Nearly every Irish international hire comes down to one of two permits: the General Employment Permit or the Critical Skills Employment Permit. Employers regularly default to the GEP because it is the one they have heard of — and in doing so add a month of advertising to hires that could have skipped it entirely. Here is the decision, made properly.
The two permits side by side (2026)
| Factor | General Employment Permit | Critical Skills Employment Permit |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Eligible occupations not on the ineligible list — trades, drivers, care, operatives, many others | Occupations on the Critical Skills Occupations List — engineering, IT, health professionals, construction professionals and more |
| Minimum salary (from 1 Mar 2026) | €36,605 (reduced €32,691 band for certain care and agri-food roles) | €40,904 for degree-qualified roles |
| Labour Market Needs Test | Usually required — 28 days of advertising | Not required |
| Duration and renewal | Typically 2 years, renewable | Typically 2 years, then a path towards Stamp 4 rather than renewal |
| Family | Reunification after a qualifying period | Immediate family from the outset; spousal access to work |
| Job mobility | Change of employer after 9 months, same occupation | Change of employer after 9 months |
The simple test
Step 1 — Check the Critical Skills Occupations List first
If the role is on it and the salary clears €40,904, the CSEP is almost always the right answer: no LMNT, a faster queue, and the strongest candidate proposition.
Step 2 — If not, check the ineligible list
If the occupation is not ineligible, the GEP applies — plan the 28-day LMNT into the timeline from day one and run it in parallel with sourcing.
Step 3 — If the salary is borderline, model both
A role payable at €40,904 that plausibly fits a critical skills occupation may be worth structuring for the CSEP: the month saved on the LMNT and the retention value of the Stamp 4 path often outweigh the salary delta.
Step 4 — Confirm against the live lists before advertising
Both lists are reviewed regularly. A role’s status last year is not evidence of its status today.
If the role clearly sits on the GEP side, the mechanics — LMNT, documents, timelines — are covered in our EPOS documents checklist and the complete 2026 employer guide.
Let Recruitroo handle recruitment and immigration
Recruitroo’s eligibility checker maps your role against the live occupation lists and current thresholds in minutes, and our team structures every hire on the fastest compliant route. Run the role through the checker, or send it to us and we will call the permit for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Critical Skills permit better than the General Employment Permit?
For roles that qualify, usually yes: no LMNT, faster processing, immediate family relocation and a two-year path towards Stamp 4. But eligibility is list-based — most trades and operative roles are GEP by definition.
Can I choose to pay more and use the CSEP for any role?
No. Salary alone does not make a role critical skills for degree-band purposes — the occupation must fit the list. Salary plus the right occupation is the test.
Does either permit avoid the 50/50 rule?
No. The EEA workforce ratio applies to both permit types on every application.
This guide reflects the General Employment Permit and Critical Skills Employment Permit rules 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.