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Your journey

Plan your move to Ireland, step by step

Everything you need to go from a job offer to Stamp 4 in one place: check your eligibility, compare every permit route side by side, map your timeline on a real calendar and see whether your occupation qualifies.

Step 1 · Eligibility engine

Can you hire this candidate?

Before the offer goes out, know the route. Run a candidate - or run yourself - against the Critical Skills and Ineligible lists, salary thresholds and graduate rules. Occupation lists effective 13 May 2026.

Check before you hire

Enter your candidate's details to see which Irish employment permit route may apply.

Thresholds assume a 39-hour week; longer weeks need a proportionally higher salary.

Relevant degree according to the role?

Does the candidate hold a qualification relevant to this role? This sets the Critical Skills salary threshold.

Occupation lists effective 13 May 2026. Indicative guidance only. Not legal advice.

Route comparator

Every Irish permit route, side by side

Six employment-permit and immigration routes across eight decision factors: salary floor, speed, family rights and the road to Stamp 4. Sort it your way, or drop in a salary to see what you clear.

Sort by
Columns
RouteMin salaryInitial permitProcessingLabour testSpouse worksFamily joinPath to Stamp 4State fee
DPSEP
Dependant / Partner / Spouse Employment Permit
No floor2 yr~1 wktypicalNot requiredAny jobown rightImmediateNo direct pathFree
GEP
General Employment Permit
€36,605per year2 yr~5 wktypical28-day testAny jobown rightAfter 12 moAfter 57 months€1,000
CSEP
Critical Skills Employment Permit
€40,904per year2 yr~1 wktypicalNot requiredAny jobown rightImmediateAfter 21 months€1,000
ICT
Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
€49,523per year2 yr~6 wktypicalNot requiredAny jobown rightImmediateAfter 57 months€1,000
CSEP-C
Contract for Services Employment Permit
€49,523per year2 yr~5 wktypical28-day testNot coveredNot coveredNo direct path€1,000
Easiest / strongestMiddle groundHardest / limited
Get matched to your route

Salary floors are the 2026 DETE thresholds. Processing times are the DETE “Current Application Processing Dates” snapshot as of 31 August 2026 (not real-time; refreshed weekly). Route attributes are DETE / ISD facts, confirm your case with a certified expert.

Your journey, mapped

From job offer to Stamp 4, on a real calendar

Pick your route and a start month. We build the whole milestone rail from the live DETE processing snapshot - every step date-stamped.

Route
▾

Weeks to a decision

3

Offer to permit, at today's DETE pace

Months to landing

1

Offer to first day in Ireland

Application fee

€1,000

DETE permit fee, up to 24 months

Months to Stamp 4

21 mo

From commencement of employment, then no permit

Critical Skills Employment Permitstarting August 2026 · estimates from the DETE snapshot (DETE Current Application Processing Dates); real cases vary.

  • AUG
    1
    SAT
    Step 1

    Day one

    Job offer & contract

    An Irish employer confirms the role and issues a signed contract, benchmarked against this route's salary floor. This is what anchors the whole application.

    Salary floor to clear · €40,904/yr

  • AUG
    15
    SAT
    Step 2

    ≈ 2 weeks to prepare

    Permit application submitted

    We assemble and lodge the online application with DETE - contract, passport, qualifications, job description and the €1,000 fee.

  • AUG
    22
    SAT
    Step 3

    ≈ 1 week

    DETE assessment

    The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment reviews files in receipt-date order. This route tracks the "Critical Skills (new)" queue.

    DETE now clearing 24 Aug 2026 receipts · as of 31 Aug 2026

  • AUG
    22
    SAT
    Step 4

    The green light

    Decision - permit granted

    Both the employer and the employee receive the employment permit. You're cleared to take up the role in Ireland.

  • SEPT
    12
    SAT
    Step 5

    ≈ 3 weeks later

    Arrive in Ireland

    You travel over and start work. Visa-required nationals also apply for a separate entry (D) visa once the permit is in hand.

  • OCT
    3
    SAT
    Step 6

    Within 90 days of arrival

    Register your IRP

    Register with Immigration Service Delivery for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card - your proof of legal residence and immigration stamp.

  • SEPT
    12
    SAT
    Step 7

    From day one

    Family reunification

    Your spouse, partner and children can join you straight away, and a partner of a Critical Skills holder can work on their own permit.

  • JUN
    10
    SAT
    Step 8Goal

    21 months in

    Stamp 4 eligibility

    After 21 months of employment on this route (counted from commencement, per your Revenue Employment Detail Summary) you can apply for Stamp 4 - live and work in Ireland without any employment permit.

Want this timeline for your exact case?

A certified expert pressure-tests every date against your role, salary and nationality - no guesswork.

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Occupation & route explorer

Is your job eligible?

Search Ireland’s Critical Skills and Ineligible occupation lists. See the permit route your job qualifies for, the exact salary floor, and your next step.

Search 1,436 occupations across the Critical Skills and Ineligible lists.

1,000+ work permits processed250+ certified experts610+ employers hiring our clients

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Check eligibility

Pick a day and a time on the next page. A free 30-minute call.