Senior professionals
Senior and highly paid professionals in occupations not on the Critical Skills list
What you get
- A check of the salary package against what DETE counts as remuneration
- Help to evidence your experience clearly where you don't hold a degree
- Preparation and submission of the application on Employment Permits Online
About this service
CSEP without Relevant Degree
If your role isn't on the Critical Skills Occupations List, or you don't hold a relevant degree, you can still qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit when the salary is at least €68,911 a year from 1 March 2026. Almost any occupation counts unless it's on the Ineligible List, and applicants without a degree must show the experience the role requires. You get the same benefits as other Critical Skills permit holders. This route is popular with senior managers, specialists and highly paid professionals whose occupation isn't on the Critical Skills list. The salary is the key test, so we check exactly what DETE will count as remuneration before you apply.
€1538
Fixed fee
5
Areas we cover
7
Documents to prepare
5
Simple steps
Who it's for
Who this is for
Whether you're moving, hiring, staying or starting over, this is the place to begin.
Experienced specialists
Experienced specialists without a degree who have a high-salary job offer
Employers
Employers recruiting for senior roles
At a glance
Eligibility
01
Salary
A salary of at least €68,911 a year for a 39-hour week
02
Occupation
An occupation that isn't on the Ineligible List and isn't contrary to the public interest
03
Degree or experience
A relevant degree, or the experience the role requires
04
Job offer
A job offer of at least 2 years
05
Employer
The employer is registered with Revenue and trading, and at least 50% of its staff are EEA nationals
Our promise
What's included
CSEP without Relevant Degree
€1538
Before you start
Documents you'll need
Tick each item as you gather it. Bring whichever apply to you.
Your preparation checklist
0 of 7 ready
Tap items as you go
You're fully prepared. Let's get you booked in.
5-step journey
How it works
- 1Step 1
We confirm the salary and occupation meet the rules.
- 2Step 2
We help you gather strong evidence of your experience.
- 3Step 3
We prepare and submit the application.
- 4Step 4
We track it and respond to any DETE queries.
- Step 5
After approval, we guide you through the next steps for you and your family.
Good to know
Our fee
€1,538 VAT included. No LMNT is needed.
Government fee
€1,000. 90% is refunded if refused.
Processing time
DETE, October 2026: about 1 week for Critical Skills applications.
Family and Stamp 4
Your family can join you straight away, and after 21 months you can apply for Stamp 4.
Contract length
The job offer must be for at least 2 years.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
The high-salary Critical Skills route lets people qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit even if their occupation isn't on the Critical Skills Occupations List, or if they don't hold a degree. Instead, the salary does the work: from 1 March 2026, the job must pay at least €68,911 a year. Almost any occupation qualifies, except those on the Ineligible List or contrary to the public interest. Applicants without a degree must show the relevant experience for the role, so detailed employment references are essential. The salary is assessed on basic pay plus qualifying health insurance contributions, not bonuses. The job offer must be for at least 2 years. Once granted, the permit carries all the usual Critical Skills benefits: no Labour Market Needs Test, immediate family reunification, Stamp 1G work rights for spouses and partners, and the right to move to Stamp 4 after 21 months. It's a popular route for senior managers, specialists and experienced professionals.
DETE doesn't set a fixed number of years. You must show the experience the job requires, so detailed references matter. We'll help you present them.
No. DETE counts basic salary and qualifying health insurance payments, not bonuses.
Yes. There's no LMNT, family can join immediately, spouses and partners get Stamp 1G, and you can move to Stamp 4 after 21 months.
After 9 months with your first employer, you can apply to change employer within the same occupation group.
Yes, as long as the occupation isn't on the Ineligible List or contrary to the public interest, and the salary is at least €68,911.
Ready when you are
Get started with CSEP without Relevant Degree
€1538
€1538
CSEP without Relevant Degree