Ireland Publishes New Employment Permit Salary Roadmap

Key Point  

• Ireland announced a phased roadmap raising minimum salary thresholds for employment permits beginning 1 March 2026, with further increases through 2030 

Roadmap Overview 

Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has published a roadmap that gradually increases minimum salary thresholds for employment permits, effective 1 March 2026 and continuing through 2030. The phased approach replaces earlier plans for faster increases, giving employers and sectors more time to adjust while ensuring migrant workers receive fairer pay aligned with average earnings. 

Threshold Changes  

Under the roadmap, the minimum salary for General Employment Permits will rise from €34,000 to €36,605, while the minimum salary for Critical Skills Employment Permits will increase from €38,000 to €40,904. Certain agri-food and healthcare roles, including meat processors, horticultural workers, healthcare assistants and home carers, will see their thresholds rise from €30,000 to €32,691. Lower entry thresholds will apply for recent graduates, reflecting early career stages. 

Policy Rationale  

The government emphasized that the roadmap strikes a balance between competitiveness and worker protections. By phasing out lower thresholds in sectors such as agri‑food and healthcare by 2030, Ireland aims to strengthen compliance, improve wage standards and ensure that employment permits remain sustainable for both employers and employees. 

Consultation and Feedback  

The roadmap reflects input from more than 150 submissions by employers, permit holders, trade unions and advocacy groups. Stakeholders raised concerns about rising costs, inflation and challenges for migrant workers renewing permits under higher thresholds. In response, DETE extended the timeline to 2030, providing predictability and clarity for workforce planning. 

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