Every Irish fabrication shop knows the problem: the order book is fine, the machines are fine, and the bottleneck is coded welders. Apprenticeship output has not kept pace with demand from construction, precast, energy and general manufacturing, and firms competing for the same small domestic pool are increasingly hiring internationally instead.
Welders and fabricators are hired through the General Employment Permit route, and the process rewards employers who verify skills properly before anyone gets on a plane.
Welder hiring — the essentials
- Route: General Employment Permit, minimum salary €36,605 (from 1 March 2026)
- 28-day Labour Market Needs Test, run in parallel with sourcing
- Verify process competence (MIG/MAG, TIG, MMA, flux-core) and coding history at screening — a weld test on arrival should confirm, not discover
- Deep source pools: India for volume across processes; South Africa and Brazil for heavy fabrication and structural work
Are welders eligible for Irish employment permits?
Yes — welding and fabrication trades are currently eligible for the General Employment Permit, subject to the standard conditions: the €36,605 salary floor, the LMNT and the company-level 50/50 EEA ratio. As always with trade roles, confirm the exact occupation title against the current lists before advertising, because the advert, contract and application must carry matching titles.
How do you verify welding skills remotely?
The difference between a good and bad international welding hire is almost always screening depth. Paper certificates tell you where someone trained; they do not tell you whether their fillet welds pass visual today. A robust remote process includes:
- Structured skills interviews covering processes, positions and materials actually used in recent work
- Video demonstrations — candidates filming set-up and welds to a brief, reviewed by someone technical on your side
- Certification checks against the issuing body, plus references from supervisors rather than HR departments
- A planned on-arrival weld test to your own coding standard before production work
What does a welder hire cost and how long does it take?
| Stage | Typical figure (2026) |
|---|---|
| Salary floor | €36,605 minimum — market rates for coded welders often sit above it |
| Permit fee | €1,000 (up to 24 months); 90% refunded on refusal |
| LMNT | 28 days, in parallel with sourcing |
| Permit processing | 4–8 weeks standard; 2–4 weeks Trusted Partner |
| Visa stage (where required) | 4–8 weeks — India requires a D visa; South Africa and Brazil do not |
Multi-hire campaigns are the norm in fabrication — three or five welders at once — which makes the sequencing points in our 50/50 rule guide directly relevant before you commit to a batch.
Let Recruitroo handle recruitment and immigration
Recruitroo sources coded welders and fabricators from India, South Africa and Brazil, verifies skills with technical screening and video assessment, and runs the full permit, visa and relocation pipeline. Tell us the processes, the materials and the coding standard, and we will build the shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
What salary must I pay a welder on an employment permit?
At least €36,605 since 1 March 2026. For coded welders in demand, expect the market rate to be the real number — and the advert, contract and application must all state the same figure.
Which countries are best for sourcing welders?
India offers the deepest pool across processes; South Africa and Brazil are strong for structural and heavy fabrication. Visa requirements differ — Indian nationals need a D visa, which adds weeks to the timeline.
Can I test a welder before committing?
Remotely, yes — structured technical screening and video weld assessments before offer, then an on-arrival coding test before production work. Screening depth is where these hires are won.
This guide reflects Irish employment permit rules for welding and fabrication roles 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.