Most employers looking to hire non-EEA workers will come across two permit types: the General Employment Permit (GEP) and the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP). They look similar on paper but work quite differently. Getting the route wrong doesn't just delay your application — it can mean starting from scratch.
Here's how to tell which one applies to your situation.
The General Employment Permit (GEP)
The GEP is the standard route. If you're hiring for a role that isn't on the Critical Skills Occupations List and the salary is under €68,911, this is almost certainly the permit you need.
Key requirements for the GEP:
- Minimum annual salary of €36,605 (a lower threshold of €16.12/hr — €32,691/yr on a 39-hour week — applies to horticulture workers, healthcare assistants, and meat processing operatives)
- The role must not appear on the Ineligible Categories of Employment list
- You must pass the Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) — advertising the role for 28 consecutive days on JobsIreland.ie, on EURES, and on at least one other online platform (three separate placements, all required)
- Your workforce must be at least 50% EEA, Swiss or UK citizens (with limited exceptions)
- The permit is employer-specific — the worker cannot change employer without a new permit until they have been in Ireland for 9 months
Processing time for a GEP moves with application volumes, so it is worth checking rather than assuming — our processing times tracker shows where the DETE decision queue stands now. On top of that, the LMNT adds 28 days before you can even apply. End-to-end, from initial consultation to worker arriving in Ireland, expect 6–8 months for most roles.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)
The CSEP is for roles that Ireland has specifically identified as skills shortages — either by occupation or by salary level.
You qualify for the CSEP if the role is on the Critical Skills Occupations List with a salary of at least €40,904, or if the salary is €68,911 or above regardless of occupation.
The big differences compared to the GEP:
- No Labour Market Needs Test. You don't need to advertise the role first. This alone cuts 4–6 weeks off the process.
- Better for the worker. After the permit expires (2 years for most CSEP holders), the worker can apply directly to the Department of Justice for Stamp 4 — giving them the right to work anywhere in Ireland without a permit.
- More flexibility on employer change. After 9 months, a CSEP holder can move to a different employer within a broader range of occupations than a GEP holder — but a formal application to DETE is still required.
Common sectors where CSEP applies: Nursing and midwifery, medical science, physiotherapy, certain engineering roles, some IT positions, and senior management roles meeting the salary threshold.
Side by side
| Factor | General Employment Permit | Critical Skills Employment Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | Most non-EEA roles not on the ineligible list | Roles on the CSEP Occupations List, or salary ≥ €68,911 |
| Minimum salary | €36,605 (€16.12/hr — €32,691/yr at 39 hrs — for some roles) | €40,904 (listed occupations) or €68,911 (any role) |
| Labour Market Test | Required — 28 days minimum | Not required |
| 50/50 rule | Applies | Applies (same enterprise-agency exemption available) |
| Permit duration | 2 years (renewable) | 2 years (not renewable — worker moves to Stamp 4) |
| Employer change | New permit required; 9-month wait | New permit required; 9-month wait; broader occupational flexibility |
| Typical end-to-end | 6–8 months | 2–4 months |
Which one do you need?
Start with the role. If it's a nurse, a medical scientist, a physiotherapist, or another occupation on the Critical Skills list, go CSEP. If it's a hospitality worker, a general operative, a care worker, or any other standard role, go GEP.
If the salary you're offering is €68,911 or above — regardless of what the role is — you can use the CSEP route and skip the Labour Market Test entirely. For senior hires, this is worth knowing.
If you're unsure, the first thing we do in a free consultation is confirm the permit type. There's no point going down the GEP route for 28 days of advertising if the role actually qualifies for CSEP — and vice versa, no point applying for a CSEP if the role doesn't meet the criteria.
Need help picking the right route?
Free consultation. We confirm permit type before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
The main differences are: the General Employment Permit (GEP) requires a 28-day Labour Market Needs Test while the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) does not; the GEP minimum salary is €36,605 while the CSEP minimum is €40,904 for listed occupations or €68,911 for any role; and after the CSEP expires the worker can apply for Stamp 4, giving broader work rights without renewing the permit.
No. The Critical Skills Employment Permit does not require a Labour Market Needs Test. This removes the mandatory 28-day advertising period on JobsIreland.ie, EURES and a third platform, and typically cuts 4 to 6 weeks from the overall process compared to the General Employment Permit route.
A General Employment Permit typically takes 6 to 8 months end-to-end from first consultation to the worker starting, including the 28-day Labour Market Needs Test and the DETE decision queue, which moves with application volumes — check our processing times tracker for where it stands now. A Critical Skills Employment Permit typically takes 2 to 4 months, as no Labour Market Needs Test is required.