GEP & ICT
Trainees

Ireland's employment permit rules group trainees with the standard General Employment Permit for salary purposes: from 1 March 2026, both must pay at least €36,605 a year. In practice there are two routes for trainees. An Irish employer can hire a non-EEA trainee directly on a General Employment Permit, following the normal GEP rules, including the Labour Market Needs Test where it applies. Alternatively, a multinational group can bring a trainee from an overseas branch to its Irish operation on an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) trainee permit. The ICT trainee route is designed for structured training programmes. The trainee must have worked for the overseas company for at least one month, the training programme can last up to 12 months, and the application is made by the Irish company linked to the overseas employer. No Labour Market Needs Test is needed. It suits graduate programmes, rotations and skills transfers within international groups, while the GEP route suits trainees recruited directly in Ireland.

Not on the trainee permit. They would need a new permit, such as a General or Critical Skills Employment Permit, and must meet its rules.

Spouses and partners of GEP and ICT holders can get Stamp 1G, but family reunification usually requires 12 months' legal work in Ireland first, so it rarely fits a short training programme.

Salary arrangements must be shown clearly, including any top-up payments. We'll check the package meets the threshold before you apply.

The government's roadmap plans further increases to minimum salaries, so check the threshold again before any renewal. We'll flag this when you apply.