Spreadsheet: 94106abb-dad0-4a06-bdfd-6cc153c7277f
Sheet: Employment

Common Business and Employment Categories - Ireland
 |  | Green Card Permit | Work Permit | Intra-Company Transfer ("ICT") Work Permit | Contract for Supply of Services Work Permit | Spousal & Dependant Work Permit
Work / Employment | Applicability? | The Green Card Permit Scheme is aimed at occupations where a high-level strategic skills shortage exists. Applications may be submitted: • Tier 1 For all occupations where the annual salary (excluding bonuses) on offer is €60,000 or more, other than those contrary to the public interest and those that fall within the “ineligible categories”; or • Tier 2 For a restricted number of strategically important occupations where the annual salary range is €30,000–€59,999 (excluding bonuses). | Applications may be submitted:  • For all occupations other than those contrary to public policy or considered to be ineligible, where the annual remuneration (excluding bonuses) on offer is €30,000 or more. • For a very limited number of occupations below an annual remuneration of €30,000. National minimum wage restrictions will apply in such instances. | The ICT Work Permit Scheme is intended to assist in the transfer of non-EEA senior management, key personnel, or trainees from an overseas company to its Irish branch. ICT Permits are strictly limited to senior management, key personnel, or trainees with a minimum annual remuneration of €40,000 who have been employed by the overseas company for a minimum of six months before the proposed transfer. | A contract for the supply of services occurs when a foreign undertaking contracts to provide services to an Irish entity and fulfillment necessitates the assignment of an employee of the foreign undertaking to the Irish entity. An example of this type of contract might involve the commissioning of a plant, machinery or software. Permits in these situations generally must follow the same conditions and application process as other employment permit applications. Applicants must have been employed by the foreign company for more than six months, and pay slips must be submitted confirming this. Further, the transfer must be for at least ninety days. A successful applicant may remain on the foreign payroll if he or she is in receipt of annual remuneration of over €40,000 and if an agreement signed by the employer, employee, and contractor exists. However if the remuneration is between €30,000 and €40,000, the applicant must be placed on an Irish payrolll and be directly employed under an Irish employment contract. | Spouses and dependents of certain employment permit holders may apply for work permits for any category of occupation. The arrangements apply to spouses and dependent unmarried children under the age of eighteen years, other than in exceptional circumstances, who are admitted to Ireland as family members of the employment permit holder. The spouse or dependent must be legally resident in Ireland at the date of application. The employment permit holder must still be working within the terms of the relevant employment permit and must have one of the following: • A valid green card permit; • A valid work permit of twelve months’ duration or more where the first work permit application was received by the Employment Permits Section before June 1, 2009; • A valid employment permit or [NAME] for a researcher position; • A valid work visa issued before December 31, 2006; • A valid work authorization issued before December 31, 2006; • A valid Intra-Company Transfer Permit of twelve months or more where the application was received by the Employment Permits Section before June 1, 2009. The employment permit holder also must still be working within the terms of the employment permit.
 | Quota or [NAME]? | No. However it should be noted that a Green Card Permit will not be granted to companies where more than 50% of the employees in the firm are non-EEA nationals at the time of the application. This restriction does not apply in the case of Green Card Permit applications submitted by employees (as opposed to being submitted by the employer). | No. However it should be noted that a Work Permit will not be granted to companies where more than 50% of the employees in the firm are non-EEA nationals at the time of the application. This restriction does not apply in the case of Work Permit applications submitted by employees (as opposed to being submitted by the employer). | No | No | No. However it should be noted that a Contract for Services Work Permit will not be granted to companies where more than 50% of the employees in the firm are non-EEA nationals at the time of the application. This restriction does not apply in the case of Contract for Services Work Permit applications submitted by employees (as opposed to being submitted by the employer).
 | Is Secondment to the Destination Country Allowed with No Local Employer  (i.e. for work on client sites on behalf of the foreign employer)? | No | No | No | Yes | No
 | Must the Employer have a Legal Presence in the Destination Country to obtain this permit/visa? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes
 | Is a Local Contract Required? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes
 | Must the Employee be Paid Locally? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes
 | Is There a Minimum Wage Requirement? | Yes - please see remuneration thresholds referred to 'Applicability'. | Yes - please see remuneration thresholds referred to 'Applicability'. | Yes - please see remuneration thresholds referred to 'Applicability'. | Yes - please see remuneration thresholds referred to 'Applicability'. | Yes - Applicants under this Employment Permit scheme can be in receipt of remuneration less than €30,000 per annum (but not less than National Minimum Wage).
 | Is there an Age Restriction/Requirement? | No | No | No | No | No
 | Where is the Application Submitted? | Applications are submitted to the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin. | Applications are submitted to the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin. | Applications are submitted to the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin. | Applications are submitted to the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin. | Applications are submitted to the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation in Dublin.
 | Government Processing Time? | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks
 | Maximum Initial Period of Stay? | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years | The duration of the permit generally is commensurate with that of the existing employment permit holder i.e. the period covered by the Spousal & Depedent Work Permit will not exceed the period covered by the primary permit holder's employment authorisation.
 | Maximum Number of Extensions (Total Time) Allowed? | A Green Card Permit is issued for an initial period of two years and thereafter will normally be renewed indefinitely. After five years the applicant may apply for long term residency. | The work permit is initially issued for a maximum of two years and may be renewed for a further three years. After five years the applicant may apply for long term residency. | The ICT work permit is initially issued for a maximum of two years and may be renewed for a further three years. | The Contract for Services Work Permit is initially issued for a maximum of two years and may be renwed for a further three years. | Once again this depends on the period covered by the employment authorisation granted to the primary permit holder.
 | Geographical  Limitation on Activities Undertaken in the Destination Country? | No | No | No | No | No
 | Registration Requirements on Arrival Before Working? | None. However all non-EEA nationals who intend staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register their presence as soon as possible with the Irish police authorities (known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB). | None. However all non-EEA nationals who intend staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register their presence as soon as possible with the Irish police authorities (known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB). | None. However all non-EEA nationals who intend staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register their presence as soon as possible with the Irish police authorities (known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB). | None. However all non-EEA nationals who intend staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register their presence as soon as possible with the Irish police authorities (known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB). | None. However all non-EEA nationals who intend staying in Ireland for longer than 90 days must register their presence as soon as possible with the Irish police authorities (known as the Garda National Immigration Bureau/GNIB).
 | [NAME]? | None | None | None | None | None
 | Academic Qualifications Required? | This depends on the requirements for the job on offer but usually a relevant university degree or equivalent experience will be required. | This depends on the requirements for the job on offer but usually a relevant university degree or equivalent experience will be required. | This depends on the requirements for the job on offer but usually a relevant university degree or equivalent experience will be required. | This depends on the requirements for the job on offer but usually a relevant university degree or equivalent experience will be required. | This depends on the requirements for the job on offer but usually a relevant university degree or equivalent experience will be required.
 | [NAME]? | None | None | None | None | None
 | Previous Employment or Work Experience Requirements? | None | None | The applicant must have been employed by the sending organisation for at least six months prior to their transfer to Ireland. | The applicant must have been employed by the sending organisation for at least six months prior to their transfer to Ireland. | None
 | Are there any Age Restrictions? | No | No | No | No | No
 | Must there be a Test of the Resident Labor Market? | No | Yes | No | Yes | No
 | Does it lead to Settlement/Permanent Residence/Citizenship? | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes
 | Can Dependents Accompany Applicant? | Yes immediate family reunification is permitted. | Yes but only once the Work Permit holder has been in Ireland for one year. | Yes but only once the Work Permit holder has been in Ireland for one year. | No | N/A
 | Who Qualifies as a Dependent? | Spouses and Dependant unmarried children under the age of 18. | Spouses and Dependant unmarried children under the age of 18. | Spouses and Dependant unmarried children under the age of 18. | N/A | N/A
 | Can Dependents Work/Attend School? | Dependents cannot work without first applying for an Employment Permit in their own right. However dependents will be permitted to attend school. | Dependents cannot work without first applying for an Employment Permit in their own right. However dependents will be permitted to attend school. | Dependents cannot work without first applying for an Employment Permit in their own right. However dependents will be permitted to attend school. | N/A | N/A
Business Visitor | How do Business Travelers enter the country? | All overseas nationals who are not citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland i.e. non-EEA nationals, require employment permits to work in Ireland. The EEA consists of the 27 EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Non-EEA nationals may be further subdivided into two categories: visa-requiring and non-visa-requiring depending on their country of origin. A distinction exists under Irish law between an employment permit that is required to undertake employment in Ireland and a visa that, once validly issued, gives the holder a right to enter Ireland. The requirement to obtain a visa must be complied with before traveling to Ireland, and in the case of those intending to work in the State, applications must be made after they have received their original employment permits (as this document must be included with the remaining documentation in support of the visa application). In Ireland there are two types of visas – short-stay ‘C’ visas or long-stay ‘D’ visas.  C visas are issued for short-term trips only, usually for the purpose of tourism, visiting family, business meetings or conferences. The maximum duration for which an Immigration Officer will allow an individual to remain in the State with a C visa is 90 days.
 | What are considered legitimate business activities and what are the requirements for business travel? | Unfortunately there are no specific guidelines as to activities which are permitted under this visa permission. However, from our experience, the holder of a short-stay C visa is entitled to attend meetings, conferences, training, induction, product demonstrations as well as the commissioning, testing and installation of machinery and software.
Other Considerations | Are There Grounds That Render Applicants Ineligible for a Permit or to Enter the Country? | Ireland has many grounds that may render a person inadmissiable for an entry-visa. Anyone with a criminal and/or adverse immigration history should make full disclosure of these facts in their entry visa application.
 | Are Waivers for Ineligibility Possible? | No. However there is the possibility of an appeal against the decision to refuse a visa application. There will be no appeal allowed where the applicant is found to have given false or misleading information in any part of their application or if they have submitted false, forged or fraudulent documentation.
 | Timing for [NAME]? | Not Applicable
 | Administrative Body for Removal/Deportation and Immigration Issues? | Employment Permit applications are processed by the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation ("DJEI). Visa applications/[NAME] are the remit of the Department of Justice run Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ("INIS").