Ireland Work Permit Changes 2026: 32 Occupations Added, Removed or Updated

Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) confirmed 32 changes to occupations eligible for employment permits, effective from May 29, 2026. Although the update is now more than two months old, the revised arrangements remain in effect and continue to affect foreign workers and employers applying for Irish employment permits.

Six occupations were added to the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) list: Agronomist, Construction Planner/Scheduler, Community Eye Care Specialist, Intellectual Property Professional, Geospatial Surveyor (Land Surveyor/Geomatics Surveyor), and Rigger (Games Industry).

Nine occupations were removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and can now qualify for General Employment Permits (GEPs) without quota restrictions. These include Pharmaceutical Technicians, Dental Hygienists, Plastic Lining Technicians, Steel Fixers, Fencing Operators/Erectors, Curtain Wallers, Printers, Industrial Machine Knitters, and Concrete Pump Operators.

Two occupations, Fish Filleter and Seafood Operative, were added under newly introduced GEP quotas, while 15 existing GEP-quota occupations received renewed quotas with continued limits. Employers using new or extended quotas must complete a Labour Market Needs Test where required. Applications under the updated arrangements have been accepted since June 10, 2026.

Salary requirements also remain important. From March 1, 2026, the minimum annual salary for a Critical Skills Employment Permit is €40,904 for occupations on the Critical Skills list and €68,911 for roles not on the ineligible occupations list, with a €36,848 threshold for recent graduates in CSOL-listed roles.

Separately, Ireland has proposed relaxing the employment permit system's 50:50 workforce rule for the health and social care sector. This proposal has not yet taken effect and requires legislative change. Applicants and employers should check the latest official DETE guidance before relying on any occupation, quota, salary, or eligibility rule.