Republic of Ireland Grants Work Permits to foreign talents from Nigeria and Others in critical areas
The Republic of Ireland has unveiled a strategic initiative, offering work permits to foreign professionals possessing critical skills but require permission to work in the country.
This initiative targets professionals from Nigeria and other nations outside the European Economic Area, the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the UK, and Switzerland. The primary objective is to bridge Ireland’s skill gap and bolster its workforce in essential sectors.
Key Permits and Sectors
Critical Skills Employment Permit:
The critical skills employment permit is aimed at skilled professionals in sectors facing a significant skills deficit, such as:
Production management
ICT and information technology
Health and social services management
Engineering and telecommunications
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants must secure a job offer of two years or more from an Irish-registered company or employer.
Direct employment by the Irish employer is mandatory; offers from recruitment agencies and other intermediaries are not acceptable for this permit.
Salary benchmarks are set at €32,000 annually for listed occupations on the Critical Skills Occupation list and €64,000 for others not on the list.
Companies with over 50% non-EEA nationals cannot offer work permit, barring certain exceptions for start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland.
Permits have to be obtained before entering Ireland and applicants may also need to apply for a visa.
The scheme requires qualified individuals to register and get an Irish Residence Permit once they arrive in Ireland.
Applicants already living in Ireland and have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) with stamp 1, 1G, 2, 2A or 3 permission can apply for the permit if they satisfy the criteria.
A labour market needs tests are not required for the permit. This means that the employer does not need to advertise the job with the Department of Social Protection, European Employment Service (EURES) or in newspapers.
How to Apply
Both employers and employees can initiate the application.
Authorized agents can be used
Submission of applications requires a €1,000 fee, with a 90% refund in case of refusal.
Payments are to be made by electronic fund transfer (EFT) to the Employment Permits Section of the Department of Enterprise ,Trade and Employment at Earlsfort Centre, Lower Hatch Street, Dublin 2 D02 PW01, Ireland.
Application submission and documentation can be done online via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) with a supplied checklist for assistance.
What Next After Approval ?
Successful applicants living outside Irelannd need to obtain an Irish Residence Permit upon arrival.
A visa application might be necessary depending on the applicant’s nationality.
Applicants are to present an employment permit to the immigration officer before entry.
Registration with local authorities post-arrival is mandatory.
Once registered, applicants get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP). The fee for registering with immigration and getting an IRP is €300.
If already living in Ireland with another immigration permission, candidates must visit their local registration office for a change of registration permission.
Qualified candidates invited to Ireland for a job interview on the critical skills occupations list can also apply for a highly skilled job interview authorisation. This allows an applicant to remain in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days.
Benefits for Expatriates:
Professionals who go through the Critical Skills Employment route are allowed to bring their family to live with them in Ireland.
Children must also apply the same way as the de-facto partner. However, spouses or de-facto partners and any child over 16 must register and get an IRP
If a skilled worker brings a de-facto partner, they must apply for either a visa if their country requires it or a preclearance if not ( This refers to the person they are in a committed relationship with but not married to)
Opportunities for partners of skilled workers to work in Ireland without additional permits through the Stamp 1G IRP are available.
Other family members can apply for a Dependent/Spouse/Partner Employment Permit.
Pathway to Citizenship:
The Critical Skills Employment Permit has a two-year validity.
Post this two-year validity period, professionals can transition to a Stamp 4 permission, granting them unrestricted work rights in Ireland.
Stamp 4 permission will be issued for 2 years and can be renewed provided candidates continue to satisfy the criteria
After five years of legal residence, candidates can apply for Irish citizenship via naturalisation.
If not eligible for a Stamp 4, candidates may be issued with a Stamp 1 and will continue to need an employment permit to work in Ireland
For more information on the Critical Skills Employment Permit and the procedure for application, interested applicants are advised to visit Ireland’s Citizens Information Board website.
Ireland’s proactive approach to attracting skilled professionals underscores its commitment to economic growth and development. For those possessing the requisite skills, this initiative offers a promising avenue to advance their careers and contribute to Ireland’s vibrant workforce.
