Before you plan an international hire for any role in Ireland, you must check the Ineligible Occupations List. This DETE-published list specifies roles that cannot be filled through the General Employment Permit. If your role is on the list, a GEP application will be refused -- regardless of how strong the candidate is or how genuine the shortage. This guide explains what the Ineligible List is, how to check it, which roles are commonly listed, and what your options are if your role appears on it.
What Is the Ineligible List?
The Ineligible Occupations List is published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). It lists occupations for which a General Employment Permit will not be granted. The rationale is that these roles should be fillable from the domestic and EEA labour market, or that they are below the skill level that Ireland wants to attract through its permit system.
How to Check the List
Three Steps
1. Go to the DETE employment permits website
The list is published as an annex to the employment permit regulations.
2. Search by occupation title or SOC code
The list uses Standard Occupational Classification codes.
3. Check the date
The list is updated periodically. Ensure you are looking at the most recent version.
The list changes. Roles are added and removed following labour market reviews. A role that was eligible last year may not be eligible now, and vice versa. Always check the current list before starting any recruitment campaign.
Commonly Listed Occupations
The following categories have historically appeared on or near the Ineligible List (always verify current status):
Frequently Ineligible Roles
General labourers (all sectors)
Retail sales assistants and cashiers
Waiting staff and bar staff
Kitchen porters and cleaners
Office administrative assistants
Security guards
Some general operative roles in manufacturing and food processing
What If Your Role Is on the List?
You have three options:
Options When the Role Is Ineligible
Option 1: Restructure the role
Sometimes a role can be redesigned to include higher-skill elements that move it off the list. A 'kitchen porter' cannot be sponsored, but a 'commis chef' with genuine culinary duties can. The role must genuinely reflect the higher-skill description -- do not misrepresent.
Option 2: Use the CSEP high-earner route
If you can offer EUR 68,173 or above, the role qualifies for CSEP regardless of the Ineligible List. This bypasses the list entirely but requires a salary that few ineligible roles can justify.
Option 3: Wait for the list to change
If DETE is reviewing the list and your sector is lobbying for removal, a future review may open the role. This is not a short-term solution.
The Ineligible List vs the Critical Skills Occupations List
A role can be on neither list (eligible for GEP, not eligible for CSEP at EUR 40,904), on the CSOL (eligible for CSEP), on the Ineligible List (blocked from GEP), or theoretically on both (which would mean CSEP-only). Understanding which list your role falls under is the first step in permit planning.
How Recruitroo Checks the Ineligible List
Recruitroo checks every role against both the Ineligible List and the Critical Skills Occupations List before any campaign begins. If a role is ineligible, we advise on options before you invest time or money. No Recruitroo client has ever had a permit refused because the role was on the Ineligible List.
Not sure if your role is eligible?
Send us the job title and description. We will check both lists and confirm your permit options within 24 hours.
Get a QuoteSee Client StoriesThis guide reflects the DETE Ineligible Occupations List as of May 2026. The list is updated periodically -- always check the current version.