By the IRISH TIMES report, Ireland issued about 16,838 critical skills employment permit in 2019. Attracting foreign employees has risen in recent years. Ireland needs more skilled workers attracted through Critical Skills Employment Permit. Considering a workforce shortage in Ireland, critical skills is a good way to move to Ireland.
In this blog, we will explain who is eligible for Critical skills permit, requirements, application process, FAQs, and more.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhat is Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit?
The Skills Employment Permit is the authorization for skilled foreign workers to work in Ireland. It got introduced to answer a highly-skilled workforce shortage in Ireland. Applicants have to have a job offer from an Irish employer to apply for an employment permit. There are some requirements for both employer and employee.
Get the FREE Cheat sheet for
Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit
Who is Eligible for Critical Skills Employment Permit?
You have to meet eligibility criteria to apply for the Skills Employment Permit.
Applicants must have high skill in the following fields:
- Sales and marketing
- Sports and Fitness
- Design
- Artistic, Literary and Media
- Media
- Quality and Regulatory
- Architecture
- Business, Research, and Administration
- Teaching and Education
- Health Associate
- Orthoptics
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Health and Social Services (Including Directors and Managers)
- Health
- ICT (Information and communications technology)
- Engineering
- Natural and Social Science. This field includes:
- medical laboratory scientists
- physicists
- biochemists
- physicists
- chemists
Note: The Irish officials added mechanical and electrical engineers to the list. It became in effect since 1 January 2020.
You could find the complete list of jobs in the Skills Employment Permit on the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI) website.
There are other features in addition to the skilled list of jobs:
Video description
list of ineligible occupations.
Employment Permits Online System website.
The Employment Permits Section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment.
The Department of enterprise, trade, and employment checklist of supporting documents.
Processing dates.
Submission of a Decision for Review Form.
List of Ireland embassies and consulates
Countries that need and do not need a visa to enter Ireland.
Salary
The job offer in Ireland must meet the payment eligibility:
- The least required payment for the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List is 32.000 EUR annually.
- 80.000 EUR Uannually) is the least required payment for the jobs, not on the Skilled eligible list.
Work contract
The length of the work contract between an Irish employer and candidate must be at least two years.
Obeying 50-50 rule
The Irish employer must comply with the 50-50 rule. At the time of employment, 50% of the company’s workforce must be EU/EEA nationals.
The length of employment
When applicants receive Ireland critical skills permit, they must work for at least one year for the same employer.
Is Labour Market Needs Test Required for Critical Skills Employment Permit?
The employment priority in Ireland is for EU/EEA nationals. It is the rule set by the Irish government. So the Irish employer must advertise the job offer in EEA first. Since 1 January 2020, the employer must advertise the job for 28 days in the EEA. It must be before offering it to a non-EU resident. Labour Market Needs Test is the proof the employer has advertised the job but found no one.
However, there is NO NEED for Labour Market Needs Test for the Skills Employment Permit. It is true if the job is on the listed jobs in Critical Skills Employment Permit mentioned above.
Critical Skills Employment Permit Application Process
The Irish employer and the future employee both can apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit. The application process is as follows:
1. Job offer
Having a job offer from an Irish employer is the first step. You must arrange one before beginning the application process. The job offer must lead to a work contract. The contract is an essential requirement for Critical Skills Employment Permit.
2. Application form
Completing the application form for Critical Skills Employment Permit is an essential part. You have to complete the form on Employment Permits Online System website.
When you entered the site, chose the right application form. Please remember that the form changes depending on your case and the skilled job. There is also a different form of whether the employer or employee completes it. You must complete the form with your personal information and whatever asks you. You must not forget to receive a password number. It allows you to enter your account.
3. Gather requirements
you must submit some supporting documents to the Irish officals. See the list of the requirements in the section below.
4. Submit requirements
When you gather all the supporting documents, start submitting them.
Applicants have to submit the scan form of documents. So you must use a computer connected to a scanner. It is also possible to prepare the scanned form of documents on your computer. Then submitting them.
You could submit the requirements in different stages. You may submit some of today, others on another day. Each time, you can use the password number to enter your account.
In case the future employer applies on your behalf, you should send the scanned form of documents to him/her.
5. Pay the fees
You also have to pay the fees online. The form will guide you on how to pay. The Critical Skills Employment Permit will cost you 1.000 EUR. Do not forget to attach the receipt to your application.
Now you have the tools to immigrate to Ireland as a Pharmacist by reading our comprehensive guide.
Entrance visa
A few countries need an entrance visa. It depends on nationality. A few countries are free of Ireland visa. However, many more need it. Non-EU, EEA nationals have to apply for an entrance visa to work in Ireland for the long term. The application process for an entrance visa is as follows:
1. Complete the online application form
The application process for the entrance work visa is also online. You should complete the form in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website. You will find the appropriate form there. Remember to complete the right form. When you completed it, there is a summary page you must print. It will inform you of a few points.
2. Gather requirements
You should also gather requirements for an entrance work visa. The summary page will tell you what to collect.
3. Submit the requirements
The printed summary page will also tell you where to submit the requirements. There are two ways to submit the supporting documents:
- Submit to the Irish embassy or consulate in person.
- Submit the scanned form to the place the summary page will tell you.
4. Pay the entrance work visa fees
There is also a fee for an entrance work visa. You must pay the fee and attach the receipt to your application.
5. Wait for processing
Now just wait until the application gets processed.
6. Border control
Entrance work visa and Critical Skills Employment Permit will not guarantee your entrance. When you arrive in Ireland, you have to go through Border Control. The Irish immigration officers will check your documents. So you should carry all the requirements related to entrance work visa and Critical Skills Employment Permit. They will stamp your passport. It will show the lengths of your stay in Ireland.
7. Receiving Residence Permit
When you passed through the border control and settled in Ireland, You have to apply for Residence Permit.
Stamp 4 support letter
When you want to extend your stamp 4 work permit in Ireland, you need to get a support letter from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment. The letter confirms your current employer.
The applicant needs to complete the letter and mail it to [email protected]. email address. The official request form is available at the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment official website.
After completing the support letter, you need to contact a local immigration officer. Having the following supporting documents is essential:
- Passport
- Certificate of Registration (IRP card)
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Continuing employment through a letter from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation
After living in Ireland for five years, you can apply for citizenship and naturalization.
In case you are not eligible for stamp 4, you might receive stamp1.
GNIB card stamp 4
When you get to Ireland, you need to register your stay with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) or Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). You have to do it within the first 90 days you arrive in 90 days. Bear in mind that you have to complete the registration and it is obligatory.
If you cannot register or you are not provided time by the officials, there is nothing to worry. However, you need to provide proof of intention to register.
If you refuse to register, you might be deported.
What is stamp 4 EUFAM ?
A foeing national who has one of the following stamps does not need an employment permit to work in Ireland.
- Stamp 1G
- Stamp 4, 4G or 4EUFAM
- Stamp 5
What are the Requirements for Critical Skills Employment Permit?
You have to submit a few supporting documents to your Critical Skills Employment Permit application. They are to prove your eligibility:
A. Passport
A copy of your passport is mandatory. It must show:
- Picture
- Signature
- Personal details.
The passport must also be valid for the duration of the Critical Skills Employment Permit. If not, apply for a new one.
B. Photo
A photo of yourself taken in the past three months. Your face must cover 60-70% of the photo. Accessories like sunglasses, hat, veil, etc. must not cover your face.
C. Contract
Provide a copy of the work contract between the employee and an Irish employer. It must show the signature of both individuals.
D. Residence permit
If you are in Ireland and applying, you must provide proof of immigration.
E. Visa refusal proof
In case your application has been refused, provide a copy of the refusal letter.
F. Details of the employee
It includes name, address, contact details.
G. Requirements for the Irish employer
- The name of the company and address.
- The trading number and registered number of the Irish employers’ company.
- The field he/.she is working must be clear.
- The number of workforces. It includes the EU, EEA and Swiss and non- EU, EEA, and Swiss.
H. Requirements for the employment
- The place you will be working in.
- The job responsibility, duty, and title in the company.
- The lengths of the employment.
- Full details of the payment.
Please remember that the requirements are subject to change. The Irish officials might ask for more supporting documents.
How Long is Critical Skills Employment Permit Valid for?
The initial validity of the Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit is two years. The length of employment of less than two years is not valid.
How to Extend Critical Skills Employment Permit?
YES. However, you do not have to extend the Critical Skills Employment Permit. You must follow the following procedures to stay and live in Ireland:
- Apply to receive a letter of support from the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation (DBEI).
- When you received the letter from DBEI, you can apply to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) to extend your residence permit. You must provide these documents to the GNIB:
- Residence permit
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Letter of support received from DBEI.
The Irish officials will grant you a stamp 4. Stamp 4 is legal permission to live and work in Ireland. When holding stamp 4, you do not need an employment permit.
Can I Bring My Family under Critical Skills Employment Permit
When you arrived in Ireland under the Critical Skills Employment Permit, you can bring your family through Ireland family visa.
Can I Apply for Permanent Residency under Critical Skills Employment Permit?
As we explained above, you could stay in Ireland via applying for a letter of support from GTNIB and receiving stamp 4. If you want, you can extend a stamp 4 every two years. Finally, when you are eligible, you can apply for Ireland Permanent Residency.
Critical Skills Employment Permit Fees
The processing fee for this visa is 1.000 EUR.
Stamp 4 work permit
The people who apply for a critical skills employment permit receive a stamp 4 on their passport when entering the country.
The permit holds some rules and regulations that you must know and obey them otherwise there might be heavy consequences.
Stamp 4 processing time
The processing time for stamp 4 or critical skill employment permit is eight weeks from the date you submit all the requirements to the officials. In case the Irish authorities require further supporting documents, you have to obey and the processing time could take longer.
Websites to find a job in Ireland.
These websites can help you find a job in Ireland:
- Jobs.ie
- RecruitIreland.com
- IrishJobs.ie
- JobsIreland
- Employee.ie
- Craigslist
- Careerjet
- Jobrapido
- Cleverism
- eFinancialCareers
- Indeed
Let’s sum up…
In this blog, we explained all you need to know about Critical Skills Employment Permit.
We covered who is eligible for a skills employment permit, requirements, application process, FAQs, and more.
You can find all the Ireland visa information in the world here.
To find out more about the visa that suits you, go through the menu of the site. You can find all the types of Ireland visas at the left sidebar.
You can check Visa Library to find more information about other countries’ visas.
In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences as comments is a great help for applicants.
- Published by
- Max-B.
How useful was this article?
Click on a star to rate it!
Average rating 4.8 / 5. Vote count: 5
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this article.