Ireland offers Critical Skills, General Employment Permit, researcher, intra-company transfer, post-study Stamp 1G, STEP startup and family routes for non-EEA applicants. The long-term stage is not a single PR route: work permit holders may move to Stamp 4, eligible employment residence may support five-year Long Term Residency, and 96 months of qualifying residence may support Stamp 5. Citizenship normally counts five years of reckonable residence in the most recent nine years.
Language and applicant context:The English-speaking environment can help learners; permits, occupation lists and employers matter more than language alone.
These structured advantages reflect currently published routes with official sources and are not a promise of an individual outcome.
Entry mix currently covered: employer-sponsored.
Long-term visa routes
2
PR / citizenship routes
0
Official sources
Verified
Long-term visa entry points
Only routes with current review coverage and complete official sourcing are shown here.
General Employment Permit (GEP)
Long-term visa
Covers most jobs outside the ineligible occupations list. From March 2026 the general minimum salary is EUR 36,605; designated care, agri-food and other jobs may have special thresholds such as EUR 32,691 or quota rules. A Labour Market Needs Test normally requires the vacancy to be advertised through EURES and other prescribed channels for at least 28 days. After 57 months of employment, a Stamp 4 upgrade may be available.
Timing: Confirm for the individual caseCost: Check the official fee schedule
A temporary route for a multinational company to transfer a senior manager, key employee or trainee to an Irish related entity. In 2026, senior managers and key employees normally need at least EUR 49,523 and six months with the overseas entity; trainees need EUR 36,605 and one month. The first permit is normally up to 24 months and total stay generally cannot exceed five years. DETE treats it as temporary and it does not count toward Long Term Residency, although current ISD rules may allow Stamp 4 after 57 months.
Timing: Confirm for the individual caseCost: Check the official fee schedule