Republic of Ireland
DETE — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland)
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) administers Irish employment permits — the work authorisations that underpin most non-EEA migration to Ireland. The immigration permission itself is issued separately by Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) after arrival.
Parent ministry
Government of Ireland
Established
2020
Last reviewed
20 April 2026
Scope
- Issues Critical Skills Employment Permits, General Employment Permits, Intra-Company Transfer Permits, Contract for Services Permits, Dependant/Partner/Spouse Permits, and Reactivation Permits.
- Maintains the Critical Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Ineligible Occupation List, both reviewed biannually.
- Operates the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) for digital applications.
- Publishes monthly statistics by permit type, nationality, and sector.
Procedural quirks
- Employment permits are a work authorisation, not a visa. Visa-required nationals separately need a D-visa (preclearance); all non-EEA arrivals need an IRP after arrival.
- Salary thresholds were raised on 17 January 2024 and DETE has signalled further phased uplifts through 2025–2026.
- The CSEP leads to a "Stamp 4" permission route after 2 years, removing the need to renew the employment permit — but Stamp 4 is a separate ISD process.
Primary service channels
Routes administered
DETE decides the following Ireland visa routes covered on Visa Atlas:
Critical Skills Employment Permit
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.
General Employment Permit
Sponsored employment permit for eligible roles that meet the General Employment Permit conditions, including the applicable salary, occupation, employer and labour-market checks.
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Residence programme for founders establishing a High Potential Start-Up in Ireland.
Stamp 4 permission
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.
Irish Student visa (Stamp 2)
Study permission for international students enrolled at eligible Irish institutions on the Interim List of Eligible Programmes.
Join Family (Irish national or EEA national)
Family reunification permission for spouses, civil partners, and dependants of Irish or EEA nationals resident in Ireland.
Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP — closed)
Historic golden-visa equivalent; closed to new applications from 15 February 2023.