What changes were recently made to the employment permits system?

The main changes to the employment permits system which came into effect on 17 January 2024 were as follows:

• 11 roles have been added to the Critical Skills Occupations List

• 33 roles have been removed from the Ineligible Occupations List, making them eligible for a General Employment Permit

• The salary threshold requirement for a number of employment permits has increased

• The existing quotas for General Employment Permits for ‘dairy farm assistants’, ‘butcher/deboners’, and ‘meat processing operatives’ was extended

• A quota of 1,000 General Employment Permits for horticultural workers to support the sector until the ‘Seasonal Employment Permit’ will be introduced in due course.

What changes were made to the salary thresholds?

The minimum salary threshold requirement for a number of employment permits has increased, as follows:

• The majority of General Employment Permits: from €30,000 to €34,000 per annum

• General Employment Permits for meat processing operatives and horticultural operatives: from €22,916 to €30,000 per annum

• Critical Skills Employment Permits with degree: from €32,000 to €38,000 per annum

• Intra-Company Transfers: from €40,000 to €46,000 per annum

The salary thresholds for the roles of healthcare assistants and home carers remains at €27,000 per annum.

Does this impact advertisements for applications requiring a Labour Market Needs Test?

Yes.

Where a Labour Market Needs Test is required for a General Employment Permit application, the relevant advertisements will need to reflect the revised salary thresholds. Advertisements which do not reflect the appropriate salary will not satisfy the requirement and will result in the rejection of an application.

Do the changes impact new applications and renewal applications?

Yes.

The changes introduced cover new applications and renewal applications submitted on or after 17 January 2024.

Are salary thresholds increasing again?

Yes.

A roadmap was announced which will result in the salary thresholds for certain employment permits being increased again in January 2025, July 2025, and in January 2026.

Most notably, it is expected that in January 2025, minimum salary thresholds will increase for the following employment permits:

• General Employment Permit: €34,000 to €39,000

• Critical Skills Employment permit with Degree: from €38,000 to €44,000

• Intra-Company Transfer and Contract for Services: from €46,000 to €53,000

Other minimum salary threshold expected to increase in January 2025 are: meat processing/horticultural operatives (to increase to €32,000), graduate position; language skills specialist, butcher/boner, Intra-Company Transfer (trainee) (all of which are to increase to €39,000), and Contract for Services (to be increased to €53,000).

Further, the minimum salary threshold for meat processing/horticultural operatives is expected to increase to €34,000 in July 2025, and again to €39,000 in January 2026.

It should be noted that further increased figures are preliminary only, and subject to change in future.

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