IRELAND – Changes to the Employment Permit System (Critical Skills Permit Changes Included)

What Are the Changes?

• All chef grades are now eligible for an employment permit, and the occupation will no longer be subject to quotas.
• All nurses can now qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit – which brings immediate family reunification, broad access to the Irish labor market for family members, and a fast track to long term residency after two years.
• Most professional occupations in the construction sector can now qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. Technician and construction support occupations – such as Foreman, Architectural Technician and Construction Safety Officer – can qualify for General Employment Permits.
• Other changes include an increase of the quota for HGV drivers by 200.

Also effective 1 January, the following previously-announced changes will affect Critical Skills Employment Permits and the Labour Market Needs Test:

• The minimum salary threshold for Critical Skills Employment Permits will increase from €30,000 to €32,000 where the position is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and where the candidate has a relevant degree or higher.
• The minimum salary threshold for Critical Skills Employment Permits will increase from €60,000 to €64,000 for all other positions (other than those on the Ineligible Categories of Employment for Employment Permits).
• The time period for advertising a vacancy with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (as part of the Labour Market Needs Test) will increase from 14 days to 28 days.
• The Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation have confirmed that applications submitted up to and including 31 December 2019 will be considered with the existing remuneration thresholds, even if they are processed after 1 January.

Our Advice

Employers who may be effected are encouraged to contact a Wolfsdorf Rosenthal immigration attorney or email the WR Global Immigration team at Global@wolfsdorf.com for case specific advice.