Irish employment permit salary thresholds in 2026

The tables below set out the salary thresholds for General and Critical Skills Employment Permits published by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, checked on 4 September 2026.

Check both the applicable threshold and the components of pay that can count towards it. A total salary package may include benefits that the Department excludes from its assessment.

General Employment Permit

Situation	Minimum annual remuneration
Standard	€36,605
Horticulture worker, Meat Processor Operative, Health Care Assistant, Home Support Worker (SOC 6145)	€32,691
Relevant degree from an Irish third-level college in the previous 12 months	€34,009

The Department also publishes an hourly rate of €16.12 in this context.

The Labour Market Needs Test applies to most General Employment Permits. It is waived where the job is on the Critical Skills Occupations List, where the remuneration is at least €68,911, or where Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland has made a recommendation.

The Ineligible List of Occupations applies regardless of salary. An occupation covered by that list cannot proceed under the General Employment Permit route.

Fees. €500 for a permit of six months or less and €1,000 for six to twenty-four months. Renewal fees are €750 and €1,500 respectively for those periods.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Situation	Minimum annual remuneration
Occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List, degree or higher required	€40,904
Qualification obtained in the 12 months before the application	€36,848
Any occupation not on the Ineligible List	€68,911

The higher-salary route covers occupations outside the Critical Skills Occupations List. Above €68,911, the occupation does not need to appear on that list, although the Ineligible List still applies.

Separate provisions apply to public sector roles covered by a public sector pay agreement, including Section 38 employers. Check the Department’s page for those provisions.

Fee. €1,000, with a 90% refund where the application is unsuccessful. A third party may pay the fee; under current policy, the refund is paid to the applicant.

What counts as remuneration

Both permit pages include a “Remuneration criteria” section explaining which pay components count towards the threshold. Basic salary must meet at least the National Minimum Wage or any applicable rate set under an employment regulation order.

Check additional benefits and payments separately. If the employer includes an excluded component in the total package, the remuneration accepted by the Department may fall below the required threshold.

Ask for a breakdown of the package and compare each component with the criteria for the relevant permit.

Checking that a threshold is current

Thresholds have increased on a phased schedule. A page published in 2024 may still quote a 2023 figure, so the publication date alone does not establish which threshold it uses.

Before relying on a figure:

1. Check the date. If a page does not say when it was last checked, treat the figure as unverified.
2. Check the Department’s page. Use the source links below to confirm the threshold and its conditions.

Before applying

The figures above were checked on 4 September 2026. Thresholds can change, and occupation lists are amended by statutory instrument.

Confirm the threshold in force on the application date and review the conditions for the relevant permit. The four source links below provide the Department’s published requirements.

Common questions

Does a bonus count towards the salary threshold?

Basic salary counts towards remuneration. The treatment of other components depends on the permit type, and some are excluded. Check the Department's remuneration criteria for the relevant permit before including a bonus.

Does health insurance count?

Check the remuneration criteria on the Department's page for the relevant permit. These specify which components can be included, so health insurance should only be counted where the criteria allow it.

I graduated from an Irish university this year. Is my threshold lower?

Both permits provide lower thresholds for relevant qualifications obtained within the twelve months before the application, subject to the conditions for each permit. The General Employment Permit provision covers relevant degrees from Irish third-level institutions. Check the qualification requirements for the relevant permit.

My salary is above €68,911. Do I still need my occupation on a list?

The higher-salary Critical Skills route covers occupations outside the Critical Skills Occupations List, while the Ineligible List still applies. For General Employment Permits, this salary level is relevant to the Labour Market Needs Test exemption. Check the conditions on the Department's permit pages.

Sources

1. General Employment Permit — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
2. Critical Skills Employment Permit — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
3. Critical Skills Occupations List — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment
4. Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits — Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment

Terms