CSEP with Relevant
Degree

The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is Ireland's employment permit for highly skilled professionals in occupations that are in short supply. It replaced the Green Card permit in 2014 and is designed not just to fill vacancies but to encourage skilled workers to settle in Ireland. Eligible jobs are set out in the Critical Skills Occupations List, which covers many roles in areas such as technology, engineering, science, finance and healthcare, and is reviewed regularly. There are two main routes. For an occupation on the Critical Skills Occupations List, you need a relevant degree and a salary of at least €40,904 a year from 1 March 2026 (€36,848 if your qualification was awarded in the previous 12 months). Alternatively, any occupation not on the Ineligible List qualifies if the salary is at least €68,911. The job offer must be for at least 2 years. CSEP holders enjoy significant advantages: no Labour Market Needs Test, immediate family reunification, Stamp 1G for spouses and partners so they can work, and the right to apply for Stamp 4 after 21 months. Applications are among the fastest DETE processes, typically decided in about a week in October 2026.

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.

Yes. Spouses and de facto partners of Critical Skills permit holders get Stamp 1G and can work without an employment permit.

After 9 months with your first employer, you can apply to change employer within the same occupation group.

You may still qualify for a Critical Skills permit with a salary of €68,911 or more, or for a General Employment Permit.

DETE publishes the Critical Skills Occupations List by occupation code. We match your job description to the correct code as part of the service.