland. The rights of individuals in Ireland under the Stamp 4 visa are set out below.

People can start a business without having an Irish work permit
Individuals may work in any occupation in Ireland, subject to their own occupation or the conditions of other organisations.
Start and run a business in Ireland
Access state funds and services as determined by Irish government agencies
You can apply for a Stamp 4 visa extension to continue to reside in Ireland after the expiry date of your Irish immigration permit.

The period of residence in Ireland with a Stamp 4 visa is considered within the period of residence determined in Irish citizenship applications.

Listed below are individuals who can apply for an Irish Stamp 4 visa:

2 year Irish critical skills work permit holders
5 year Irish general work permit holders
2-year - Stamp 1G visa holders with a valid Hosting Agreement
Individuals joining their Irish spouse/partner
Individuals who are joining a family member living in Ireland as an EU, EEA or Swiss national under EU Treaty rights
People joining a family member who has immigration permission in Ireland
Individuals who will reside in Ireland with their child who is an Irish citizen
Individuals who will reside in Ireland under the investor and entrepreneur programmes
Persons requiring long-term residence in Ireland
Asylum seekers in Ireland based on a treaty or protected status
The Irish Stamp 4 visa allows individuals to work full-time in any job in Ireland without any restrictions. An Irish Stamp 4 holder can work in permanent or temporary employment, be self-employed and enter into business.

How to Extend Stamp 4 Visa for Ireland Work Permit?

It is necessary to start the Stamp 4 visa extension process for the Irish work permit by going to the immigration office or registration office in Ireland at least 2 weeks before the visa expires.

Individuals living in Dublin must make an Irish Stamp 4 visa extension appointment at the Burgh Quay Registration Office via https://burghquayregistrationoffice.inis.gov.ie to extend their Stamp 4 visa. The Irish Stamp 4 visa extension appointment must be made at least 10 weeks before the expiry of the Irish visa.

Individuals living in cities other than Dublin must apply for a Stamp 4 visa extension by going to their nearest registration office. A list of registration offices in Ireland can be found at http://www.inis.gov.ie/ .

For Stamp 4 visa extension applications, the following documents must be submitted to the registration office.

Passport
Current Irish Residence Permit
Proof of Irish private health insurance
Proof of financial responsibilities in Ireland

There is a €300 application fee for Irish Stamp 4 visa renewal and extension. Once the extension is approved, a new Stamp 4 stamp is stamped in the applicant's passport.

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 5 Visa?

The Irish Stamp 5 visa is a permit that allows individuals to live and work in Ireland without any time limitation. In Irish citizenship applications, the period spent in the country with a Stamp 5 visa is considered as part of the required period of residence.

Stamp 5, which grants the right to live in Ireland indefinitely and unconditionally, is stamped in the passport of individuals who have completed 8 years (96 months) of legal residence in the country. Stamp 5 allows the passport holder to reside in Ireland indefinitely.

For Stamp 0, Stamp 2, Stamp 2A and Stamp 1A visas, the period of residence in Ireland is not counted towards the 96 months required to obtain unlimited residence.

Individuals holding a Stamp 5 visa have the right to work in their own profession, self-employment and business in Ireland. The Stamp 5 visa also grants the holder indefinite leave to remain in Ireland .

How to Get a Work Permit in Ireland with a Stamp 6 Visa?

The Stamp 6 visa shows that an individual is an Irish citizen with dual nationality. To be eligible for a Stamp 6 visa, an individual must hold an Irish passport. Dual citizens who hold a current and valid Irish passport should contact INIS to have a Stamp 6 stamp placed on their other passport.

The process for individuals to obtain a Stamp 6 visa varies depending on how they acquired Irish citizenship .

Stamp 6 holders have the unrestricted right to live and work in Ireland as Irish citizens. Stamp 6 visa holders can practice the professions they have a degree in, set up a new business or manage a business and enter into trade.

How Do I Find Out If I Have a Work Permit in Ireland?

In order to obtain a work permit in Ireland, individuals must first be accepted for a job in Ireland. Once accepted for a job, INIS will send individuals a letter containing the documents they need to provide before travelling to Ireland. This letter is a guide to the process of obtaining a work permit in Ireland.

Apart from individuals with the stamps mentioned above, individuals can be granted a work permit in Ireland provided that a separate approval is given by INIS regarding the Irish work permit.

How Much Does an Ireland Work Visa Cost?

Ireland work visa fees are charged in 2 different ways: multiple entry and single entry. The Ireland work visa fee for 2021 is given below.

Service	Single Entry Visa	Multiple Entry Visa
Visa Fee	60 EUR	100 EUR
Form & petition	20 EUR	20 EUR
Meeting	5 EUR	5 EUR
Travel Health Insurance	10 EUR	10 EUR
Agency Service	70 EUR	90 EUR
Biometrics Operations	22 EUR	22 EUR
Total	187 EUR	247 EUR

If your Irish visa application is rejected, there will be no refund of any visa or processing fees.

Ireland visa fees must be paid in cash to the intermediary institution. In Ireland visa applications made with rsscanadaimmigration.com, visa fees are paid to the intermediary institution on behalf of the applicant.

With the consultancy of rsscanadaimmigration.com, 94.8% of the Irish work visa applications made between 2016 and 2020 were successful.

How to Apply for an Irish Work Permit?

In order to apply for an Irish work permit, individuals must have received a job offer from a registered company or institution in Ireland in a suitable position. Individuals must apply for an Irish work visa within the scope of the job offer they receive from companies in Ireland and the employment contract they have signed.

There are certain documents that individuals need to provide when applying for an Irish work visa. The list of these documents is given below:

Ireland work visa online application form: The online application form must be filled out on the official website.
Passport: A valid passport with at least 12 months validity after the date of arrival in Ireland and with the last 2 blank pages
Biometric photo: 2 Irish visa photos measuring 35 mm wide and 45 mm high with a white background. The photos must not be older than 6 months.
Contact and address information
Receipt showing that the Irish work visa fee has been paid
A letter of intent and visa request that briefly explains the purpose of travel.
Details of previous visas and travel history, if any: All approved and rejected visa application details and travel history documents must be included in the required documentation. Failure to include previous visa refusals in the application file may result in the refusal of an Irish visa.
Details of past work experience: Documents proving the individuals' past work places, institutions and work experience must be included in the visa application file.
Proof of educational qualifications and degrees: Diplomas and graduation certificates must be included in the visa application file.
Proof of sufficient funds to live in Ireland: Bank statements and account statements for the previous six months, usually on bank letterhead, must be attached to the file and must demonstrate that the applicant can meet all living expenses without the need for government funds while resident in Ireland.
Evidence of return to country of origin at the end of the Irish work permit and visa period: Intention to return must be proven by the individuals' employment, family information, assets and investments in their country of origin.
Letter from employer in Ireland: A letter containing details of the job, salary to be paid, accommodation details must be written by the employer in Ireland and addressed to the relevant authority.
Health insurance policy: In Ireland, private health insurance of at least €30,000 is required to cover accidents, illnesses and hospitalisations.

What Professions Are Accepted to Work in Ireland?

The professions accepted for work in Ireland are generally known as “highly skilled occupations”. With the developing technology, those working in the fields of software, IT and computer programming in Ireland are considered to be in demand for Ireland.

Ireland, which hosts many multinational companies in the field of technology such as Apple, Google, Ebay, Paypal, Dell, Intel, Microsoft, Pfizer, Facebook, also offers job opportunities to citizens of many different countries in the fields of aviation, food, advertising and health.

Below are some of the occupations with labour shortages in the Irish economy:

Business and finance professionals: Accountants, financial advisors
Engineers: Especially biomedical, computer, chemical, electrical and energy engineers
Those working in the field of computer technologies: Application and software developers, programmers, data analysts
Healthcare workers: Doctors, nurses, dentists
People working in the field of Transportation and Logistics: Drivers, logistics operations officers

There are also certain occupational groups that are not accepted for work in Ireland. For occupational groups that do not have a workforce shortage and have sufficient workers in the country, work applications to Ireland cannot be made. Individuals who will apply for an Irish work visa must first determine their professional suitability. Occupational groups that are not suitable for Irish work permits are listed at https://enterprise.gov.ie/ .

What Are Working Conditions Like in Ireland?

Working conditions in Ireland are better than many European and World countries. The minimum hourly wage in the Republic of Ireland is set at €10.20 for 2021.

The average monthly net income for a working individual in Ireland is €3069.

The minimum wage in Ireland has been set at €1723.8 per month and €20,686 per year in 2021. The minimum wage, which was €1706.9 per month in 2020, has been increased by €16.9 this year, increasing it by 0.99%.

In Ireland, an employee must not work more than 48 hours per week. The average weekly working hours for employees in Ireland are set at 40 hours.

Within the scope of Irish working conditions, workers’ rights are also given great importance. With the Employment Equality Act, which was passed in 1998, all legal rights of employees were protected. According to this law, all employees are equal regardless of marital status, language, religion, race, orientation, gender, or belief, and discrimination is a crime. In addition, the rights of employees are protected in cases such as mobbing, violence, and harassment in the workplace. Employers are responsible for ensuring the safety of their employees.

How Do I Find a Job in Ireland?

Ireland is home to many multinational companies. Many companies post job postings on their websites for their existing branches in Ireland. Companies such as Apple, Google, Paypal, and Ebay have their own career pages. You can apply for a job in Ireland by following the postings on these pages.

There are also many job search websites designed to find jobs in Ireland. Employers in Ireland post job advertisements online for vacant positions in the country. Individuals can apply for a job by contacting employers in Ireland to find the most suitable positions for them. Some of the Irish job search websites are listed below:

What are the penalties for working illegally in Ireland?

The penalty for working illegally in Ireland is usually the loss of the worker's job in Ireland and deportation from Ireland. However, in Ireland, employers who employ illegal workers can be subject to fines and, if necessary, imprisonment. Working illegally in Ireland is a crime for both the employee and the employer.

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