The State of Play
Ireland’s work permit and visa system is an invaluable tool through which the country attracts much needed talent from overseas. And it is clear that the prospect of moving to Ireland for work is enticing for many overseas workers.
The number of individuals applying for Irish visas and work permits has grown substantially over recent years - although, there was a significant reduction in work permits granted in 2023 (30,981 v 40,000 in 2022).
In 2023, a number of significant changes were implemented to enhance two key permits – The Critical Skills and the General Employment Permit.
Here Visa First will take a closer look at these developments and examine some additional opportunities for the government to further improve Ireland's work permit and visa system in 2024.
What changed in 2023?
- Extended General Employment Permits for NCT Testers
Staffing challenges within National Car Testing (NCT) led to delays in fulfilling car testing appointments throughout 2023.
To address this issue, Neale Richmond, Minister of State for Business, Employment, and Retail announced an additional 100 General Employment Permits would be granted in order to attract NCT Testers from outside the EEA.
In December, the quota was further increased to 200 permits for 2024.
- Additional Employment Permits for Lineworkers
The ESB also faced staffing challenges in 2023 - specifically in relation to the construction and maintenance of overhead electrical facilities.
To tackle this issue, Minister Richmond also announced an additional 100 General Employment Permits for lineworkers to travel to Ireland and support in such projects.
This initiative aligns with government goals, including the Climate Action Plan 2023 for a greener future and the 'Housing for All' plan to improve the housing system.
- New Opportunities in Agriculture, Transport, and Home Care
Ireland also faces skill shortages in the agriculture, transport and home care sectors.
On December 16, 2022, Damien English, the Minister of State for Business, Employment, and Retail, unveiled measures to address these shortages.
This involved expanding eligibility for employment permits for dairy farm assistants, home carers and bus and coach drivers.
The new quotas are as follows:
- Dairy farm assistants - increased by 500
- Bus and coach drivers - 1,500 new places introduced
- Home carers - 1,000 additional permits announced
- Critical Skills Employment List and General Employment List Expanded
Before the close of 2023, the government also moved to address staffing shortages across many sectors and added 11 new job titles to the Critical Skills List and 32 to the General Employment List.
The new roles added to the Critical Skills List include:
- BIM Coordinator/Technician
- BIM Manager
- Chemical Engineer
- Commercial Manager
- Estimator
- Meteorologist
- Operational Forecaster
- Optometrist (Ophthalmic Optician)
- Project Engineer
- Professional Forester
- Resource modelling, earth observation and data analyst
Some of the new roles that are now eligible for the General Employment Permit include:
- Autism Assistance Dog Instructor
- Baker
- Butchers/(de)boner
- Car mechanic, Motor mechanic, Auto electrician, Motor vehicle technician
- Electrician, electrical contractor, electrical engineer
- Family Support Workers – in Disability Services
- Genetic Counsellor
- Guide Dog Mobility Instructor for the Visually Impaired
- Play Therapist – in Disability Services
- Skilled metal, electrical and electronic trades supervisors
- And more
- Salary Increase For Employment Permit Holders
In a welcome development for workers, the government also announced a salary increase for General Employment Permit holders.
Starting in January 2024, the minimum salary for General Employment Permit holders will increase from €30,000 to €34,000.
Salaries will also increase to €30,000 in January for permit holders in specific roles, such as meat processors, horticulture workers, and healthcare assistants.
Where can further improvements be made in 2024?
Visa First welcomes the various initiatives (such as those listed above) which were implemented throughout 2023 to improve Ireland's work permit and employment visa offerings.
However, they also believe that there are a number of ‘quick wins’ the government can introduce in order to further support employers in attracting talent from overseas.
- Decreasing the Duration of Job Advertisement for International Recruitment
A key change Visa First would like to see introduced for Ireland's employment permit system is for the job advertisement period to be reconsidered.
Currently, prospective work permit candidates from overseas are required to wait for a job to be advertised for 28 days before applying.
By decreasing this duration, the Irish government could significantly speed up the hiring process and also cater to the urgency associated with skill shortages.
- Reduction of the Work Permit Fee
The current employment permit application fee can be a significant challenge for many industries around Ireland.
A reduction in this fee would undoubtedly make the employment permit a more accessible and viable option for employers who are looking to onboard workers from overseas. This reduction could also benefit skilled employees applying for work permits on their behalf.
In summary, while notable changes have been implemented in Ireland's work permit system in 2023, there remains much potential for further improvements.
They look forward to what the future of work permits in Ireland holds.
Visa First has been supporting Irish businesses with travel visas and work permit application services for 20 years.
To learn how Visa First can support your organisation, contact Nune Troy, Business Development Manager at Visa First at ntroy@visafirst.com.