Can I work in Ireland as a Health Care Assistant?
Since caring (Health Care Assistant/HCA) was moved from the ineligible list to the General Work Permit list, we at SA2Eire have been talking to various recruiters and caring companies.
The general consensus and feedback: this is going to be tough. Very, very tough.
The General Work Permit conditions for this field require a minimum salary of €30,000 per year, rising to €32,691 from 1 March 2026. This is a lower sub-standard threshold specific to this sector, not the standard GWP rate. Salaries need to be ALOT higher again if you wish to bring family, which is possible after 12 months on a GWP subject to conditions.
The challenge is that this industry in general does not pay these kinds of salaries, even with experience and training.
We are by no means saying this is impossible. But we are giving a touch of reality about just how hard you are going to have to work to get these positions, and to assess the situation honestly before you get to the 50th or 100th rejection.
In Ireland, many Caring companies do not offer a full time postition, they have various hours available week to week, which would make getting a work permit impossible as a work permit requires a min 39 hour a week contract. They are also most often not live-in, you have to have not only your own home, where your rent could be anything from EUR1500-EUR2500 a month on a salary after tax EUR2300 …. AND you will need your own transport! So budget wise- its a very difficult career to survive on, unless you are the spouse of someone who brings home a bigger salary and yours is just supplementary.
Perhaps, as an upfront candidate, this needs to be mentioned in your cover letter when you apply. A well and carefully worded cover letter that does not offend, but does not waste the time of the recruiter or employer either. We will leave that to your better judgement.
Additional requirement for home carers: applicants for a GWP in a home carer role must hold a Level 5 QQI qualification, or be willing to obtain one within 2 years of starting the job.
The other obstacles are the Labour Market Needs Test and the 50:50 rule for the General Work Permit to be approved.
In brief, the company has to employ at least 50% of its staff from within Ireland and the EU before that work permit is issued. DETE checks that the employer is compliant with this before approving.
Along with those obstacles, most caring jobs in Ireland require you to have your own car and are not live-in positions. If you get a job at a care home you will need your own accommodation and transport. If the role involves visiting various people during your shift, the same applies. At these salary levels, both are very hard to afford.
So, as we said at the beginning, it is not impossible. It is just extremely tough and there are multiple real obstacles in the way.
DETE update on quotas:
The original quota of 1,000 General Employment Permits for the role of care workers and home carers was introduced in December 2022. This was extended by a further 1,000 permits in March 2025, bringing the total quota to 2,000. Always check the current status of the quota directly with DETE before applying, as quotas can fill up.
SOC CODE FOR WORK PERMIT:
6145: CARE WORKERS AND HOME CARERS
Job description: Care workers and home carers attend to the personal needs and comforts of the elderly and the infirm with care and support needs within residential care establishments, day care establishments or in their own homes.
Tasks include: assisting with dressing, washing, toileting and bathing; serving meals and assisting with feeding; supporting overall comfort and wellbeing; providing activities and stimulation; helping with daily tasks such as letter writing and paying bills; light cleaning and domestic duties; monitoring conditions by taking temperature, pulse, respiration and weight; liaising with professional staff on care plans.
Jobs in this category: care assistant, care worker, carer, home care assistant, home carer, support worker (nursing home).
1242: RESIDENTIAL, DAY AND DOMICILIARY CARE MANAGERS AND PROPRIETORS
General Work Permit eligible from January 2024.
Job description: Managers and proprietors in this group plan, organise, direct and coordinate the resources necessary for the provision and running of residential and day care establishments and domiciliary care services.
Tasks include: determining staffing, financial and material requirements; planning work schedules; arranging bill payments and accounts; maintaining contact between service users and the community; assessing needs and ensuring access to health and social care; creating a secure atmosphere for those using the service; ensuring physical comfort and material needs of service users.
Jobs in this category: care manager, day centre manager, nursing home owner, residential manager.
6146: SENIOR CARE WORKERS
General Work Permit eligible from January 2024.
Job description: Senior care workers routinely oversee and monitor care workers, care assistants and home carers, while also attending to the personal needs of service users.
Tasks include: overseeing and monitoring care workers; taking responsibility for the shift; responding to emergencies; providing guidance to care workers; all tasks listed under 6145 above.
Jobs in this category: senior care assistant, senior carer, senior support worker, team leader (nursing home).
Written for SA2Eire by Members
Comments from members who work or recruit in this field:
“I’m going to say it is pretty much impossible. Realistically if there was an HCA job being advertised offering that sort of pay I can promise you there would be a heap of qualified and experienced local applicants for the employer to choose from. The shortage in HCAs is not because there aren’t people in Ireland willing and able to do the job, but because of the incredibly low wages paid by most places.
Personally I don’t think the government actually intend to issue many visas for this. I think this is a political move to force a change in wages in this area. The industry has been crying out for the government to allow them to hire people from abroad at the usual low wages, but the government has been clever and said OK, we will issue permits but only on higher salaries. So while this will not have an immediate effect on relieving the crisis, it will hopefully force the industry to start paying staff properly.”
“Also, the only companies that take on inexperienced and unqualified staff are the home care companies and in addition to the low rate of pay they usually do not guarantee full time hours, so I don’t see how anyone could ever get a permit for a home care job. Nursing homes pay minimum wage or slightly above and do give full time contracts but they only take qualified staff with experience because of HIQA rules.”
