Pakistani applicants · Republic of Ireland
General Employment Permit for Pakistani citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Sponsored employment permit for eligible roles that meet the General Employment Permit conditions, including the applicable salary, occupation, employer and labour-market checks.
This page covers the General Employment Permit specifically for Pakistani applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Pakistan. 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
Bilateral context
- Schengen Area
- Commonwealth
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 Pakistan should use the current DETE checklist for role, salary, employer and LMNT evidence, then confirm the separate Irish entry-visa process if required. Do not treat document legalisation or family work rights as automatic route conditions.
Tourist entry vs. this route
Tourist-entry rules for Pakistani 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 sourcesScoped 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
- ✓Job offer above the minimum salary threshold for the year of application.Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
- ✓Occupation not on the Ineligible Occupations List.Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
- ✓Labour Market Needs Test satisfied by the employer, unless exempt.Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
Common blockers
- !Occupation on the Ineligible Occupations List.
- !Employer does not run or satisfy the LMNT.Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Signed employment contract.Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
- ·Evidence of LMNT compliance (advertisement in qualifying media).Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗
Application pathway
Confirm occupation eligibility
Check that the role is not on the Ineligible Occupations List.
Employer conducts LMNT
Where required, complete the current DETE Labour Market Needs Test using the official advertising channels and period, unless an exemption applies.
Submit permit application
Employer or employee submits via EPOS.
Obtain visa if required and travel
Non-EEA nationals from visa-required countries apply for an entry visa.
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
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.
- Official portalApplicant + sponsorApply 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
- ApplyApplicantApply 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 Pakistani applicants
Not sure Republic of Ireland is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer work sponsored routes that Pakistani nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Pakistani citizens eligible for the General Employment Permit?+
Eligibility for the General Employment Permit is set by Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Pakistani applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Pakistani 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 Pakistan should use the current DETE checklist for role, salary, employer and LMNT evidence, then confirm the separate Irish entry-visa process if required. Do not treat document legalisation or family work rights as automatic route conditions.
Do Pakistani applicants need a tourist visa for Republic of Ireland as well?+
Tourist-entry rules for Pakistani 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