General Work Permits (GWP) are issued by Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

Unlike Critical Skills Employment Permits, where only specified occupations qualify, General Work Permits assume all occupations are eligible unless they appear on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits.

Key Advantages of a General Work Permit:

• A broader range of occupations is eligible, offering greater flexibility to prospective candidates.

• Permits can be granted for employment contracts as short as 12 months.

• All occupations listed under the Critical Skills Occupations List are automatically considered eligible under this system.

Additionally, jobs offering an annual salary of €64,000 or more may qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, provided the role is not on the Ineligible List and is not contrary to the public interest.

This approach opens more pathways for skilled professionals seeking to build a future in Ireland.

If your career is not listed as Critical Skills and not on the Ineligible List, you may be eligible to apply for a General Work Permit (GWP).

General Work Permits are intended for applicants whose occupations fall outside the Critical Skills list, or who do not meet the salary, qualification, or two-year contract requirements for a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

Helpful Resources:

• General Work Permits – Deeper Information: A plain-English guide to securing a job offer and work permit.

• Family Reunification Guide: A detailed breakdown of the official 71-page document for family members of work permit holders.

• Spouses and Children: Guidance on how and when family members can join you and the process they must follow.

For official information, you can also refer directly to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) website.

We are often asked: If both parents hold their own General Work Permits (GWPs), can their children join them in Ireland?
The simple answer, based on the Family Reunification policy, is no — not immediately.

Key Points:

• General Work Permit holders fall under Category B for family sponsorship.

• Category B sponsors can only apply for family reunification after 12 months of legal residence in Ireland, once they meet the required financial criteria based on family size.

• This applies to all non-Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and Stamp 4 holders not covered by more favourable arrangements.

Exceptional Circumstances:
We have consulted with Irish solicitors, and in rare cases, exceptions have been made. If it can be proven beyond doubt that there are no remaining family members in South Africa able to care for the children, a solicitor may assist in applying for reunification earlier.
However:

• Solid and abundant evidence is required.

• Applications cannot be processed in advance or on the assumption that both parents will successfully obtain GWPs.

Should you find yourself in this situation, you may wish to consult an experienced Irish immigration solicitor for advice and assistance.

We are often asked about the length of time allowed for holiday visits to Ireland. Unfortunately, we cannot give a definitive answer, as this decision lies entirely with the Border Management Unit (BMU).

What We Can Confirm:

• Spending 180 days in Ireland in a single year will not be allowed, as that would suggest residency rather than a holiday.

• It is more realistic to expect a 30-day holiday, possibly twice a year, rather than two extended stays of 90 days each.

• The “up to 90 days” allowance is not guaranteed.

ENTRY VISA- Holiday or Join Family

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