Checked against official sources 26 October 2026

Critical Skills Employment Permit, Green List & Processing Times (2026)

Ireland's main work permit for skilled jobs, explained simply: who qualifies, salary levels, the €1,000 fee, how long it takes, and the route to Stamp 4.

Is the "green list" the same thing?

Yes. People still call it the "green list", after the old Green Card permit. Its official name is now the Critical Skills Occupations List. Jobs on it include roles in medicine, ICT, engineering, sciences, finance and business.

Who qualifies

A job offer of at least 2 years from an Irish employer.
The job is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and you have a relevant degree, or the salary is over €68,911 (any job not on the ineligible list).
Nurses and midwives need a qualification accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
At least 50% of the employer's staff must be EEA nationals (some start-ups backed by Enterprise Ireland or IDA can be exempt).
No Labour Market Needs Test is needed, unlike most General Employment Permits.

Minimum salary in 2026

Permit and situation	Minimum pay
Critical Skills – job on the Critical Skills Occupations List (degree needed)	€40,904 a year
Critical Skills – same, but you graduated in the last 12 months	€36,848 a year
Critical Skills – any eligible job (not on the ineligible list)	Over €68,911 a year
General Employment Permit – most jobs	€36,605 a year
General – Irish degree in the last 12 months	€34,009 a year
General – horticulture, meat processing, healthcare assistant, home support	€32,691 a year (min. €16.12/hour)

Processing times right now

Applications are handled strictly in date order. This shows which submission date the Department was working on (official figures, checked 26 October 2026).

Critical Skills (new)

Now processing: 16 October 2026

General Employment Permit (new)

Now processing: 20 September 2026

Intra-Company Transfer (new)

Now processing: 20 October 2026

All other new permits

Now processing: 31 August 2026

Renewals (all types)

Now processing: 6 August 2026

Reviews / appeals

Now processing: 29 April 2026

In practice, new Critical Skills applications are being reached in about 10 days. You must still apply at least 12 weeks before your start date.

How to apply, step by step

Get a job offer of at least 2 years from an Irish employer (for Critical Skills).
Check the job is on the Critical Skills Occupations List, or pays over €68,911.
You or your employer apply online through the EPOS system and pay the €1,000 fee.
Apply at least 12 weeks before your start date. Reply to any information requests within 28 days.
Once granted, apply for an entry visa if your country needs one.
After arriving, register your immigration permission (IRP card) as soon as possible.

The fee is €1,000. If you're refused, 90% is refunded to the applicant. If your employer applies, they can't take the fee back out of your wages.

Family, changing jobs and Stamp 4

Family: you can bring your spouse, partner and children straight away. Once they live here, they can work. The Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit is currently free.
Changing jobs: you're expected to stay with your first employer for at least 9 months.
Stamp 4: when your permit and IRP card are due to expire, you apply directly to the Department of Justice for Stamp 4. You don't need a renewal permit or support letter (that requirement ended on 30 November 2023). Stamp 4 lets you work without a permit.
Long-term: after 60 months of residence permission you can apply for long-term residence. See also Irish citizenship.