Ireland Work Permits
Current rules
From 1 March 2026: The standard CSEP MAR increased to €40,904/year. Qualifying recent graduates can use a lower threshold of €36,848/year. Certain public-sector positions covered by a national pay agreement are exempt from the CSEP MAR. The higher remuneration route remains available at €68,911/year for qualifying occupations. The increase applies to the minimum annual remuneration, meaning the salary must be sufficient to meet the required annual amount. Ireland also specifies how remuneration is calculated, including eligible health-insurance payments.
Overview
Ireland's Department of Enterprise has published a revised salary floor for Critical Skills Employment Permits, lifting the general threshold and setting a separate rate for roles on the shortage list.
Who is affected by the latest change
- People who are not citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and are applying for a Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Employers hiring workers through the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)
- Workers in jobs on Ireland's Critical Skills Occupations List
- Recent graduates who can use the lower Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) salary level
- Employers preparing new Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) applications
- People who already have permits and will need to think about the correct salary level when they renew or change jobs
What changed in the latest version
Before
Before 1 March 2026: The standard Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) salary level was €38,000 per year. Certain recent graduates could qualify with a lower salary. Higher-paying jobs could qualify through a different route for high salaries. People applying also had to meet the job, qualification, and employment rules for the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP).
After
From 1 March 2026: The standard Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) went up to €40,904 per year. Qualifying recent graduates can use a lower level of €36,848 per year. Certain public-sector jobs covered by a national pay agreement do not need to meet the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR). The route for higher-paying jobs is still available at €68,911 per year for jobs that qualify. The increase applies to the minimum annual payment. This means the salary must be enough to meet the needed annual amount. Ireland also explains how to calculate this payment. This includes eligible health insurance payments.
The Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) is a main way for Ireland to attract highly skilled people who are not citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). The salary level is important. If a job's offered pay is below the needed level, that job may not qualify for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, even if it is otherwise eligible. For 2026, the main numbers are: €40,904 per year: the standard Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) level. €36,848 per year: the lower level for qualifying recent graduates. €68,911 per year: the level for certain jobs that are not on the Critical Skills Occupations List but meet the rules for higher-paying jobs.
Explained simply
Think of it like a new minimum 'price tag' for certain jobs in Ireland. The government, specifically the Department of Enterprise, has increased the required salary for highly skilled workers from outside Europe who want to get a special work permit called a Critical Skills Employment Permit. If your job is on a list of professions Ireland needs most, there's a specific (and likely different) new minimum salary you need to earn. This means if you're applying for one of these permits, you need to make sure your job offer meets these updated salary amounts.
Version history
- v1Effective 1 May 2026PublishedHigh impactIreland raises Critical Skills Employment Permit salary floor
Ireland's Department of Enterprise changed the salary level for Critical Skills Employment Permits. It raised the main salary level. It also set a different salary level for jobs on the shortage list.
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