How do I find companies that sponsor Employment Permits in Ireland?

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment publishes data on Employment Permits issued to companies. ApplyWave tracks this data so you can search companies and verify their permit history.

Visa Sponsorship Data

Companies That Sponsor Work Visas in Ireland

Q: What is the Critical Skills Employment Permit?

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is for occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List, including roles in IT, engineering, healthcare, and finance. It requires a minimum annual salary of EUR 38,000 (or EUR 64,000 for occupations not on the list). It provides a direct path to Stamp 4 (permanent residence) after 2 years.

Find employers with Employment Permit history in Ireland. We track permits issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

View data for:

All Countries 🇺🇸 United States 🇨🇦 Canada 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇦🇺 Australia 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇳🇿 New Zealand

174,041

Employment Permits Issued

19,963

Sponsoring Companies

50+

Companies Tracked

2020-2025

Years of Data

Understanding Irish Employment Permits

Ireland's Employment Permit system allows non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment issues permits to employers who need to hire skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area.

How Irish Employment Permits Work

Employer offers job to non-EEA national
Application submitted to DETE
Labour market needs test (for General permits)
Employment Permit granted
After 2 years (Critical Skills) or 5 years (General), apply for Stamp 4

Permit Types

• Critical Skills: EUR 38,000+ salary, highly skilled roles
• General: EUR 34,000+ salary, broader occupations
• Intra-Company Transfer: for multinational employees
• No annual cap on permits
• Path to Stamp 4 permanent residence

Tip: Check if a company has a history of obtaining Employment Permits before applying. Companies with consistent permit history have established processes for hiring non-EEA workers.

Employment Permits by Year

16,401 approvals

2020

16,275 approvals

2021

39,956 approvals

2022

30,981 approvals

2023

39,384 approvals

2024

31,044 approvals

2025

Top Irish Counties for Work Permit Sponsorship

Dublin

87,422

Cork

14,401

Kildare

8,604

Limerick

8,151

Galway

6,468

Meath

5,586

Waterford

5,088

Wexford

3,820

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Ireland Employment Permit FAQ

What is an Irish Employment Permit?▼

An Employment Permit allows non-EEA nationals to work in Ireland. The main types are the Critical Skills Employment Permit (for highly skilled occupations like IT, engineering, and healthcare) and the General Employment Permit. Applications are processed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

What is the Critical Skills Employment Permit?▼

The Critical Skills Employment Permit targets occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List. It requires a minimum salary of EUR 38,000 (or EUR 64,000 for off-list occupations). The key benefit is a faster path to permanent residence — holders can apply for Stamp 4 after just 2 years.

Can an Employment Permit lead to permanent residence?▼

Yes. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for Stamp 4 (permission to work without a permit) after 2 years. General Employment Permit holders can apply after 5 years of continuous employment. Stamp 4 grants open work permission in Ireland.