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Filipino applicants · Republic of Ireland

General Employment Permit for Filipino citizens

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Sponsored employment permit for eligible roles that meet the General Employment Permit conditions, including the applicable salary, occupation, employer and labour-market checks.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residency2 years initially and renewable; later residence permissions depend on the qualifying permission history and separate ISD rules.In flux

This page covers the General Employment Permit specifically for Filipino applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Philippines. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.

Processing time
DETE publishes a live processing queue; decision timing changes as applications are received and reviewed.
Government fees
€1,000 for 2 years.
Typical duration
2 years initially and renewable; later residence permissions depend on the qualifying permission history and separate ISD rules.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment ↗

Bilateral context

  • Schengen Area

Filing context: Applicant or employer uses Employment Permits Online to submit and track the General Employment Permit application. The employment permit, entry visa if required and ISD immigration registration are separate steps. Applicants filing from the Philippines should check the selected occupation, salary and LMNT evidence against the current DETE rules; if an Irish entry visa is required, apply through the official visa process after the permit decision. Family timing and work rights are governed by the ISD permission granted, not nationality.

Tourist entry vs. this route

Tourist-entry rules for Filipino nationals change periodically and are separate from the General Employment Permit. Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

Settlement depends on the route

Ordinary GEP: 57 months of qualifying employment is the current ISD marker used when assessing a Stamp 4 upgrade; this is not an automatic grant. Multi-Site GEP for a Non-Consultant Hospital Doctor: current ISD guidance places this permission in the 21-month Stamp 4 upgrade group; do not apply it to every medical occupation or combine clocks casually. 60 months of qualifying legal residence and employment-permit-based stamps/IRP history is the separate ISD Long Term Residency threshold; current employment and other conditions apply.

Read the route guide and its official sources

Scoped guidance updated 10 September 2026. ISD Stamp 4 upgrade conditions; separate Long Term Residency conditions.

Visa overview

The General Employment Permit has its own occupation, salary, employer and Labour Market Needs Test criteria. Check the Ineligible Occupations List and compare the Critical Skills route where the role may fit it. The minimum salary was raised to €36,605 on 1 March 2026 (from €34,000).

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Confirm occupation eligibility

    Check that the role is not on the Ineligible Occupations List.

  2. Employer conducts LMNT

    Where required, complete the current DETE Labour Market Needs Test using the official advertising channels and period, unless an exemption applies.

  3. Submit permit application

    Employer or employee submits via EPOS.

  4. Obtain visa if required and travel

    Non-EEA nationals from visa-required countries apply for an entry visa.

  5. Register with ISD on arrival

    Receive Stamp 1 permission.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Ireland. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official portalApplicant + sponsor
    Apply for an employment permit ↗

    Applicant or employer uses Employment Permits Online to submit and track the General Employment Permit application.

    Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment · verified

  2. ApplyApplicant
    Apply for an Irish employment visa ↗

    Visa-required applicants use AVATS to create the long-stay visa application after the permit is granted.

    Immigration Service Delivery · verified

Recent policy changes affecting this route

What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.

  • 28 May 2026In force 28 May 2026

    Ireland announces employment-permit occupation list changes

    The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment announced occupation-list changes to support housing, health and transport needs, including additions to the Critical Skills Occupation List and removals from the Ineligible Occupations List.

    Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)

Other Republic of Ireland routes covered for Filipino applicants

Not sure Republic of Ireland is right for you? Compare similar routes

Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Filipino nationals also apply to. See how they compare.

Frequently asked questions

Are Filipino citizens eligible for the General Employment Permit?+

Eligibility for the General Employment Permit is set by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Filipino applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do Filipino applicants typically file the General Employment Permit?+

Applicant or employer uses Employment Permits Online to submit and track the General Employment Permit application. The employment permit, entry visa if required and ISD immigration registration are separate steps. Applicants filing from the Philippines should check the selected occupation, salary and LMNT evidence against the current DETE rules; if an Irish entry visa is required, apply through the official visa process after the permit decision. Family timing and work rights are governed by the ISD permission granted, not nationality.

Do Filipino applicants need a tourist visa for Republic of Ireland as well?+

Tourist-entry rules for Filipino nationals change periodically and are separate from the General Employment Permit. Check the destination government's current entry guidance before travel.

Can spouses work on a General Employment Permit?+

Eligible spouses or partners of General Employment Permit holders who are granted family reunification may receive Stamp 1G and work without a separate employment permit under current ISD policy. This is not automatic for every dependant or for a pending application; check the current family permission conditions before relying on work rights.

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)

Last checked: 10 September 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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