The General Employment Permit (GEP) is the permit that powers the bulk of Ireland's international workforce. Trades, care workers, chefs, drivers, manufacturing operatives and many other essential roles are hired into Ireland on GEPs every year. It is the most flexible permit in the system, but also the most administratively demanding. This guide covers the 2026 GEP in detail — who can apply, what the requirements are, how the LMNT works, the 50/50 rule, salary thresholds, application steps and the most common reasons applications are refused.
What Is the General Employment Permit?
The GEP is the workhorse permit. It covers any role that is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations — which is most roles. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, fitters, chefs, kitchen staff, healthcare assistants, care workers, HGV drivers, meat processors, butchers, housekeeping supervisors, restaurant managers and hundreds of other roles all come through the GEP route.
Unlike the CSEP, the GEP is not tied to a pre-approved occupations list. It works by exclusion: any occupation not specifically on the Ineligible List is eligible, provided all other requirements are met.
The Ineligible List — What's Out
Commonly Ineligible Roles
• General operatives in agriculture (excluding specific horticultural roles)
• Entry-level waiting and bar staff
• General labourers (context-specific)
• Housekeepers at entry level
• Taxi and cab drivers
• Sales assistants, general clerical and admin at entry level
If your role is on the list, a GEP is not an option — regardless of salary or candidate quality. Some roles have moved on and off the list over recent years as shortages have changed. Don't assume the list from last year still applies.
2026 Salary Thresholds for the GEP
From 1 March 2026, the minimum annual salary for most GEP roles is €36,605. This equates to approximately €17.58 per hour on a 39-hour week.
Reduced Threshold Roles
A reduced threshold of €32,691 applies specifically to:
• Healthcare assistants holding QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support (or recognised equivalent)
• Home carers holding QQI Level 5 or equivalent
Salary must be paid through PAYE. Tips, service charges and non-cash benefits do not count toward the threshold. Consistent underpayment — even marginally — is the single most common trigger for renewal refusals later.
The Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT)
The LMNT is the evidence you could not fill the role locally. It is mandatory for GEP applications (with limited exemptions).
The LMNT Requirements
Step 1: Jobs Ireland / EURES advertising
Advertise via the Department of Social Protection's Jobs Ireland / EURES portal for 28 days.
Step 2: National newspaper ad
Place a display advertisement in a national newspaper for at least 3 days.
Step 3: Online Irish jobs board
Place the role on an online Irish jobs board for at least 14 days.
Pro tip: Start the LMNT on the day you begin searching for international candidates. The 28-day clock runs in parallel with sourcing. Running the LMNT after you've chosen a candidate wastes a full month.
When LMNT Is Waived
• The role pays over €68,173 per year
• Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland has formally recommended the role
• The applicant is changing employer on an existing employment permit
The 50/50 Rule
The 50/50 rule requires that more than 50% of the company's employees be EEA nationals at the point the permit is decided. It applies to GEP applications (but not CSEP, Contract for Services or Start-up permits under IDA/EI support).
Why the 50/50 Rule Matters So Much
This is the single most common reason GEP applications are refused. The ratio is calculated on company-wide headcount — not site-level — and counts everyone on PAYE including part-time staff and working directors.
How to Manage the Rule
• Run the ratio before every GEP application — aim for 55%+ EEA at submission, not 51%
• Plan GEP hires in waves, interleaving with EEA hires or apprentices
• For roles that qualify for CSEP, the 50/50 rule doesn't apply — use CSEP where possible
• For companies with multiple entities, apply through the entity with the stronger EEA ratio
Step-by-Step Application Process
The Full GEP Workflow
Step 1: Eligibility check
Confirm the role is not on the Ineligible List.
Step 2: 50/50 snapshot
Check your EEA ratio — if borderline, make adjustments before applying.
Step 3: Salary confirmation
Confirm the salary meets the 2026 threshold.
Step 4: Start LMNT
Same day you begin sourcing — parallel processing.
Step 5: Source and interview candidates
Video interviews with structured assessment.
Step 6: Issue employment contract
Matching the LMNT advertising exactly.
Step 7: Compile documents
Company tax clearance, CRO printout, LMNT evidence, contract, job description, candidate documents.
Step 8: Submit via EPOS
Pay the €1,000 fee (2-year permit) or €500 (6-month permit).
Step 9: Respond to DETE queries promptly
Slow responses delay the decision.
Step 10: Issue permit, support D-visa
Once issued, send the permit to the candidate for their D-visa application.
Processing Times in 2026
The Trusted Partner scheme is worth pursuing for employers making more than a handful of applications per year. It requires a track record of compliant applications and reduces processing times significantly.
The Most Common Reasons GEP Applications Are Refused
Eight Refusal Patterns
1. 50/50 rule failure — more than 50% non-EEA staff at decision time
2. Salary below the €36,605 threshold (especially post-March 2026)
3. Incomplete LMNT evidence — missing publication dates, wrong format, insufficient duration
4. Role actually on the Ineligible List
5. Discrepancy between the LMNT ad, the contract and the application form
6. Missing tax clearance or Revenue registration evidence
7. Candidate's qualifications not demonstrably relevant to the role
8. Previous unresolved issues with a permit refusal or revocation
Costs Summary
The GEP Is a Disciplined Process, Not a Complicated One
The GEP has a reputation for being harder than it is. The rules are clear, the documentation is standard, and the success rate for well-prepared applications is high. The employers who struggle are the ones who treat each application as an individual event — discovering the 50/50 rule late, starting the LMNT after sourcing, finding the March 2026 threshold doesn't leave room in their payroll plan. The employers who breeze through are the ones who systematise all of this: permit pipeline tracking, EEA ratio monitoring, LMNT templates, renewal calendars.
How Recruitroo Handles GEPs
Recruitroo runs the full GEP process on a single platform — LMNT ad placement, 50/50 ratio tracking, EPOS submission, document compilation and renewal calendars. Our customers submit applications in hours rather than weeks, and our first-attempt approval rate sits at or near 100%.
Ready to file your next General Employment Permit?
Tell us the role and we'll run the pre-flight checks — 50/50 ratio, salary threshold, LMNT strategy — and give you a clear timeline to submission.
This guide reflects General Employment Permit rules as of April 2026. Salary thresholds, the Ineligible List and DETE guidance change periodically.