Ireland CSEP
Ireland
Residency
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See if you're a match →This is a skilled-work residence pathway for people whose occupation is on a priority or shortage list in Ireland. It generally requires a qualifying job or offer, recognized credentials, and meeting the route's occupation-specific rules.
- Type
- Skilled-work residence
- Job fit
- Workers with a qualifying role or strong professional profile
- Core requirements
- Job offer, qualifications, and pay or points rules
- What to know
- The job usually has to meet salary and skill rules
Summary
Ireland's Critical Skills Employment Permit is for non-EU/non-UK workers who have a skilled job offer in Ireland in an occupation Ireland wants to attract and retain. It is one of Ireland's strongest work routes because it is designed for long-term settlement, not just temporary work.
British citizens normally do not need this route because Common Travel Area rules let British and Irish citizens live and work in each other's country.
Eligibility
You may be a fit if:
- You have a job offer from a genuine Irish employer for at least 2 years.
- The job is either on Ireland's Critical Skills Occupations List or pays enough to qualify under the high-salary route.
- The employer is registered and trading in Ireland.
- You have the qualifications, skills, or experience needed for the role.
- The job pays at or above the current Critical Skills salary threshold.
- You meet Ireland's immigration, identity, health, and character requirements.
Under current DETE guidance, the main salary levels are:
- €40,904 for eligible roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List, where the required qualification rules are met.
- €36,848 for some recent graduates whose relevant qualification was awarded within the previous 12 months.
- €68,911 for other eligible professional roles that are not on the Critical Skills list.
DETE is Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. It is the government department that runs the employment-permit system.
What This Route Allows
This route lets you work in Ireland for the employer and role named on the permit. After enough time in qualifying employment, Critical Skills permit holders can usually move to Stamp 4, which is Ireland's more flexible residence permission that does not require an employment permit for each job.
Spouses, civil partners, and eligible partners of Critical Skills permit holders may have stronger work rights than family members of ordinary employment-permit holders.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a job-search visa. You need a real Irish job offer before the permit can work.
It is also not a general permission to work for any employer immediately. The early stage is tied to the approved Irish employer and job, and changing jobs has rules.
Next Steps
- Confirm whether the role is on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
- Check the current salary threshold for the role.
- Confirm the Irish employer is registered, trading, and able to support the permit.
- Gather the employment contract, qualification evidence, CV, passport, and any role-specific proof.
- Apply through Ireland's Employment Permits Online System.
- If the permit is granted, complete any entry-visa step required for your nationality and register your Irish residence permission after arrival.
- Track the point at which you may be able to move from Stamp 1 to Stamp 4.