Ask five Irish employers what an international hire costs and you will get five different answers, because most of the variation is not government fees — it is who you pay to run the process. This guide breaks the full 2026 cost stack into fixed costs, variable costs and avoidable costs, so you can budget a hire properly before you start.
What are the government fees for an Irish employment permit?
The state fees are the predictable part. As of 2026, a new employment permit costs €1,000 for a permit of up to two years (€500 for six months or less), and a renewal costs €1,500 for up to three years. If an application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded.
| Item | Typical cost (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New employment permit (up to 24 months) | €1,000 | GEP and CSEP; €500 for 6 months or less |
| Permit renewal (up to 36 months) | €1,500 | Critical Skills holders typically do not renew — they move towards Stamp 4 |
| Refusal refund | 90% refunded | The real cost of refusal is the lost months, not the fee |
| Entry (D) visa, where required | ≈€60–€100 | Depends on nationality and single vs multi-entry |
| Irish Residence Permit registration | €300 | Paid by the worker on registering after arrival |
| Trusted Partner registration | Free | Worth it for any repeat hirer |
What does the recruitment side cost?
This is where budgets diverge. The traditional route stacks a recruitment agency fee (commonly 15–20% of first-year salary for international placements) on top of an immigration solicitor (often €1,500–€3,000 per permit case), plus your own HR time coordinating between them. On a €40,000 role, that stack alone can run to €8,000–€11,000 per hire before anyone books a flight.
An end-to-end platform collapses sourcing, permit filing, visa support and relocation into one fixed price, which is why the per-hire gap widens quickly at volume. One of our coach operator clients calculated roughly €40,000 saved in a single year versus running permits through immigration agencies — for the same number of drivers on the road.
What about relocation costs?
- Flights: typically €400–€900 one-way depending on source country and season
- Initial accommodation: the biggest practical variable, especially outside Dublin — many employers arrange 4–8 weeks of landing accommodation
- Setup costs: IRP registration (€300), PPS number (free), transport and work gear where relevant
Who pays what is a policy decision, but be aware of one legal line: Irish rules do not allow employers to recoup employment permit fees or recruitment expenses from the worker’s wages. Budget them as employer costs from the start.
What does getting it wrong cost?
The most expensive line item on this page never appears on an invoice: a returned or refused application. A Labour Market Needs Test run incorrectly restarts a 28-day clock. A salary set below the current threshold — €36,605 for a General Employment Permit since 1 March 2026 — is a refusal. A returned application loses its place in the DETE queue. Each of these adds four to ten weeks to a hire, and in sectors where the vacancy is costing you revenue every week, the delay dwarfs every fee above.
Salary thresholds moved on 1 March 2026 — if your budget predates that, re-check it against our summary of the 2026 salary threshold increases before you advertise.
Let Recruitroo handle recruitment and immigration
Recruitroo gives you one fixed price covering sourcing, the LMNT, the permit, visa support and relocation — with the whole case tracked on one platform. Tell us the role and the location and we will send a full quote within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can the employer deduct permit costs from the employee’s salary?
No. Recruitment and employment permit expenses cannot be recouped from the worker’s wages under Irish rules — they are employer costs.
Is the permit fee refunded if the application is refused?
Yes, 90% of the application fee is refunded on refusal. The real loss is the time — typically one to three months of the hiring timeline.
Is it cheaper to hire someone already in Ireland on a permit?
Often, yes. Since the Employment Permits Act 2024, permit holders can change employer after nine months via a Change of Employer application, which removes the LMNT, the visa stage and relocation costs from the equation.
This guide reflects Irish employment permit fees and typical hiring costs 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.