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Ukrainian applicants · Republic of Ireland

Critical Skills Employment Permit for Ukrainian citizens

By · Last reviewed:

An Irish employment permit for qualifying skilled job offers: compare the listed-occupation and higher-remuneration branches, then plan family permission and the later Stamp 4 application.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyTwo-year permit; eligible holders can seek Stamp 4 after 21 months of qualifying employment. Long-term residence is a separate application, not an automatic two-year outcome.

This page covers the Critical Skills Employment Permit specifically for Ukrainian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to Ukraine. 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
Check the dated DETE processing queue for your application category. Submit at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start; this lead time is not a decision-time guarantee.
Worked-example cost
€1,300
Typical duration
Two-year permit; eligible holders can seek Stamp 4 after 21 months of qualifying employment. Long-term residence is a separate application, not an automatic two-year outcome.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland) ↗

Bilateral context

  • Schengen Area

Filing context: Applicant or employer uses Employment Permits Online to submit and track the Critical Skills permit application. The employment permit, entry visa if required and ISD immigration registration are separate steps. If you already hold Irish permission, first check its work rights and ask ISD whether a change is needed before applying for an employment-based status. ISD distinguishes employment under an alternative permission from qualifying employment under the relevant permit when assessing the 21-month Stamp 4 upgrade; do not assume all prior time transfers automatically.

Tourist entry vs. this route

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

Key figures for Ukrainian applicants

Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.

Salary you must earn

€40,904/yr

Critical Skills Employment Permit — general floor

Verified 1 March 2026 · DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit

Worked-example route cost

€1,300

Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality

CSEP permit holders can sponsor family immediately. Each family IRP is €300. D-visas for visa-required dependants are €60 each.

Verified 10 September 2026 · DETE — Fees for employment permits

Settlement depends on the route

The permit itself is not residence permission: complete the applicable visa and ISD registration steps. ISD permits eligible CSEP holders to apply for Stamp 4 after 21 months of qualifying employment. Long-term residence requires its own application and qualifying residence, while citizenship has a separate reckonable-residence test; neither is granted automatically with Stamp 4.

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 Critical Skills Employment Permit requires a qualifying job offer lasting at least two years, an eligible Irish employer and the applicable occupation, qualification and remuneration conditions. A Labour Market Needs Test is not required. Listed strategic occupations and the higher-remuneration branch have different tests; absence from the Critical Skills list does not by itself rule out the higher-remuneration branch. Eligible holders can apply for family reunification without the ordinary General Employment Permit waiting period. The employment permit, entry visa if required, immigration registration, Stamp 4 and long-term residence are separate decisions.

Additional sources

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the offer and employer

    Identify the occupation/remuneration branch, qualifications, minimum two-year offer and eligible employer. A job title alone is not enough.

  2. Apply for employment permit

    Either worker or employer may apply via the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).

  3. Apply for entry visa if required

    Non-EEA nationals needing an Irish visa must apply after permit issuance.

  4. Travel and register with ISD

    On arrival, register with Immigration Service Delivery; receive Stamp 1 permission linked to the permit.

  5. Check Stamp 4 eligibility after 21 months

    ISD measures qualifying employment from its commencement, evidenced through Revenue records and the relevant permit. Apply for the upgrade once eligible; a DETE support letter is no longer required. Long-term residence and citizenship have separate conditions.

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 Critical Skills 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)

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

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

Frequently asked questions

Are Ukrainian citizens eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit?+

Eligibility for the Critical Skills Employment Permit is set by Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (Ireland). Ukrainian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.

Where do Ukrainian applicants typically file the Critical Skills Employment Permit?+

Applicant or employer uses Employment Permits Online to submit and track the Critical Skills permit application. The employment permit, entry visa if required and ISD immigration registration are separate steps. If you already hold Irish permission, first check its work rights and ask ISD whether a change is needed before applying for an employment-based status. ISD distinguishes employment under an alternative permission from qualifying employment under the relevant permit when assessing the 21-month Stamp 4 upgrade; do not assume all prior time transfers automatically.

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

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

How much does the Critical Skills Employment Permit cost for a Ukrainian applicant?+

The stored worked example (Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality) totals about €1,300. CSEP permit holders can sponsor family immediately. Each family IRP is €300. D-visas for visa-required dependants are €60 each. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: DETE — Fees for employment permits, verified 10 September 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.

What salary do Ukrainian applicants need for the Critical Skills Employment Permit?+

DETE lists €40,904 for the qualifying strategic-occupation branch and €36,848 where the relevant qualification was received within the preceding 12 months. Its higher-remuneration eligibility text says over €68,911. Public-sector pay agreements and accepted nurse/midwife qualifications have specific treatment; check the applicable branch, hours and remuneration components. See the route guide and DETE source for branch-specific conditions.

Does the Critical Skills Employment Permit lead to Irish residence?+

The permit itself is not residence permission: complete the applicable visa and ISD registration steps. ISD permits eligible CSEP holders to apply for Stamp 4 after 21 months of qualifying employment. Long-term residence requires its own application and qualifying residence, while citizenship has a separate reckonable-residence test; neither is granted automatically with Stamp 4.

Can family join from day one?+

Eligible Critical Skills holders can apply for immediate family reunification, but permission is not automatic and each family category has conditions. A spouse or de facto partner granted Stamp 1G may work without a separate employment permit, but cannot be self-employed or operate a business. Other dependants do not automatically receive the same 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: Immigration Service Delivery

Last checked: 10 September 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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