Expansion of the Employment Permits System Ireland

The Minister of State for Business announced on the 20^th of December 2023 meaningful changes to the employment permits system.

The following changes include:

• 32 occupation roles being made eligible for a General Employment Permit
• 11 occupation roles were added to the Critical Skills Occupations list
• Annual salary requirements for General Employment Permits rises to €34,000 from January 2024
• For horticultural workers and meat processors this salary sum increases to €30,000
• For healthcare assistants the salary threshold is €30,000
• The labour market needs test is required for the General Employment Permit type application and the test must have the new salary requirements

The Minister announced : “I am delighted to announce the largest ever expansion of our employment permits system, with 43 additional occupations becoming eligible for Employment Permits. From engineers, mechanics and electricians to meteorologists, butchers and bakers, these changes cross many sectors and will be of huge benefit to Irish businesses and society.

Quotas Extended

The following occupations have had their quota extended :

• 350 – dairy farm assistants
• 1,000 – horticultural workers
• 1,000 meat processing operatives
• 350 – butcher / deboners

Occupations eligible for a General Employment Permit for 2024

• 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  

Occupations included to the Critical Skills Occupations list for 2024

• 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

Salary Thresholds

Annual salary thresholds for a General and Critical Skills Employment Permit have changed.

For a standard General Employment Permit the annual salary threshold is now €34,000.

For a Critical Skills Employment Permit it is €38,000.

These salary increases are to increase again in 2025.

Immigration Lawyer

If you have questions about employment permits, you can speak with an immigration lawyer on (01) 546 1121 or (052) 612 1999.If you have questions about employment permits, you can speak with an immigration lawyer on (01) 546 1121 or  (052) 612 1999.