Key routes
- Critical Skills Employment Permit — targeted at qualifying highly skilled occupations and salaries.
- General Employment Permit — broader employment route where the job and applicant meet the rules.
- Occupation-list assessment — Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists are important when deciding the route.
Is a job offer required?
A genuine Irish job offer is central to both the Critical Skills and General Employment Permit routes.
PR / settlement potential
Critical Skills permit holders can progress to qualifying Stamp 4 permission when route conditions are met. Longer-term residence may become available after qualifying lawful residence.
Profile assessment matters: Occupation, age, qualifications, language, experience, salary, licensing, sponsorship, points and family circumstances can change which route is realistic.
Government references used by STCCritical Skills Employment Permit ↗General Employment Permit ↗Critical Skills Occupations List ↗