General Employment Permit (GEP/GWP)

The General Employment Permit is for non EEA nationals working in roles that are needed in Ireland, but which are not restricted to the Critical Skills list. It is more flexible than the Critical Skills route, but has tighter rules on salary levels and family reunification.

GEPs are usually used where:

• The job is not on the Ineligible List of Occupations.

• The employer cannot find a suitable candidate from Ireland or the EEA.

• The salary meets the current Minimum Annual Remuneration rules.

Work Permit skills lists: Am I eligible and SOC codes

Key points

• General Employment Permits cover a broad range of occupations as long as they are not on the ineligible list.

• Minimum salary is generally €34,000, rising to €36,605 from 1 March 2026. Some specific lower thresholds, mainly in agri food and care work, still exist but are being phased out by 2030.

• A genuine job offer from a registered Irish employer is required, and you must have the skills and experience needed for the role.

• Labour Market Needs Test is required to show that the job could not be filled locally. This needs to be done before the job offer is given.

• The permit can be granted for 1- 2 years initially and renewed for up to 3 more years. 

• Family reunification is not immediate. General Employment Permit holders must complete 12 months in Ireland and meet income thresholds before applying to bring family members, this is outside of visa processing times. This could mean a separation period of 12-24months.

The General route offers a pathway to longer term residence, but it is more sensitive to salary levels, hours, and the sponsor’s overall financial position.

General Employment Permit holder

After your General Employment Permit is approved, you must apply for a long stay D visa. You cannot travel to Ireland until the visa is granted.

Once in Ireland, you must:

• Register your permission with immigration after arrival.

• Work only for the named employer, in the approved role and location.

• Keep your salary and hours in line with the permit conditions, because these are checked at renewal time.

If you change employer, a new General Employment Permit is usually needed, and in most cases you must have spent some time with your first employer before a change will be considered.

Family reunification

Unlike Critical Skills, you cannot normally bring your family immediately on a new General Employment Permit.

Under the revised family reunification policy:

• General Employment Permit holders are subject to a one year waiting period before they can sponsor a spouse or partner, plus visa processing times which could mean a separation period of 12-24 months.

• For children (under 18 years old), you must meet higher net and gross income thresholds that increase with each child. These figures are reviewed regularly and change over time. NOTE: If your child is now 16.5years old, the separation and visa processing times, MIGHT mean that child cannot join. Timing of the visa will determine if they are in the country as a minor or not.

• You must also show that you can support your family without relying on State supports and that you have suitable accommodation.

This means that even with a valid GEP, family reunification is not automatic and depends heavily on the sponsor’s income and stability in Ireland.

SA2Eire membership content goes into much more detail on the exact income levels, evidence, and common problem areas for families planning to join a GEP holder.

Entry visas

Your spouse, partner and children must each have their own long stay D visa approved before travelling to Ireland to join you.

Key points to remember:

• Visa applications must be made from outside Ireland.

• Each application must match your employment permit details exactly, including employer, job title and salary.

• New family reunification rules mean processing times, income checks and accommodation standards are stricter than before.

No family member should travel without the correct visa, even if they plan to join you later.

SA2Eire helps members understand how the General Employment Permit, salary thresholds, and the new family reunification rules fit together, so you can plan realistically and avoid refusals.

The simple answer is no, not immediately. Under Ireland’s Family Reunification policy, having two parents on General Work Permits does not give automatic or early access for children to join.

Key points

• General Work Permit holders are Category B sponsors.

• Category B sponsors can only apply for family reunification after 12 months of legal residence in Ireland.

• They must also meet the financial requirements, which increase with each child.

• These rules apply to all non Critical Skills permit holders and to certain Stamp 4 holders who are not covered by more favourable arrangements.

Exceptional circumstances

In very limited cases, exceptions have been made. Irish solicitors have confirmed that, where parents can prove that no family members remain in South Africa who are able to care for the children, an application may be made earlier.

However:

• Evidence must be strong and extensive.

• Applications cannot be made in advance of relocation.

• Exceptions cannot be assumed simply because both parents hold GWPs.

If you are facing this situation, you may wish to seek advice from an Irish immigration solicitor who specialises in family reunification.

We are often asked how long a holiday visit to Ireland is allowed. There is no fixed answer. The length of stay is always decided by the Border Management Unit (BMU) at the point of entry.

What we can confirm

• A stay of 180 days in one year will not be permitted, as this would indicate residency rather than a holiday.

• A holiday of around 30 days is more realistic. Two short trips in a year are usually more acceptable than two long stays of 90 days each.

• The idea of a guaranteed 90 day visit is incorrect. Permission to enter and the length of stay granted are entirely at the BMU’s discretion.

• Every arrival is assessed on its own merits, and previous visits do not create any entitlement.

Entry visa clarification

For South African passport holders, you must apply for the correct visa type before travelling:

• Holiday visa if visiting Ireland for tourism or to meet friends.

• Join Family visa if the purpose is to live with a spouse, partner or parent who is legally resident in Ireland.

Travelling on a holiday visa with the intention of staying long term may result in refusal at the border.

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