The Irish hospitality sector is facing a defining challenge in 2026. Despite a resurging tourism industry and a vibrant domestic dining scene, restaurants, hotels, and gastro-pubs are struggling to keep their kitchens open. The domestic supply of skilled chefs—from Commis to Executive level—has reached an all-time low. For many business owners, the only viable solution is to look beyond our borders. The General Employment Permit (GEP) is the key to unlocking this global talent, but navigating its requirements requires a strategic, compliant approach that balances speed with legal precision.
The Chef Shortage: A Structural Shift
The shortage is not just a temporary dip; it is a structural shift in the labour market. In 2026, the demand for "specialist chefs"—those with expertise in specific global cuisines or high-volume pastry—far outstrips local graduation rates. This is where the General Employment Permit becomes a lifeline. Unlike the Critical Skills permit, which is reserved for high-level management and specific tech roles, the GEP covers a broader range of culinary roles, provided the Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) is successfully conducted and the salary floors are met.
At Recruitroo, we specialize in helping hospitality groups streamline this journey. The "chef permit" is historically one of the most queried by the Department of Enterprise due to inconsistencies in qualifications and salary reporting. In 2026, the minimum salary for a chef on a General Employment Permit has increased significantly, and ensuring your offer letter matches the new March thresholds is the first step in avoiding a costly six-week delay in the permit queue.
Hiring Global Chefs: Key 2026 Requirements
The LMNT Necessity
Chefs on a GEP must undergo a 28-day Labour Market Needs Test. This means your ads on JobsIreland and national platforms must be 100% compliant with the latest 2026 wording before you can even begin the permit application.
Qualification & Experience Verification
The Department requires proof of professional culinary training and at least two years of relevant post-qualification experience. Recruitroo’s video profiles allow candidates to "demonstrate" their skills before you commit to the permit cost.
The 50/50 Workforce Rule
Your restaurant or hotel must maintain a staff where at least 50% are EEA or Swiss nationals. We help you track this ratio in real-time to ensure your permit application is never rejected on a technicality.
Reducing the "Time-to-Table"
In the restaurant business, every week without a Head Chef or a reliable Sous Chef is a week of lost revenue and increased stress for your existing team. Traditional recruitment and legal routes can take months of back-and-forth emails. By the time the permit is granted, the candidate may have found a role in another country that moves faster. Recruitroo’s platform is designed to slash this "Time-to-Table" by digitizing the compliance check.
Our Video Profiles are a particular game-changer for the hospitality sector. Instead of relying on a CV that lists "Specialist in Asian Fusion," you can watch a 2-minute video of the chef explaining their signature dishes and their approach to kitchen management in real-time. This ensures that the cultural and professional fit is established before the expensive and time-consuming permit process begins. In 2026, seeing is believing, and video is the ultimate vetting tool.
Hospitality Insight: "We were facing a 6-month closure for our second location due to staffing shortages. Recruitroo helped us source three specialist chefs from abroad and handled the entire GEP process. They were on-site and in the kitchen within 10 weeks, saving our opening season."
Navigating the 2026 Salary Increases
One of the most significant changes in the 2026 hospitality landscape is the rising salary floor for General Employment Permits. To qualify, a chef's base salary must now meet the new March 2026 thresholds, which no longer allow for the inclusion of "board and lodgings" to make up the numbers. The salary must be guaranteed and clearly stated on the contract.
Many hospitality owners are concerned about these rising costs, but the ROI becomes clear when you compare it to the cost of agency staff or the lost revenue of a dark kitchen. A full-time, permit-holding chef provides stability that agency workers cannot match. By automating the recruitment through Recruitroo, you save on the €5k agency fees, effectively subsidising the increased salary costs required for a compliant permit.
Retention: Keeping Your Global Talent
Bringing a chef to Ireland is an investment; keeping them is a strategy. Many international chefs find the transition to Irish life challenging, particularly when it comes to the logistics of housing and local administration. This is where Recruitroo’s relocation support pays for itself. By providing your new hires with automated guides for PPSNs, bank accounts, and local housing resources, you reduce the "cognitive load" that often leads to early-stage burnout in a high-pressure kitchen environment.
In 2026, the restaurants that thrive will be those that treat their international staff as long-term partners. A happy, settled chef leads to a consistent kitchen, better reviews, and a stronger bottom line. With Recruitroo, you aren't just filling a vacancy; you are building a resilient, global culinary team backed by the best technology in the market.
Solve your kitchen staffing crisis
Source, vet, and relocate world-class chefs without the administrative headache using Recruitroo.