Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment announced its largest expansion to the Employment Permits System.
Key changes include:
- 11 roles added to the Critical Skills Occupations List
- 32 roles made eligible for a General Employment Permit
- Salary requirement for majority of General Employment Permit holders will rise from €30,000 to €34,000 in January 2024
- Healthcare assistants and home care workers salary requirement will increase from €27,000 and horticultural workers and meat processor salary requirement will increase from €22,000 to €30,000 in January 2024, bringing them in line with family reunification thresholds.
- A Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) is required for General Employment Permit applications and will have to reflect the revised thresholds in order to be deemed valid
Changes to salary thresholds:
The below changes to the salary requirements are effective as of January 17, 2024. Further changes are envisaged for 2025 and 2026 as detailed below (2025 and 2026 figures are preliminary and subject to change with further releases):
| Employment Permit Type | Current Thresholds | Jan ’24 | Jan ’25
Indicative rates* |
July ’25 | Jan ’26 |
| General | €30,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 | ||
| Meat Processing / Horticulture | €22,916 | €30,000 | €32,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
| Healthcare Assistant / Home Carer | €27,000 | €30,000 | €34,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 |
| Graduate Positions; Language Skills Specialist | €27,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 | ||
| Butcher / Boner | €27,500 | €34,000 | €39,000 | ||
| Critical Skills with a degree | €32,000 | €38,000 | €44,000 | ||
| Critical Skills without a degree | €64,000 | no change | no change | ||
| Intra-Company Transfer (Trainee) | €30,000 | €34,000 | €39,000 | ||
| Intra-Company Transfer | €40,000 | €46,000 | €53,000 | ||
| Contract for Services | €40,000 | €46,000 | €53,000 |
Changes to the Occupations Lists
The following occupations are being added to Critical Skills Occupation List:
- Professional Forester;
- Resource modelling, earth observation and data analyst;
- Meteorologist;
- Operational Forecaster;
- Chemical Engineer;
- Project Engineer;
- BIM Manager;
- Optometrist (Ophthalmic Optician);
- Commercial Manager;
- BIM Coordinator/Technician Estimator
The following occupations are being removed from Ineligible Occupations List, making them eligible for a General Employment Permit:
- Residential Day and Domiciliary Case Managers – in Disability Services;
- Play Therapist – in Disability Services;
- Genetic Counsellor;
- Social Care Worker;
- Family Support Workers – in Disability Services;
- Project Offices, Disability;
- Support Worker (social, community, public and charity);
- Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for the Visually Impaired;
- Autism Assistance Dog Instructor;
- Pig Managers;
- Smiths and forge workers;
- Moulders, core makers and die casters;
- Metal plate workers and riveters;
- Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician;
- HGV mechanic;
- Vehicle body builders and repairers/Body shop panel beaters;
- Electrician, electrical contractor, electrical engineer;
- Vehicle paint technician;
- Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors;
- Upholstery and furniture operatives;
- Butchers/(de)boner;
- Baker;
- Furniture makers and other craft woodworkers;
- Senior Care Workers – in Disability Services;
- Textile Process Operatives;
- Wood Machine Operatives;
- Saw Doctor/Wood Machine Mechanic;
- Armature Rewinder;
- Pig Farm Assistants;
- Speciality Forestry Harvesting Technician;
- Employment Permit Type
Erickson Insights and Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.