General Employment Permit
(GEP)

The General Employment Permit (GEP), often called the general work permit, is Ireland's main employment permit for jobs that aren't on the Critical Skills Occupations List. It replaced the old "work permit" in 2014. Unlike the Critical Skills route, it isn't limited to a list of shortage occupations: every occupation is eligible unless it appears on the Ineligible List, and some are only eligible within a quota. From 1 March 2026 the minimum salary is €36,605 a year, based on a 39-hour week. Reduced rates apply to recent graduates of Irish colleges (€34,009) and to healthcare assistants, home support workers, meat processing operatives and horticulture workers (€32,691). In most cases the employer must first complete a Labour Market Needs Test, advertising the job for 28 days to show it can't be filled from within the EEA. The permit is granted for up to 2 years and can be renewed for up to 3 more. After 9 months the holder can change employer within the same occupation, and after 57 months on General Employment Permits they can apply for Stamp 4 and work without a permit. Spouses and partners of GEP holders can usually join after 12 months and are registered on Stamp 1G, which lets them work.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and the General Employment Permit (GEP) are Ireland's two most common work permits. Both are issued by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, both need a job offer from an employer in Ireland, and both lead to Stamp 1 registration. The differences are in which jobs qualify, how much they must pay and how quickly the holder and their family gain extra rights. • Eligible jobs: CSEP covers occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List, or any eligible occupation paying €68,911 or more. GEP covers any occupation not on the Ineligible List, some only within quotas. • Minimum salary from 1 March 2026: CSEP €40,904 with a relevant degree (€36,848 for recent graduates). GEP €36,605 (€34,009 for recent Irish graduates; €32,691 for some care and agri-food roles). • Labour Market Needs Test: not required for CSEP; usually required for GEP. • Permit length: CSEP up to 2 years, then Stamp 4 instead of a renewal. GEP up to 2 years, renewable for up to 3 more. • Government fee: CSEP €1,000. GEP €1,000 (€500 for 6 months or less). • Spouse or partner: with a CSEP they can join immediately, with Stamp 1G to work. With a GEP they can usually join after 12 months, with Stamp 1G to work. • Change of employer: after 9 months for both, within the same 3-digit occupation code for CSEP and the same 4-digit code for GEP. • Stamp 4: after 21 months on a CSEP, or 57 months on a GEP. • Processing time (October 2026): about 1 week for CSEP, about 5 weeks for GEP. If a job qualifies for both, the Critical Skills route is usually the better choice: there's no advertising, decisions are faster, families can join straight away and the path to Stamp 4 is more than 3 years shorter. The General Employment Permit is the route for the many jobs that aren't on the Critical Skills list or don't meet its salary levels.

Up to 2 years at first, and it can be renewed for up to 3 years. After 5 years on employment permits, holders can move to Stamp 4 and work without a permit.

Usually after you've worked legally in Ireland for 12 months and earned over €30,000 a year (gross), with suitable accommodation. Higher income is needed to bring children. Spouses and partners of GEP holders get Stamp 1G, which lets them work without a permit.

The application will be refused unless a lower threshold applies to the role. We'll check this at the start, before you pay any government fee.