What is the process and difficulty of getting a sponsored work visa in Ireland?
Difficulty depends entirely on your occupation. Jobs on Ireland's Critical Skills list process quickly once you have an offer, while General Employment Permit roles need a strict labour market test, and Ineligible List jobs cannot be sponsored. The full process, offer to residence permit, takes 3 to 4 months.
Your difficulty in Ireland depends almost entirely on whether your job sits on the Critical Skills Occupations List. If it does, the permit itself is fast once you have an offer; if it does not, your employer must clear a strict legal test before you can be sponsored at all.
Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit
| Feature | Critical Skills Permit | General Employment Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Target roles | IT, engineering, nursing and similar skilled roles | All other occupations not restricted |
| Salary floor | EUR 40,904 and above | EUR 36,605 and above for standard roles |
| Labour market test | Not required | Required, job advertised locally for 28 days |
| Path to residency | Stamp 4 after 21 months | Stamp 4 after 5 years |
The Application Steps in Order
- Secure a signed job offer through portals like IrishJobs.ie, specifying your salary, duties and duration.
- Apply for the employment permit through the DETE EPOS Portal, which costs EUR 1,000 and usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.
- Apply for your entry visa through AVATS if you come from a visa required country such as India, at a cost of EUR 60.
- Register for your Irish Residence Permit within 90 days of arrival, at a cost of EUR 300.
My Advice
Check the Critical Skills Occupations List against your exact job title before you start applying, since that single check tells you whether you are facing a fast track or a genuine uphill battle. If your role is not listed, ask prospective employers directly whether they are willing to run the 28 day labour market test, since many smaller companies will not take that step for you.
Cash income, business income or no ITR?
See whether your funds and documents will pass the Irish visa check.
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