New salary threshold roadmap for employment permits to 2030

The Department of Enterprise published a new roadmap for minimum annual remuneration on 2 December 2025, replacing the 2023 plan. It followed a consultation that drew more than 150 submissions.

The increases from 1 March 2026

• General Employment Permit: from €34,000 to €36,605, an increase of 7.66%. The 2023 plan had proposed 14.7%.
• Critical Skills Employment Permit: from €38,000 to €40,904, also 7.66%. The 2023 plan had proposed 15.8%.
• The lower threshold for meat processing operatives, horticultural workers, healthcare assistants and home carers: from €30,000 to €32,691, an increase of 9%.

The General and Critical Skills increases were roughly half those proposed in the 2023 plan.

What happens after 2026

The roadmap provides for annual increases to 2030, indexed to average earnings using Central Statistics Office data. It cites a historical average adjustment of 4.9% a year.

The lower thresholds are to be phased out entirely by 2030. Employers using the €32,691 rate should allow for this change in their salary budgets.

A new lower threshold also applies to recent graduates at Level 8 or above within twelve months of graduating. Public-sector roles covered by national pay agreements are exempt from the Critical Skills thresholds.

What employers should do

The applicable threshold is the one in force when the application is decided. Where recruitment spans a threshold increase, the contract salary must meet the higher figure.

The increases also affect renewals. A salary of €34,000 that met the requirement in 2025 does not automatically meet the renewal requirement after 1 March 2026.