General Employment Permit

The General Employment Permit covers roles outside the Critical Skills Occupations List. Applications must meet salary and occupation requirements and, unless exempt, the Labour Market Needs Test.

The salary threshold

From 1 March 2026 the minimum annual remuneration is €36,605, up from €34,000. The increase was 7.66%.

A lower rate of €32,691 applies to meat processing operatives, horticultural workers, health care assistants and home support workers. This lower band is being phased out completely by 2030, which employers should allow for when planning recruitment costs.

Thresholds rise annually to 2030, indexed to average earnings. The figure in force when the application is decided applies.

The Labour Market Needs Test

Unless an exemption applies, the employer must advertise the role first and show that nobody already in the EEA could fill it. Advertisements must meet the placement and duration requirements before the application is submitted.

If an advertisement has not run for the required duration, the employer must advertise the role again before applying. This can delay the proposed start date.

Quotas and ineligible occupations

Some occupations are on the Ineligible List of Occupations and cannot be permitted at all. Others are open only under a quota, and a quota that has been used up closes the route until more permits are released.

In December 2025 the Department released 1,000 permits for meat processing operatives and 850 for dairy farm assistants after the existing agri-food quotas were fully taken up. Employers should check availability before committing to a hire under a quota.

What the permit allows

The permit is tied to the employer and role named on it. After nine months from commencement of their first employment permit in the State, eligible holders can apply through the Department’s change-of-employer process to move within the same four-digit occupational classification without applying for a new permit. Other conditions apply, and the updated permit must be received before starting with the new employer. Moves outside that process require a new permit application.

Family reunification can normally be applied for after twelve months, subject to the policy requirements. Eligible spouses and partners granted family reunification receive Stamp 1G, which allows employment without a separate employment permit.

ISD’s Stamp 4 upgrade criteria provide a route after 57 months of employment in the State on the basis of General Employment Permits. A separate 21-month provision applies to Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors on a Multi-Site General Employment Permit.

Where applications go wrong

Applications can encounter problems where advertising does not meet the requirements, the salary relies on allowances to reach the threshold, or the duties fall within an ineligible occupation despite the job title.

Check these points before submission. Our permit costs guide explains application fees and refunds.

Common questions

Can I move to a Critical Skills permit later?

A fresh Critical Skills application must meet either the listed-occupation route or the higher-salary route, together with the other permit requirements. The higher-salary route does not require the occupation to appear on the Critical Skills list, but excludes ineligible occupations and employment contrary to the public interest.

When can my family join me?

A General Employment Permit holder can normally apply for family reunification after twelve months, and the family member's permission has to be applied for separately.