Top Companies Sponsoring Work Permits in Ireland (2026 Data)

151,306 Permits Across 19952 Irish Employers

Ireland's employment permit system has processed 151,306 permits from 19952 distinct employers. While Dublin's tech sector grabs headlines, the data reveals a more diverse picture: hospitals, food processing companies, and professional services firms are equally active sponsors. Explore the full dataset on our Ireland visa sponsorship page.

Top 10 Sponsors by Permit Volume

Sector Analysis

Technology (Google, Amazon, Accenture)

Irish tech sponsors primarily hire software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and cybersecurity specialists. Most tech roles qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit with salaries well above the EUR 38,000 threshold. Dublin's Silicon Docks area hosts the European HQ of Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and many others.

Professional Services (EY, Accenture)

The Big Four accounting firms and global consulting companies are major sponsors, hiring auditors, tax consultants, management consultants, and IT specialists. These companies typically use the Trusted Partner scheme for faster processing.

Healthcare (Hospitals and Care Facilities)

Three hospitals and two care facilities appear in the top 10 — a striking indicator of Ireland's healthcare staffing crisis. The HSE (Health Service Executive) and private hospitals recruit doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals globally. Healthcare roles often qualify for Critical Skills permits.

Food Processing (Dawn Meats)

Dawn Meats' presence at #2 highlights Ireland's food processing sector's reliance on migrant workers. These roles typically use General Employment Permits rather than Critical Skills, with positions in meat processing, quality control, and operations.

Dublin vs Rest of Ireland

Dublin accounts for the majority of tech and professional services permits. However:

• Cork: Apple, Qualcomm, Johnson & Johnson, Cork University Hospital
• Galway: Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Galway University Hospital
• Limerick: Analog Devices, Johnson & Johnson, University of Limerick

Living costs outside Dublin are significantly lower. A salary of EUR 50,000 in Cork provides better quality of life than EUR 65,000 in Dublin.

How to Approach Top Sponsors

1. Apply directly through company career pages — large companies have dedicated immigration support and prefer direct applications
2. Mention permit eligibility upfront — state that your occupation qualifies for CSEP in your cover letter
3. Use LinkedIn strategically — connect with hiring managers and recruiters at target companies; Irish companies are active on LinkedIn
4. Target Trusted Partner employers — these companies have streamlined permit processes (2-4 week processing)
5. Consider hospitals if you're in healthcare — the HSE actively recruits internationally and has established pathways