Working in Ireland: visa and IRP overview
The main work permission categories explained — Critical Skills, General Employment, Stamp 1/4, IRP cards, and what each lets you do.
Whether you can work in Ireland depends on your citizenship: EU/EEA, UK and Swiss citizens can work without any permit, while most other nationals need an employment permit before starting work and must register their immigration permission after arrival. This guide describes the system so you know which track you are on — for decisions about your own case, use the official sources or regulated advisers only.
I'm an EU/EEA, UK or Swiss citizen — what do I do? Nothing immigration-related: you have the right to work. Your to-do list is the practical one — PPS number, bank account, Revenue registration (your employer's payroll handles most of it once you have a PPS number and register the job in Revenue's myAccount).
I'm from outside the EU/EEA — how do permits work? Employment permits are issued by the Department of Enterprise before you take up work. The two most common are the Critical Skills Employment Permit (for occupations on the critical skills list, with a faster route to long-term residence) and the General Employment Permit. The occupation lists, salary thresholds and application process are on enterprise.gov.ie — they change, so always read the current version.
What is an IRP? After arriving with permission, non-EEA nationals register with immigration to receive an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which records your stamp (Stamp 1 for most workers, Stamp 2 for students with limited work rights, Stamp 4 for broader rights). Registration is through irishimmigration.ie, appointments for Dublin are online, and a registration fee applies — check the current amount.
Can students work? Stamp 2 students on eligible full-time courses can work limited hours (more during holiday periods). The exact hour limits are on irishimmigration.ie.
What paperwork does a new job involve? PPS number, registering the employment in Revenue myAccount (otherwise you are emergency-taxed at first and refunded later), and an Irish or SEPA bank account for salary.
This guide is general information, not immigration or legal advice — only the official sources and regulated immigration advisers can address your specific case. Last updated: August 2026. Sources: enterprise.gov.ie (employment permits), irishimmigration.ie (registration, stamps), revenue.ie (myAccount, starting a job), citizensinformation.ie (Coming to work in Ireland).