If you are an Irish employer hiring international workers for the first time, your instinct is almost certainly to contact an immigration solicitor. Work permits feel like legal territory. The rules are complex. The consequences of getting it wrong seem serious. But here is the reality that most employers discover after their first few hires: the majority of standard employment permit applications do not require legal representation. And at €2,000 to €5,000 per application, solicitor fees become a significant expense when you are hiring at volume.
What an Immigration Solicitor Actually Does
An immigration solicitor provides legal advice on your specific immigration situation, assesses eligibility, prepares and reviews documentation, submits the application through the EPOS portal on your behalf, handles correspondence with DETE, and manages appeals if a permit is refused.
For a straightforward General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit application — where the role clearly qualifies, the salary meets the threshold, the candidate has the right qualifications, and the company is in good standing — the work involved is largely administrative. Checking eligibility against published criteria. Gathering documents against a published checklist. Filling in forms correctly. Submitting through an online portal. This requires attention to detail and knowledge of the rules, but it is process execution, not complex legal analysis.
When You Genuinely Need a Solicitor
Situations Where Legal Expertise Adds Value
Complex or unusual cases
Non-standard company structures, previous immigration issues for the candidate, company restructuring that affects permit compliance, or ambiguous qualification-to-role matches. A solicitor can navigate the grey areas that standard cases don't have.
Previous refusal
If a permit has been refused — whether for this candidate or a different one in the same role — understanding the refusal reasons and structuring the new application to address them is legal work. A solicitor who regularly deals with DETE can assess the situation and advise on the strongest approach.
Appeals
If a permit has been refused and you want to appeal the decision, legal representation significantly improves your chances. The appeal process involves constructing a formal argument, which is legal work by definition.
Policy interpretation
When new regulations take effect — such as the March 2026 salary threshold changes or the 2024 Employment Permits Act amendments — a solicitor can advise on exactly how they affect your existing permit holders and planned applications.
High-stakes single hires
If you are bringing over one senior executive and the cost of the hire failing is enormous, the solicitor fee is a reasonable insurance premium.
When You Are Probably Overpaying
For standard, repeatable applications — particularly when hiring multiple workers in similar or identical roles — a solicitor is performing essentially the same administrative work each time at professional services rates.
Consider this scenario: You are hiring 15 electricians from overseas. The employment permit application is functionally identical for each one — same salary, same documentation, same LMNT process, same EPOS submission. Only the candidate-specific details change. A solicitor charging €2,000 per application generates €30,000 in legal fees. The legal analysis is done once for the first application. Applications 2 through 15 are process execution at solicitor rates.
Now add the rest of the costs. A recruitment agency to source the 15 electricians at €3,500 per hire — €52,500. Government fees at €1,000 per application — €15,000. Total cost: €97,500 to hire 15 electricians. Before anyone has boarded a flight.
This is not an unusual figure. We speak to employers regularly who have spent €80,000 to €120,000 hiring 10 to 15 international workers through separate agencies and solicitors. Most of them did not realise there were alternatives.
Your Options Beyond a Solicitor
Option 1: Do It Yourself Through EPOS
Cost: Government fees only — €1,000 per application
Pros: Cheapest option. EPOS is designed for direct employer use. The guidance is comprehensive.
Cons: No expert checking your work. Mistakes mean returns and delays. Time-intensive for HR, especially at volume. Not practical without dedicated resource.
Option 2: Specialist Immigration Consultancies
Cost: €1,000 – €2,000 per application + government fees
Examples: Work Permit Solutions, Work Permit Consultants Ireland, Future Direct, Expert Consultants, Abbey Blue Legal
Pros: Lower cost than solicitors. High-volume experience. Often offer fixed-fee pricing. Practical and process-focused.
Cons: Cannot provide formal legal advice. Cannot represent you in appeals. You still need a separate recruitment agency.
Option 3: End-to-End Providers (Recruitment + Permits + Relocation)
Cost: From €2,500 per hire total (including government fees)
Examples: Recruitroo, and to a lesser extent some full-service agencies like Beacon Recruitment, Aureol Global Connections, Reliance Recruitment
Pros: One provider, one price, one point of contact for everything. Significantly cheaper at volume. Technology catches errors before submission. Document chasing is automated.
Cons: Not appropriate if you only need legal advice. Not a law firm — complex legal edge cases are referred to partner solicitors.
The Full Cost Comparison for 10 Hires
The difference between the solicitor route and the end-to-end route is €55,000 for 10 hires. For a company hiring 20 or 50 workers, the savings scale proportionally. That is money that can go toward better salaries, better accommodation for arriving workers, or simply back into the business.
The Immigration Solicitors in Ireland
If you decide a solicitor is the right choice for your situation, these are the main firms handling employment permit work in Ireland.
Top-tier commercial law firms (€3,000 – €6,000+ per application):
• Mason Hayes & Curran — dedicated corporate immigration practice, serves major technology companies
• A&L Goodbody — bespoke legal technology solution for permits alongside traditional practice
• Matheson — corporate immigration as part of employment, pensions and benefits practice
• Flynn O'Driscoll — recognised Corporate Mobility and Immigration practice
Specialist immigration solicitors (€1,500 – €3,000 per application):
• Sinnott Solicitors — Ireland's largest immigration specialists, high volume across all permit types
• Gibson & Associates — fixed-fee services with a practical approach
• Berkeley Solicitors — active on policy changes, immigration litigation capability
• McGrath Mullan — established immigration practice since 1999
• Crushell & Co — comprehensive employment permit and immigration services
For high-volume standard applications, the specialist consultancies and end-to-end providers typically offer better value than any solicitor firm. For complex individual cases, appeals, or situations requiring formal legal advice, the firms above are well-regarded and experienced.
How to Choose
• Hiring 1–2 senior executives in complex roles? → Top-tier law firm or specialist solicitor
• Hiring 3–5 workers for the first time? → Solicitor for the first one or two (to learn the process), then switch to a lower-cost option
• Hiring 5–10 workers in standard roles? → End-to-end provider or immigration consultancy
• Hiring 10–50+ workers? → End-to-end provider. The volume savings are too significant to leave on the table.
• Permit refused and need to appeal? → Specialist immigration solicitor
• Need advice on a specific policy change? → Solicitor for the advice, then process applications through a more cost-effective provider
The employment permit system is well-defined, the rules are published, and the EPOS portal is designed for direct use. For most employers hiring skilled tradespeople, nurses, chefs, mechanics, engineers, or healthcare workers in standard roles, what you need is accuracy, speed, and someone who will not let documents fall through the cracks. That does not have to come with a solicitor's bill.
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This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For complex immigration matters, consulting a qualified solicitor may be appropriate.