Ireland – Immigration Changes

From the 10^th March 2025 the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment implemented changes to the employment permits system to address the skills shortages in the planning and home care sectors in Ireland.

• The quota for home carers will be increased by 1000 general employment permits.

• Town planners have been added to the Critical Skills Occupations List.

For the purposes of the employment permits system, occupations fall into three categories:

• Occupations listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List are highly skilled professional roles that are in high demand and are not always available in the resident labour force. Occupations on this list are eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and include roles such as medicine, ICT, sciences, finance, and business.

• Ineligible occupations are those with evidence suggesting there are sufficient Irish/EEA workers to fill such vacancies. Employment permits are not granted for these occupations.

• Every other job in the labour market, where an employer cannot find a worker, is eligible for an employment permit. For these occupations, the employer is required to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test and if no-one suitable applies for the job, the employer is free to apply for an employment permit. Occupations such as these may be skills of a more general nature and are eligible for a General Employment Permit (GEP).

Ireland: Visa requirement for nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho and Nauru

A further change that took effect from 10 March 2025 is that nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho and Naru are required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. A transit visa will also be required, if intending to transit through Ireland en route to another destination.

Nationals of these countries who made travel plans before 10 March 2025 and can provide evidence of a valid booking and payment for the trip, may be accommodated for emergency travel in the following situations where the scheduled travel is on or before 31 March 2025:

• A critical medical case involving a family member being seriously ill or undergoing medical treatment. Evidence from the relevant medical institution must be provided.

• Visiting for a significant family event – a birth, wedding, or funeral. Suitable evidence must be provided.

• Taking up a place obtained in a third-level institution on an undergraduate or post-graduate degree course. Evidence must be provided from the relevant institution.

• Taking up employment and holding an Employment Permit for Ireland. Evidence of the permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment must be provided.

• Travelling for business. Confirmation of the arrangements for the visit from the business in question must be provided.

Persons falling within the above categories are asked to email [email protected] with the subject line “Visa Required – Emergency Travel Requested”.

For assistance with global immigration matters please contact [email protected] or [email protected]

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