One of the biggest changes the Employment Permits Act 2024 made to Irish work permits is job mobility. Since 2 September 2024, workers on a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit can change employer after nine months on their first permit — without applying for an entirely new permit and without a fresh Labour Market Needs Test.
This matters to both sides of the market. Workers are no longer tied to one employer for the full permit duration, and employers can now recruit experienced permit holders who are already in Ireland — often the fastest international hire available.
Change of employer in 30 seconds
- Available to General Employment Permit and Critical Skills Employment Permit holders
- After 9 months of employment on the first permit in the State (previously 12)
- Filed as a Change of Employer application — the existing permit is updated, no new LMNT required
- The new role must stay within the same occupation for GEP holders (matched by occupation classification)
- Introduced by the Employment Permits Act 2024, in force since 2 September 2024
How does the 9-month rule work?
A worker on their first Irish employment permit is expected to stay with the employer named on that permit for nine months from starting the job. Once those nine months are complete, they can apply to move to a new employer through a Change of Employer application, which updates the existing permit rather than replacing it.
The nine-month period is a balance: employers invest real money in recruitment, permits and relocation, and the rule protects that investment for a reasonable period — while ensuring workers are not indefinitely bound to a single employer.
What are the conditions?
- Same occupation for GEP holders. A General Employment Permit holder must move to the same type of role, matched by occupation classification. A chef moves to a chef role; a welder to a welding role.
- Salary rules still apply. The new role must meet the current minimum salary for the permit type — €36,605 for a GEP and €40,904 for a CSEP since 1 March 2026.
- The new employer must qualify. The 50/50 EEA workforce rule and standard employer checks apply to the receiving company.
- Exceptions exist within 9 months. In limited circumstances — for example an employer relocating a long distance or fundamentally changing the role — a move can be permitted earlier.
What does this mean for employers?
Two things. First, retention now has to be earned: a permit holder nine months into the job is a free agent in a tight labour market, and pay, conditions and progression matter the way they do for any other employee. Second, there is a new recruitment channel — permit holders already working in Ireland can join you through a Change of Employer application, skipping the LMNT and the overseas visa stage entirely. That is regularly the shortest route to an experienced international hire.
If you are weighing that route against a fresh overseas hire, our complete 2026 employer guide to employment permits walks through both paths.
What else did the Employment Permits Act 2024 change?
- Internal promotions and role progression no longer require a brand-new permit application
- The Labour Market Needs Test moved fully online — no more print newspaper adverts
- A new Seasonal Employment Permit was created, piloted in horticulture, for stints of up to 7 months per year with pre-approved seasonal employers
- Permit holders must commence employment within 6 months of the permit being granted
Let Recruitroo handle recruitment and immigration
Recruitroo manages change-of-employer applications end to end — eligibility check, filing, and keeping salary and 50/50 compliance straight on both sides. If you are hiring a permit holder already in Ireland, we can usually have them started in a fraction of the time of an overseas hire.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employment permit holder change jobs before 9 months?
Only in limited circumstances, such as unforeseen fundamental changes to the employment — for example the business relocating a significant distance. Outside those exceptions, the first nine months must be completed with the original employer.
Does a change of employer need a new Labour Market Needs Test?
No. The Change of Employer application introduced by the Employment Permits Act 2024 updates the existing permit without a fresh LMNT.
Can a GEP holder move into a different occupation?
No — for General Employment Permit holders the new role must be in the same occupation as the original permit. A different occupation means a new permit application.
This guide reflects the Employment Permits Act 2024 change-of-employer provisions as of August 2026. Salary thresholds, occupation lists and processing times change regularly — check current DETE guidance or ask Recruitroo before committing to a hire.