Critical Skills vs General Employment Permit
The short answer: if your occupation is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and the offer meets the €40,904 threshold, the Critical Skills permit is almost always the better choice — no labour market test, immediate family reunification with spousal work rights, and Stamp 4 after 21 months instead of 5 years.
Side-by-side comparison (2026)
| Feature | Critical Skills Permit | General Employment Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | €40,904 (listed) / €68,911 (non-listed) | €36,605 (€32,691 in designated sectors) |
| Eligible occupations | Critical Skills Occupations List, or any role not on the Ineligible List at the higher salary | All occupations except the Ineligible List |
| Labour Market Needs Test | Not required | Required — 28 days of advertising to EU/EEA candidates |
| Contract length required | Minimum 2 years | Minimum 1 year |
| Family reunification | Immediate — spouse gets Stamp 1G with full work rights | After 12 months, subject to income conditions; spouse needs own permit to work |
| Path to Stamp 4 | After 21 months | After 5 years |
| Permit duration | 2 years, then Stamp 4 (no renewal needed) | 2 years, renewable up to 5 |
| Application fee | €1,000 | €500 (up to 6 months) / €1,000 (up to 2 years) |
When the General Employment Permit makes sense
- Your occupation is not on the Critical Skills list and the salary is below €68,911.
- You work in a sector with dedicated General Permit quotas, such as healthcare assistance, hospitality or transport.
- You want to enter the Irish labour market now and switch to a Critical Skills permit later as your salary and role progress — a common and legitimate strategy.
The practical decision flow
- Is your occupation on the Critical Skills list? Yes + salary ≥ €40,904 → Critical Skills permit.
- Not listed, but salary ≥ €68,911? → Critical Skills permit (non-listed route), as long as the role is not on the Ineligible List.
- Not listed and salary below €68,911? → General Employment Permit at €36,605+, if the occupation is eligible.
Frequently asked questions
Which permit is faster to get?
The Critical Skills permit — no Labour Market Needs Test means the employer skips 28 days of mandatory advertising to EU/EEA candidates.
Can my spouse work on each permit?
On the Critical Skills permit, yes — immediately, on Stamp 1G with no separate permit. On the General permit, family reunification takes at least 12 months and a spouse needs their own employment permit to work.
Can I switch from a General to a Critical Skills permit?
Yes. If your role or a new offer qualifies under the Critical Skills criteria, you can apply for a Critical Skills permit — resetting you onto the faster 21-month path to Stamp 4.
Not sure which route fits your profile?
Run a free eligibility check against the current occupation lists and salary thresholds, then browse jobs from employers that sponsor.
Check My Eligibility →