Ireland Immigration Services

Working in Ireland

The type of visa needed, or whether any visa is needed, is determined by the country of origin, duration of stay, and the type of business-related activities to be done in Ireland.

Ireland allows business visitors to enter and stay for up to 90 days, and some countries do not require a visa to enter.

With regard to work-related activities, certain foreign nationals such as citizens from the European Union (EU), Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland (EEA) don’t require a permit to work in Ireland; however, other in-country formalities may be required Additionally, if the business trip is less than 14 days, an employment permit may not be required to work in Ireland. Generally, if your employees don’t fall into one of those categories, they will require a work permit.

Irish employment permits generally are given to foreign nationals if their intended role at a company can’t be filled by an Irish citizen, an EU/EEA citizen, or a foreign national who already holds a visa and is settled in Ireland. Certain applications require a Labour Market Needs Test, meaning that an Irish company must first advertise the position within the country, among other requirements.

Employers and employees need to make sure they apply for the correct visa or work permit and provide the necessary documentation in their application and when entering Ireland on a valid work permit. There are a variety of different types of work permits and visas in Ireland, but we’ve listed the most common ones below.

Types of Visas

• General Employment Permit
• Critical Skills Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Permit
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit

Processes and requirements vary by the type of visa. To figure out which visa your business requires, click below to download our Ireland fact sheet or click here to set up a consultation.