Nurse visa routes in Republic of Ireland
Thinking about Republic of Ireland as a place to work? Below are the 2 Republic of Ireland visa routes that most commonly fit nurses, with what each one needs and a link to the official government source. Always confirm the current rules on the primary source before acting.
Also searched as: registered nurse, RN, staff nurse, adult nurse.
What this means for nurses
Of the 2 Republic of Ireland routes that commonly fit nurses, 2 need a sponsoring employer and 0 do not, and 2 can lead to permanent residence. Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Republic of Ireland. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
The most-used skilled route into Republic of Ireland overall is the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which also fits many nurses — it is included below.
Typical figures — Critical Skills Employment Permit
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 →
Government 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 1 June 2026 · DETE — Fees for employment permits →
How long it takes
3 weeks – 6 weeks
DETE publishes current processing dates weekly; Critical Skills Employment Permits are consistently prioritised over General permits, typically 3–6 weeks for trusted-partner employers.
Verified 1 June 2026 · DETE — Employment permits current processing dates →
Time to permanent residence
Arrival → Stamp 4 (2 years on CSEP, 5 on GEP) → citizenship (5 years reckonable, typically year 6–7 from arrival).
Leads to Long-Term Residence / Stamp 4, then Irish citizenship.
Routes that fit nurses
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Fast-track employment permit for high-skill roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · 2 years initially; leads to Stamp 4 permission and long-term residence after 2 years.
General Employment Permit
Sponsored employment permit for roles not on the Critical Skills list but above the general salary threshold.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · 2 years initially; renewable; longer-term residence possible after 5 years.
Figures by route
Verified salary floor and processing window per matched route, each primary-sourced. Indicative, not legal advice.
| Route | Salary floor | Processing | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | €40,904/yr | 3 weeks – 6 weeks | Yes |
| General Employment Permit | — | 6 weeks – 3 months | Yes |
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 15 October 2025In force 15 October 2025
Ireland refreshes Critical Skills Occupation List
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment published a refreshed Critical Skills Occupation List, adding several construction and care-related roles and tightening criteria for some ICT roles.
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ireland) →
Frequently asked questions
Which visa routes suit nurses moving to Republic of Ireland?+
Republic of Ireland has 2 routes that commonly fit nurses: Critical Skills Employment Permit, General Employment Permit. The best fit depends on whether you already have an employer sponsor, your salary, and your qualifications — open any route below for its full eligibility criteria and primary government source.
Do nurses need a job offer to move to Republic of Ireland?+
For the routes that fit nurses here, yes — all 2 require a sponsoring employer or a confirmed job offer. Securing that offer is usually the first and slowest step, so it is worth starting there.
Can nurses settle permanently in Republic of Ireland?+
Yes. 2 of the 2 matched routes lead toward settlement or permanent residence. Permanent-residence timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
Do nurses need to requalify or register to work in Republic of Ireland?+
Nurses work in a regulated field, so immigration approval is only half the journey: in most countries you must also clear a separate professional-registration or licensing step before you can practise in Republic of Ireland. That recognition process often takes as long as the visa itself, so it is worth starting in parallel.
What salary do nurses need for the Critical Skills Employment Permit in Republic of Ireland?+
The Critical Skills Employment Permit — general floor floor is €40,904/yr, effective 1 March 2026 (DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How much does the Critical Skills Employment Permit cost in government fees?+
For the worked example (Single applicant, non-visa-required nationality), government fees total about €1,300 (DETE — Fees for employment permits, verified 1 June 2026). Treat as indicative and confirm the current schedule on the official source.
How long does the Critical Skills Employment Permit take to process?+
The typical published decision window is 3 weeks – 6 weeks (DETE — Employment permits current processing dates, verified 1 June 2026).