Ireland Work Permits HR Guide - Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit

Emily McIntosh
Sep 2
5 min read

Paint style illustration in muted purple and charcoal showing the Dublin skyline with two parallel brush strokes that join at a single check mark, suggesting a choice between Critical Skills and General Employment Permits. No text.

Why this matters: As an HR manager, you will be asked whether to hire or transfer someone into Ireland, and you need a clear yes or no path. This Ireland Work Permit HR Guide uses plain English - not legal jargon - so you can choose a route quickly. Picking the wrong permit can slow hiring or block a start date.

Common risks: Choosing the wrong route, missing a salary threshold, failing a labour market test for the General route, not matching job duties to the Critical Skills list, and forgetting dependent options or day one right to work steps.

What you will get here: a quick screen you can run on a call, a side-by-side view of Critical Skills vs General, a short intake, a step-by-step process, documents to collect, manager scripts, and pitfalls to avoid.

HR Guide: Ireland Work Permits

Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

For high skill roles on the Irish Critical Skills Occupations List or roles that meet the high salary band that the government sets.
No labour market needs test in most cases.
Designed to support long-term retention in Ireland.
Usually eligible for quicker residence benefits after a period in the country. Spouses or partners can usually work.
Full-time role and direct employment with the Irish entity.
Salary and occupation lists change over time. Always check the current thresholds and list before you promise timing.

General Employment Permit (GEP)

For roles that are not on the Critical Skills list but are not on the ineligible list.
Often requires a labour market needs test unless a published waiver applies.
Renewable and can lead to longer-term residence, but usually on a longer timeline than Critical Skills.
Salary must meet the minimum set for the role and permit type.
Direct employment with the Irish entity. Third-party placement has restrictions.

Quick note for HR: there are other routes like Intra Company Transfer permits and Graduate schemes. This guide focuses on CSEP vs GEP because they cover most standard hires.

Fast screen you can run in 90 seconds

Answer yes or no. If you get four or more yes answers to the Critical Skills column, explore CSEP. If not, run General.

Is the job title and the actual duties likely to match the Critical Skills Occupations List
Does the offered salary meet or exceed the current Critical Skills salary band?
Is the role full-time with your Irish entity and not an agency placement
Will the hire be in Ireland on a multi-year plan rather than a short secondment
Does the candidate have degree-level credentials or equivalent experience that aligns with the role
Do you want quicker partner work rights and a faster path to long-term residence
Is there a business need to avoid the labour market needs test

If most answers are no for CSEP or uncertain on salary or list fit - lean General, and confirm whether a labour market test or a waiver applies.

Side by side - what HR should care about

Topic	Critical Skills Employment Permit	General Employment Permit
Who fits	Roles on the Critical Skills list or roles that meet the higher salary band	Roles not on the Critical list and not on the ineligible list
Labour market test	Not usually required	Often required unless a waiver applies
Contract	Direct employment with an Irish entity - full-time	Direct employment with an Irish entity
Salary	Must meet the government threshold for CSEP	Must meet the minimum for GEP and the role
Family	A spouse or partner can usually work	Spouse or partner options vary - expect a slower path
Long-term outcome	Typically faster route to a longer-term residence after a set period	Possible, but on a longer timeline
Common use	Senior engineers, product leaders, data roles, healthcare, and other listed professions	Mid-level roles not on the Critical list

Always confirm the current list and thresholds on official Irish government pages. Numbers change.

Intake - one small form for managers

Collect these items before you pick a route.

Role title and plain English duties
Salary band and benefits
Work location in Ireland and any travel pattern
Candidate nationality and current location
Target start date and any hard customer deadlines
Family members who plan to move, and whether the partner needs work rights

Step-by-step process for HR

Run the fast screen and choose a working route - Critical Skills or General.
Check the list and salary against the current government rules. If anything is close, ask counsel to verify.
Confirm labour market test needs for General. If required, plan the advertisement period and proof.
Collect documents - see list below - and draft the support letter. Keep duties and salary consistent everywhere.
Submit the employment permit and track the reference number.
Visa or entry steps for non-Visa-exempt nationals - plan for the employee to apply for the correct Irish entry visa before travel if required.
Arrival and registration - book the in-country appointment and confirm right to work evidence for day one.
Set reminders for renewal or the switch to longer-term residence when eligible.

Documents to gather

Signed offer or contract and job description that matches the permit
Proof of salary and benefits
Evidence of qualifications or experience
Company registration and details for the Irish entity
For General - evidence related to the labour market test or waiver
Passport copy and current immigration status for the candidate
Family documents if dependents will apply later

Scenarios you will see

Senior software engineer with leadership scope - list match looks good, and salary is high. Critical Skills is likely the first choice.
Data analyst not on the list, but crucial to a customer project - General may fit. Plan the labour market test early and manage start expectations.
Product designer with a high salary but an uncertain list match - check if the role qualifies through the salary pathway for CSEP. If not, switch to General.
Spouse needs work rights quickly - Critical Skills often wins because partner work permission is simpler.

Day one right to work in Ireland

Keep a copy of the issued permit and the passport with the correct Irish permission stamp.
Confirm that the job title, location, and duties match what you filed.
Set a calendar tickler for permit expiry and for any changes that would require an update.

Manager scripts you can paste

If you choose Critical Skills

"We will file a Critical Skills Employment Permit. It fits the role and salary, skips the labour market test, and supports longer-term retention in Ireland. We will share timelines once the application is in."

If you choose General

"We will file a General Employment Permit. The role is not on the Critical list so we will follow the labour market test rules unless a waiver applies. We will confirm timelines and start date once the key steps are booked."

Pitfalls to avoid

Promising a start date before you confirm the list and salary threshold.
Writing duties that do not match the chosen route.
Skipping the labour market test for General when it is required.
Forgetting family plans and partner work rights.
Changing work location or title after filing without checking impact.
Using an outdated salary number from last year.

Disclaimer: Content in this publication is not intended as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. For additional information on the issues discussed, consult a WayLit-affiliated attorney or another qualified professional.