Republic of Ireland
Critical Skills Employment Permit: government fee breakdown
By Sam Parks · Last checked:
Source auto-reconfirmed 25 September 2026 by the daily automated check (figures unchanged since last review).
A Critical Skills Employment Permit to Ireland costs around €1,300 in government fees for a single applicant — the CSEP fee is typically employer-borne, so the worker's out-of-pocket cost is closer to €300.
These are the fees paid to the Republic of Ireland government. For sponsored routes, the payer varies by country and component; use the item notes and primary source to confirm whether the sponsor, applicant, or both pay. Fees for dependants, priority services, or higher salary bands may change the total.
How much does the Critical Skills Employment Permit cost in Ireland?
A Critical Skills Employment Permit to Ireland costs around €1,300 in government fees for a single applicant — the CSEP fee is typically employer-borne, so the worker's out-of-pocket cost is closer to €300.
Source checked against DETE — Fees for employment permits on 10 September 2026.
Headline total
€1,300
Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality
No changes recorded for this figure since 10 September 2026.
Currency
EUR (Euro)
Last checked
10 September 2026
Itemised fees
| Fee component | Amount | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
Critical Skills Employment Permit fee (employer-paid)# DETE fee for a permit valid up to 24 months. | €1,000 | Yes |
Preclearance (D-visa) for visa-required nationals# Single-entry D-visa for long-stay. UK, US, Canadian, Australian and most EU/EEA citizens do not require a D-visa. | €60 | Optional |
Irish Residence Permit (IRP) — first issuance# Paid to ISD (per person) after arrival at the registration appointment. Under-18s and protection-status holders are exempt. | €300 | Yes |
IRP renewal# | €300 | Optional |
Worked example
Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality — €1,300
- €1,000 CSEP fee (employer-borne)
- €300 IRP on arrival
How to read these fees
The €1,300 headline covers single applicant, non-visa-required nationality. Of the 4 components listed above, 2 are mandatory and 2 are optional add-ons (such as priority processing) you can choose to skip. The single biggest mandatory line is Critical Skills Employment Permit fee (employer-paid) at €1,000.
Bringing family changes the total — see the dependant section below. Treat the figure as a planning estimate rather than a quote: confirm each line on the official source linked below on the day you pay, because these fees are revised regularly.
Dependant fees
CSEP permit holders can sponsor family immediately. Each family IRP is €300. D-visas for visa-required dependants are €60 each.
Why fees change
DETE fees in SI 680/2017 have been stable since 2018. ISD is migrating to a new online appointment system through 2025–2026, which may shift payment channels but not amounts. In practice the largest charge, the CSEP permit fee itself, is usually paid by the employer, so the real out-of-pocket cost for the worker is often just the family and registration fees.
Primary source
DETE — Fees for employment permits
https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/workplace-and-skills/employment-permits/fees/
Cite or reuse this dataset
This figure is free to reuse under CC BY 4.0. Cite the Visa Atlas page for the compiled, dated dataset, and cite the official source for the underlying government rule.
Suggested citation
Visa Atlas, "Critical Skills Employment Permit fee schedule", https://visaatlas.org/fees/ireland/critical-skills-employment-permit. Last checked 10 September 2026.
- JSON endpoint
- https://visaatlas.org/api/public/fees
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Critical Skills Employment Permit cost in government fees?
A Critical Skills Employment Permit to Ireland costs around €1,300 in government fees for a single applicant — the CSEP fee is typically employer-borne, so the worker's out-of-pocket cost is closer to €300. The worked example assumes single applicant, non-visa-required nationality, totalling €1,300. Fees for dependants, priority service, or higher-tier salary bands change the total — see the itemised table above.
Are these fees refundable if my application is refused?
Most application fees are non-refundable once the government begins processing. Some jurisdictions refund specific components (e.g. Canada's Right of Permanent Residence Fee refunds if refused; UK IHS refunds if the visa is refused). Check the linked primary source for the route you are applying to.
How often do these fees change?
DETE fees in SI 680/2017 have been stable since 2018. ISD is migrating to a new online appointment system through 2025–2026, which may shift payment channels but not amounts. In practice the largest charge, the CSEP permit fee itself, is usually paid by the employer, so the real out-of-pocket cost for the worker is often just the family and registration fees.
Do dependants pay the same fees as the primary applicant?
CSEP permit holders can sponsor family immediately. Each family IRP is €300. D-visas for visa-required dependants are €60 each.
Next steps
Full visa guide
Eligibility, application steps, and FAQs for the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
Processing time
How long the Critical Skills Employment Permit takes from application to decision.
Compare: General Employment Permit fees
Sponsored employment permit for eligible roles that meet the General Employment Permit conditions, including the applicable salary, occupation, employer and labour-market checks.
Compare: Stamp 4 permission fees
Time-limited Irish residence permission allowing employment without an employment permit and business activity, subject to the permission conditions. An employment-based Stamp 4 upgrade is separate from Long Term Residency and citizenship.
Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.