Irish Work Visas: Apply from the UK

Before applying for an Irish employment visa, applicants will first need to have obtained an Irish work permit. To obtain a work permit, applicants will need to submit their application online through the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).

Non-EEA citizens who are applying for an Irish work permit online will need a job offer before applying. Unlike EU citizens, foreign nationals who are from a country outside the EEA can not arrive in Ireland without an employment offer.

Once the online work permit application is submitted, an immigration officer will determine if the skills, education, and work experience match the specific employment permit requirements under which the applicant is applying.

If approved for a work permit, foreign nationals can apply for a work visa. Irish work visas belong to the Long Stay ‘D’ Visas category, which allows visa holders to stay in Ireland for periods of time longer than 3 months. To apply for an Irish visa, applicants will need to submit another application online. However, this time, the application will need to be submitted through the AVATS system. After the online application is submitted, the applicant will then need to send out a number of supporting documents to a visa office for inspection.

In general, most applications for Irish Employment Visas are processed within 8 weeks. However, if some necessary documents are missing or there are any mistakes in the application, the processing time will be longer.

Before applying for an Irish visa, foreign workers will need to apply for an Irish employment visa online. Some important documents to include in the Ireland work permit application include the following:

• A digital copy of a valid passport (This should include the personal details page along with the passport photo and signature page)
• A passport photo (The photo should comply with Irish visa photo requirements)
• A copy of the employment contract (This must be signed by both employer and employee)
• A copy of your current immigration status in Ireland (if applicable)
• The personal details of a contact person in Ireland (their name, position in company, phone number, email address, etc)
• The relevant registration/pin or license number of the Irish company (this must be issued by the appropriate Irish regulatory bodies or government ministers)
• A copy of the letter of support written by Industrial Development Agency (IDA)/Enterprise Ireland (if applicable)
• Details of the employer in Ireland (company registration number, address, name, and relevant certificates from authorized bodies, etc)
• Details of the applicant’s employment in Ireland (job role, salary, duties and responsibilities, duration of the employment contract, etc)

After submitting an Irish visa application online, the visa applicant will then need to send out a bundle of supporting documents to the Irish visa office for inspection. These documents may include the following:

• 2 colour passport photos (these must not be more than 6 months old and must have your name and visa application number written on the back)
• A valid passport valid for at least 12 months after the intended date of arrival in Ireland
• A signed application letter that includes the applicant’s full contact details, the reason for visiting Ireland, intended duration of stay, details of any family members in Ireland or the EU, etc)
• The applicant’s Irish Employment Permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE)
• The applicant’s employment contract with an Irish employer
• A letter from the Irish employer detailing the job, salary, and any details of accommodation (if provided)
• Evidence of the applicant’s qualifications. This can include evidence of previous work experience, professional and/or training certificates)
• Proof of sufficient funds. This should include valid bank statements on headed paper from the last 6 months)
• Proof of private medical insurance
• Any evidence of past visa refusals (if applicable)
• Receipt of visa fee payment

Costs of the Irish work visa will depend on the type of employment permit that the applicant has applied for and how long the applicant intends to stay in Ireland.

Below is an overview of the general costs to be expected:

• €1,000 for a General, Critical Skills, Intra-Company Transfer, Contract for Services, Reactivation, Sport and Cultural and Internship Permits if you intend to spend up to 24 months in Ireland
• €500 for the same permits if you want to spend up to 6 months in Ireland
• €1,500 to renew your employment permit from 6 up to 36 months

In addition to the cost of an employment permit, the applicant will also need to pay the following work visa fees:

• €60 for a single-entry visa to Ireland
• €100 for a multiple-entry visa to Ireland

Any applicants who are applying for the Exchange Agreement Permit with the intention of staying in Ireland for up to 2 years are exempt from paying the employment permit fees.

The Atypical Working Scheme (ATS) allows foreign workers from a non-EEA country to come to Ireland to work for a period of up to 90 days. This scheme is an alternative route for those who would like to travel to Ireland for short-term employment. Under ATS, foreign nationals are permitted to engage in certain contract work that is not eligible for an employment permit.

To be eligible for ATS, applicants will need to have been offered a job in Ireland under one of the following categories:

• Workers who are filling a skill shortage position
• Workers who have been deemed to offer high skills in a particular industry
• Paid employees or interns
• Nurses or Midwives on the RCSI Clinical Adaptation and Assessment Programme
• Locum doctors
• Paid researchers
• Crew members of certain fishing fleets

If accepted in the Atypical Working Scheme, foreign nationals will only be able to work in Ireland at the job indicated on their visa. ATS workers are not permitted to look for another position in Ireland.

All ATA applications must be submitted from outside of Ireland to be considered. The application process can be submitted online. Those approved will receive a ‘Letter of Approval’ which will allow them to travel to Ireland.