Critical skills work permits how they work: The Basics of the process

Critical Skills Employment Permit

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is for highly skilled roles that are important to Ireland’s economy and in short supply. It is designed to support long term settlement in Ireland.

Key points

Eligible careers are based on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
Minimum salary is €38000 (from March 2026 €40,904) for applicants with a University degree and over €64,000 for all other eligible high skill roles.
A degree is normally required, unless the salary is over €64,000 and the role is not on the ineligible list.
You must have a two year job offer and meet the qualifications and experience needed for the role.
No Labour Market Needs Test is required.
You can apply immediately for your spouse, partner and children to join you.
After completing your permit period, you can apply for Stamp 4 permission and no longer need an employment permit.

The Critical Skills route gives skilled workers and their families a strong pathway to long term residence in Ireland.

CSEP Holder
You must apply for a long stay D visa after your permit is approved. You cannot travel to Ireland until the visa is issued.

Immediate Family Reunification

You can apply straight away for your spouse, partner and minor children to join you. However, the processing time of visas may vary and might mean in practice you are not on the plane together at the same time. There might be anything from 2 months to 12 months separation. This needs to be reviewed at the time, see more on the Family Reunification section of SA2Eire. Also in this section is more on your spouse/ partner / chilren and adult dependants. Once in Ireland, your spouse or partner can apply for their own work permission. The Dependant or Spouse Permit is issued free of charge.

Entry visas
Your spouse, partner and children must also apply for their own long stay D visas before travelling. Each application must match your permit details and meet the new family reunification rules.

No family member can enter Ireland without a visa, even if they plan to join you later.

SA2Eire guides members through the full visa process to help avoid delays or refusals.

Work permit holders and travel to the EU and UK (including Northern Ireland)

Once a South African passport holder is in possession of the IRP card, they can apply for visas for the UK (Standard UK visitor visa) or the EU/EEA to the country they want to visit.

Holding an IRP for Ireland does not automatically give rights to travel to the EU/EEA or UK. The IRP is permission live and work in Ireland alone.

If the country is in the Schengen zone that you wish to visit, you apply for a Schengen visa for that country.

If any other country, apply direct for that country.

I’m a South African passport holder, do I need a visa to go to the EU and/or UK? – A question that gets asked regularly on visas to the EU and Uk from Ireland once people are resident in Ireland

SA2Eire are going to go through this process step-by-step with you:

Essential Documents & Admin for Moving to Ireland

There are alot of important documents and tasks to complete before and after your move.

📌 Pre-Move Admin (Before Leaving South Africa)

We have an entire checklist of To-Do’s to download

✅ Passports & Travel Documents (Home Affairs too!)

✅ Financial & Banking Setup

✅ Accommodation in Ireland

✅ Medical & Insurance

✅ Education & Schooling

✅ Tax Considerations

✅ Budgeting

✅ Pets

✅ Employment or Starting a business

All the above on SA2eire, click the ALL THE INFO on mobile view, or the BLUE BOX TO THE LEFT ON PC/LARGER DEVICE

📌 Post-Move Admin (Once in Ireland)

✅ Banking & Finances

✅ PPS Number

✅ Healthcare Registration

✅ Driving & Transport