Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland visa salary thresholds
Irish Employment Permits set different minimum annual remuneration levels depending on permit type. The Critical Skills Employment Permit sits above a headline floor, while the General Employment Permit applies a lower floor for eligible occupations on the Critical Skills list or where a Labour Market Needs Test has been run.
Last checked 1 June 2026. Every figure is mapped to a primary government source and re-verified over time; recorded changes appear in the changelog.
What salary do you need for a skilled-work visa in Ireland?
The main skilled-work salary floor in Republic of Ireland is €40,904 / year (Critical Skills Employment Permit — general floor), effective 1 March 2026. Occupation-specific going rates may bind higher.
Verified against DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit on 1 June 2026.
Threshold table
| Route | Amount | ~USD | In force since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Critical Skills Employment Permit — general floor Minimum annual remuneration for most Critical Skills Employment Permit applications, raised to €40,904 on 1 March 2026. Occupations on the Critical Skills Occupation List qualify at this floor. Changed 1 March 2026 — was 38000 EUR (annual). | €40,904 / year | $41,000 | 2026-03-01 | DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit |
Critical Skills Employment Permit — non-CSOL fallback Floor for roles not on the Critical Skills Occupation List but otherwise eligible for the CSEP, raised to €68,911 on 1 March 2026. | €68,911 / year | $69,000 | 2026-03-01 | DETE — Critical Skills Employment Permit |
General Employment Permit — headline floor Minimum for most General Employment Permit applications, raised to €36,605 on 1 March 2026 (from €34,000). Lower thresholds apply to specific occupations listed in SI 680/2017 as amended. | €36,605 / year | $39,500 | 2026-03-01 | DETE — General Employment Permit |
Intra-Company Transfer Permit — key personnel Minimum remuneration for the "key personnel" subtype of the Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit, raised to €49,523 on 1 March 2026 (from €46,000). | €49,523 / year | $53,500 | 2026-03-01 | DETE — Intra-Company Transfer Permit |
How often this changes
DETE applied phased uplifts to all employment-permit floors from 1 March 2026: Critical Skills €40,904 (€68,911 non-CSOL), General Employment Permit €36,605, and Intra-Company Transfer key-personnel €49,523 — all verified against DETE permit-type pages. Watch for the next phased uplift.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to qualify for a work visa in Ireland?
Irish Employment Permits set different minimum annual remuneration levels depending on permit type. The Critical Skills Employment Permit sits above a headline floor, while the General Employment Permit applies a lower floor for eligible occupations on the Critical Skills list or where a Labour Market Needs Test has been run.
How often do Ireland salary thresholds change?
DETE applied phased uplifts to all employment-permit floors from 1 March 2026: Critical Skills €40,904 (€68,911 non-CSOL), General Employment Permit €36,605, and Intra-Company Transfer key-personnel €49,523 — all verified against DETE permit-type pages. Watch for the next phased uplift.
Does meeting the headline threshold guarantee approval?
No. Headline floors are one of several criteria. Most jurisdictions also apply an occupation-specific going rate, character and health checks, and — for sponsored routes — employer/sponsor compliance. Failing any one of these can lead to refusal even where salary is above the threshold.
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Reviewed by Sam Parks, Editor and lead researcher.