You need a job offer from an Employer registered and trading in Ireland to apply for a permit

The EU nationals do not need a Work Permit to come to work in Ireland. Nationals from the countries of the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland do not need employment permits to work in Ireland too. However, nationals of Bulgaria and Romania will need Work Permit unless they have been working in Ireland on a work permit for a continuous period of 12 months or more.

A vacancy, in respect of which an application for a work permit is being made, must be advertised with the FÁS/EURES employment network and additionally in local and national newspapers, for three days, to ensure that, in the first instance a national of the EEA or Switzerland, or in the second instance a national of Bulgaria or Romania, cannot be found to fill the vacancy. Evidence that this has been done must be included with the application.

Either the employee or the employer can apply for a Work Permit. It is only possible to obtain a Work Permit for certain occupations or salary levels.

• Firstly, where the annual salary (excluding bonuses) on offer is €30,000 or more the Work Permit can be considered for occupations other than those which are contrary to the public interest.
• Secondly, Work Permits will only be considered for a very limited number of occupations below an annual salary of €30,000.

Notwithstanding the above, work permits will not be considered for any of the below job categories:

• All Clerical and Administrative Positions
• All General Operatives/Labourers
• All Operator and Production Staff
• In the category 'Sales Staff'
• All retail sales vacancies, sales representatives, Supervisory/ Specialist Sales
• In the category 'Transport Staff':
• All drivers (excluding HGV)
• In the category Childcare Workers:
• Nursery/ Crèche Workers, Child Minder/ Nanny
• In the category 'Hotel Tourism and Catering':
• All staff except chefs
• In the category 'Craft Workers and Apprentice\Trainee Craft Workers':

Bookbinder, Bricklayer, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter / Joiner, Carton Maker, Fitter - Construction Plant, Electrician, Instrumentation Craftsperson, Fitter, Tiler - Floor / Wall, Mechanic - Heavy Vehicles, Instrumentation Craftsperson, Metal Fabricator, Mechanic - Motor, Originator, Painter And Decorator, Plumber, Printer, Engineer - Refrigeration, Sheet Metal Worker, Tool Maker, Vehicle Body Repairer, Machinist – Wood, Plasterers and Welders.