IrelandWhat visa do I need to work in Ireland?
To work in Ireland, non-EEA nationals generally need an employment permit (e.g., Critical Skills or General Work Permit) and a visa or residence permission — the Immigration Act 2004 gives the Minister power to control entry and stay.
What the Law Says
The Immigration Act 2004 is the primary law governing who may enter and remain in Ireland. It gives the Minister for Justice authority to regulate immigration, including work-related entry and residence.
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need a visa or work permit to live and work in Ireland — your right to work comes from EU free movement law.
If you are from outside the EU/EEA, you usually need both an employment permit (issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment) AND either a short-stay 'C' visa (for stays up to 90 days) or a long-stay 'D' visa (for stays over 90 days), followed by registration with immigration authorities.
Your employer must often apply for an employment permit before you apply for a visa. Permits include the Critical Skills Employment Permit (for roles paying €30,000+ or in shortage occupations) and the General Employment Permit (for other roles, subject to labour market testing).
Once in Ireland on a long-stay visa, you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) or online via the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) portal within 90 days — and renew your permission before it expires.
Statutory TextThe Minister may by order provide for the granting of permission to a non-national to land in the State and remain there for such period and subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.
— Immigration Act 2004, s. 4 — Control of entry and residence
What to Do
Check if you’re EEA/Swiss (no visa needed) or non-EEA (visa + permit likely required)
Have your employer apply for an employment permit (if applicable) at enterprise.gov.ie
Apply for the correct Irish visa online via visas.inis.gov.ie
Book an appointment to register with Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) within 90 days of arrival
Keep your passport, GNIB/IRP card, and employment documents updated and accessible
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.