Ireland
Hiring someone who already holds an Irish employment permit
A person already working in Ireland on a permit can move to you, with a new permit. The rules DETE sets for a change of employer.
Checked against the official pages listed below on 25 September 2026.
When they can move
After nine months have passed since they started their first employment permit in Ireland. Earlier only in exceptional circumstances, such as redundancy.
The same kind of job
A General Employment Permit holder has to stay in the same type of work, identified by its 4 digit occupation code. A Critical Skills holder has more room.
How it is done
- A joint application: you and the permit holder each complete your part.
- No Labour Market Needs Test is needed before a change of employer.
- At most three changes of employer can be granted to one permit holder.
- They must not start with you until the new permit has issued, and must start within one month of it issuing.
What we charge
A transfer is a fixed fee plus the government fee: see our prices. We do the application with you and the candidate.
Sources
For employers
Want us to handle it?
We do the paperwork from start to finish. A member of our team will get back to you within one working day.
- No retainer. Nothing to sign until you have met people.
- Trade tested before you see them, not after.
- Nothing is ever charged to the candidate.
Would rather talk now? +353 1 903 8249
Martin, Lance or another member of our team will get back to you. Who we areLooking for work? This form is for employers. Register here instead, it is free.
We work directly with employers. We do not take on other recruitment agencies, labour suppliers or sub-agents.
General information for employers, not legal advice. Checked against the official pages above on 25 September 2026. The rules and figures change; the official pages are the authority, and we confirm the current position before anything is submitted.