A refusal is not the end of the road: we build the review that answers every ground and turns a no into a yes.
0 days
To appeal
0 review
Per decision
Free
Review cost
DETE
Decision maker
An employment permit refusal is a setback, not a dead end. DETE decisions can be reviewed by a different officer, and the window is tight: 28 days from the decision, with the review itself free of charge.
Ref PRA-28, typed for the wall
0 days to appeal
Time limit to request a review of a refused employment permit decision; the review itself is free of charge.
You have 28 days from the refusal decision to submit a request for review, and the review itself costs nothing.
A refusal is not the end of the road: we build the review that answers every ground and turns a no into a yes.
Entry 01 · registered
We read the refusal letter line by line and pinpoint the exact grounds cited, separating fixable evidence gaps from substantive eligibility issues.
Entry 02 · registered
We advise honestly whether a review, a corrected fresh application or a change of permit type is the strongest and fastest path, so effort goes where it can succeed.
Entry 03 · registered
We gather new evidence and legal argument to answer each refusal reason, correcting contracts, salary evidence or qualification proofs as needed.
Entry 04 · registered
We lodge the review request with DETE well inside the 28-day deadline, with every ground addressed and cross-referenced.
Entry 05 · registered
We track the decision by a different officer and, whatever the result, advise on the next best step.
Balance · application fee, all entries included
€0
The €70 Book Consultation cost is separate.
0
days to a decision
Plaque 01 The wait
A review request must generally be made within 28 days of the refusal decision, so acting quickly is essential.
Review, reapply or change route
| Criteria | Request a review | Reapply with fixes | Change route |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it fits | Decision looks wrong on the facts | New or corrected information | Refusal is well founded |
| Cost | Free | New permit fee | Varies |
| Typical timeline | Around 8 weeks | Typically 8 to 13 weeks | Immediate to restart |
| Best when | A clear error or missed document | Grounds were factual gaps | A different permit suits better |
Read the refusal grounds
1wk
Prepare the review submission
2wk
Submit within 28 days
1wk
DETE reviews the decision
8wk
Diagnose the refusal
Route recommendation
Build the submission
Submit within the window
Manage the outcome
A review request must generally be made within 28 days of the refusal decision, so acting quickly is essential.
Not always. If the refusal was due to fixable gaps, a fresh, stronger application can sometimes be faster than a review; we advise on both.
The review itself is free of charge. If you instead reapply, a new permit fee applies, though half of the original fee is refunded on a refusal, which softens the restart.
The review is decided by a different DETE officer from the one who refused the original application, reconsidering the case on the same rules and the evidence you provide.
A review typically takes around 8 weeks. A corrected fresh application usually runs 8 to 13 weeks, so the two routes are closer than they first appear, and the right choice depends on your grounds.
Salary below the applicable floor, an incomplete or non-compliant Labour Market Needs Test, an ineligible occupation, missing qualification evidence and mismatched details across documents are the grounds we see most, and each has a specific fix.
Employment permits hub, DETE
Find the review process and the Submission of a Decision for Review form after a refusal.
enterprise.gov.ie
EPOS, permit application portal
Retrieve the refusal letter and reasons, every ground must be answered in the review.
epos.enterprise.gov.ie
Current processing dates
Gauge how long a fresh application would take before choosing review versus reapply.
enterprise.gov.ie
Reactivation permit, official page
Check this route if you fell out of the permit system through no fault of your own.
enterprise.gov.ie
Citizens Information, employment permits
Read an independent summary of refusal, review and reapplication rights.
citizensinformation.ie
Salary below the applicable floor, an incomplete or non-compliant Labour Market Needs Test, an ineligible occupation, missing qualification evidence and mismatched details across documents are the grounds we see most, and each has a specific fix.
Ref VW-BOOK, typed for the wall
Figures on this page are indicative and depend on your circumstances and current DETE and ISD rules.
