You have decided to hire internationally for the first time. The decision is made -- now what? There is a lot of information out there about Irish employment permits, and it is easy to get lost in the detail before you have even started. This guide strips it back to the practical checklist: the 12 things you need to have in place before your first international hire, in the order you need them. No theory, no background -- just the steps.
Before You Start: The Three Prerequisites
Stop If Any of These Are Missing
1. The role pays at least EUR 36,605 (GEP) or EUR 40,904 (CSEP). If it does not, you cannot get a permit.
2. The role is not on the Ineligible List. Check the current DETE list before anything else.
3. Your 50/50 ratio is compliant (GEP only). At least 50% of your employees must be EEA nationals. CSEP is exempt from this rule.
The 12-Step Checklist
Your First International Hire -- In Order
Confirm the role is not on the Ineligible List. If it is on the Critical Skills List at EUR 40,904+, use CSEP. Otherwise, GEP.
Count your current EEA vs non-EEA employees. If you are at or near 50%, plan an EEA hire in parallel or use CSEP.
Tax clearance certificate (current), CRO printout (within 30 days), employer PAYE registration.
Jobs Ireland (28 days), national newspaper (3 days), online job board (14 days). Start this the same day you begin sourcing -- parallel processing.
Use a platform or agency with international pools. Technical assessment, video interview, reference checks. 2-3 weeks.
Matching the LMNT advertising exactly: same title, same salary, same hours, same location. Mismatches cause refusals.
Contract, job description, candidate CV, passport copy, qualification evidence, LMNT evidence, company documents. All as clear PDFs.
Pay the EUR 1,000 fee. Track the reference number. Respond to any DETE queries within days, not weeks.
Send the permit PDF to the candidate. They apply for a D-visa at the Irish embassy in their country (4-10 weeks depending on country). Brazil, USA, Canada, Australia: no visa needed.
Book accommodation for the first month. Arrange airport collection. Pre-book PPS and IRP appointments where possible. Arrange Safe Pass or other certifications.
Week 1: accommodation, phone, bank account, workplace induction. Week 2: PPS, IRP appointment booked, settling into the team. Month 1: 30-day check-in.
The permit lasts 2 years. Set a diary reminder at month 18 to begin renewal preparation. For CSEP: the worker applies for Stamp 4 at month 21 -- support this proactively.
The Three Mistakes That Delay First-Time Applications
Avoid These
1. Running the LMNT after selecting the candidate. This adds 28+ days to your timeline for no reason. Start it on day one, in parallel with sourcing.
2. Title or salary mismatch between the LMNT ad, the contract and the EPOS form. Even small discrepancies cause returns. Triple-check these match exactly.
3. Not having accommodation planned before the candidate arrives. International hires who arrive without accommodation sorted leave within weeks. This is the single biggest first-hire retention risk.
How Long Will It All Take?
What It Will Cost
All-in cost for a first international hire via a platform like Recruitroo: EUR 5,000-8,000 including permit fee, recruitment, visa coordination and relocation support. Via the traditional agency + solicitor route: EUR 8,000-15,000. DIY: EUR 2,000-3,000 in direct costs plus 40-80 hours of HR time.
How Recruitroo Makes the First Hire Easy
Recruitroo is designed for employers making their first international hire. Our platform walks you through every step -- role eligibility check, LMNT management, EPOS submission, visa tracking and arrival logistics. You focus on choosing the right candidate; we handle everything else. Our first-hire clients typically go from decision to worker on site in 4-5 months, with zero permit refusals.
Ready to make your first international hire?
Tell us the role and we will walk you through eligibility, cost and timeline -- free, no commitment, within 24 hours.
Disclaimer: This guide reflects Irish employment permit rules as of June 2026. Processes and requirements are subject to change.