DCU Employment Permits Guidelines

Employment Permits

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit replaces the Green Card type employment permit. The Critical Skills Employment Permit is designed to attract highly skilled people into the labour market with the aim of encouraging them to take up permanent residence in the State.

Critical Skills Employment Permits are issued for occupations where a high-level strategic skills shortage exists. Critical Skills Employment Permits are issued for a duration of two years and therefore an application for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is dependant on a job offer of two years or more. Permits are issued to individual employers and are not transferable.

Eligibility

The following criteria must be met in order to successfully obtain a Critical Skills Employment Permits:

  1. Occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of €32,000 for a restricted number of strategically important occupations contained in the Critical Skills Occupations List a relevant degree qualification or higher is required.
  2. All occupations with a minimum annual remuneration of over €64,000, other than those on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits or which are contrary to the public interest. A non-EEA national who does not have a degree qualification or higher, must have the necessary level of experience.
  3. Job offer must be for 2 years or more
  4. The applicant concerned must possess the qualifications, skills and experience relevant to the particular role

Application Timeframe

As the processing timeframe can vary significantly please refer to the following link for an accurate estimate of timeframe at time of application https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/Current-Application-Processing-Dates/

Critical Skills Employment Permit applications should be prepared well in advance of the proposed start or renewal date (please see below for the Applying for a Critical Skills Employment Permit Section).

Application Fee

There is an application fee of €1,000 applicable for a Critical Skills Employment Permit of two years in duration.

Key Provisions & Benefits

  • Linked to the contract of employment offered by the relevant employer
  • Issued for a two-year duration, therefore the contract must be for a period of two years or more
  • Allows for immediate family reunification
  • Application process is swift (excluding VISA application process)
  • After two years an individual can apply for a GNIB card Stamp 4
  • An application fee of €1,000 must be submitted

Applying for a Critical Skills Employment Permit

For further information on applying for a Critical Skills Employment Permit please click on the following link or contact askhr@dcu.ie who will direct you to the relevant HR Business Partner for further information.

Further Information on Critical Skill Visas

All terms and conditions relating to the Green Card Permits can be found at: https://dbei.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits/

 

Employment Permits

Visa Information

IRP Card