Visas & Customs Requirements

Employment:

The Green Card

Americans wishing to settle in Ireland for professional purposes can apply for a green card at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, provided that they have a work contract or a valid job offer beforehand.

The green card, issued for an initial period of 2 years, legally allows its holder to work in Ireland for a bona-fide company registered for trading in Ireland. The green card also allows family entry and settlement. Beyond the initial period of two years, the green card is renewable indefinitely. In order to apply for a green card, your expected annual salary must exceed € 60,000 (excluding bonuses). If your expected annual salary is between € 30,000 and € 59,999, you may still get a green card if your profession is indexed in the eligible professions list. The eligible professions list is available in Annex A of the PDF issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at http://www.entemp.ie/.

Both the employer and the foreign worker can initiate the green card application procedure by completing the requested form (downloadable on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website) accompanied with the description of the job offer, date of entry into employment, annual salary etc. Information about the foreign worker is also needed: qualifications and experience, credentials and all necessary supporting documents. Fees of € 1,000 apply for the green card application.

The work permit

Americans wishing to settle in Ireland for professional purposes but who are not eligible for the green card can apply for a work permit at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, provided they have a work contract or a valid a job offer from an Irish employer beforehand. The work permit is issued for a period varying from 6 months to 2 years.

In order to apply for a work permit in Ireland, your expected annual salary must exceed € 30,000 (excluding bonuses). If your expected annual salary is below € 30,000, you may still get a work permit provided that your profession is NOT indexed in the ineligible professions list. The ineligible professions list is in Annex A of the PDF issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment at http://www.entemp.ie/.

The job you are applying to must be advertised in the FAS/EURES employment network and in local and national newspapers for three days to make sure that neither a national from the EEA, nor a national from Bulgaria and Romania, can be found to fill the vacancy. Both the employer and the foreign worker can initiate the work permit application procedure by completing the requested form (downloadable on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website) accompanied with the description of the job offer, date of entry into employment, annual salary etc. Information about the foreign worker is also needed: qualifications and experience, credentials and all necessary supportive documents. Fees of € 500 apply for a work permit valid up to 6 months, € 1,000 for a work permit valid for 6 months or more and € 1,500 for renewal up to 3 years. Beyond 3 years, renewal is free of charge and unlimited.

Employment Situation:

Ireland’s employment growth in recent years has consistently outstripped its European neighbours. The 4.2% employment growth rate posted in 2006 was in a different league from the EU average of 1.4% – ensuring jobs for over two thirds of the adult population. Given the continued progress seen throughout 2006, there is confidence that all of the Lisbon employment targets will be achieved in Ireland.

However, the Irish economy’s strong performance poses a real challenge for labour supply which, in large part, will have to be met through greater immigration. Net migration to Ireland reached over 69 900 in the year 2006, up by over 15 000 on the previous period, and non-national workers currently account for some 11% of the Irish labour force. But more remains to be done in terms of attracting highly skilled foreigners and preventing discrimination in the workplace.

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