Citizens of non-EEA countries who do not require Employment Permits include:

• Non-EEA nationals in the State on a Work Authorisation/Working Visa
• Non-EEA workers legally employed in one Member State who are temporarily sent on a contract to another Member State. (The European Court of Justice delivered a judgement on the Van der Elst Case (Freedom to Provide Services) on 9 August, 1994. The Court ruled that in the case of non-EEA workers legally employed in one Member State who are temporarily sent on a contract to another Member State, the employer does not need to apply for employment permits in respect of the non-nationals for the period of contract.)
• Non-EEA nationals who have been granted permission to remain in the State on one of the following grounds: 
- permission to remain as spouse or a dependent of an Irish/EEA national; 
- permission to remain as the parent of an Irish citizen; 
- temporary leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, having been in the Asylum process. 
- explicit permission from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to remain resident and employed in the State 
- appropriate business permission to operate a business in the State

• A non-EEA national who is a registered student.
• Swiss Nationals: In accordance with the terms of the European Communities and Swiss Confederation Act, 2001, which came into operation on 1 June, 2002, this enables the free movement of worker between Switzerland and Ireland, without the need for Employment Permits.

On 17 December 2008, the Government announced its decision that, from 1 January 2009, it would continue to restrict access to the Irish labour market for nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. Full details of the Employment Permits requirements in respect of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are available on this website [Position in relation to Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania]

In order to work in Ireland a non-EEA National (i.e any person not from member states of the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein) must hold a valid Employment Permit.

The issue of an Employment Permit requires a job offer from a prospective Irish employer who has made every effort to recruit an Irish or EEA national for the post. Applications, which can be submitted by either the prospective employee or employer, are considered under the Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006. (Exceptions to this rule will be made at the discretion of the Irish Department of Justice – visit www.justice.ie)

It is an offence for both an employer and an employee to be party to the employment of a non-EEA national without a valid employment permit.

The holder of an Employment Permit is only permitted to work for the employer and in the employment stated on the permit.

Should the employee named on the permit cease to be employed by the employer and in the employment stated on the permit, for any reason, during the period of validity specified, the permit and any copies thereof must be returned immediately to the Employment Permits Section. The address for which is:

Employment Permits Section
Department of Enterprise, Trade & Innovation
Davitt House
65a Adelaide Road
Dublin 2

To contact the Employment Permits Section by phone call: (01) 417 5333 or LoCall: 1890 201 616. Otherwise the contact e-mail address is employmentpermits@deti.ie

Important Notice: The Employment Permits Section does not have a public office and cannot facilitate personal callers to the office.

Certain crew members with may have to contact the Irish Department of Justice to verify their eligibility for Irish Employment Permits.

These include:
• Fitters
• Electricians
• Painters And Decorators
• Machinist – Wood
• Plasterers and Welders
• All drivers including HGV
• All Work Riders (Horse Racing)
• All Clerical and Administrative Positions
• All General Operatives/Labourers

For more information about contacting the Irish Department of Justice visit www.justice.ie

 • New Employment Permit Application

This form should be used by both employers and employees who wish to apply for:

- a first Employment Permit.
- an Employment Permit to re-employ staff who were previously employed with the same employer on
foot of an Employment Permit, but regarding whom there was a break in employment.
- an Employment Permit for a foreign national currently employed by a different employer on foot of an
Employment Permit.
- a change in the type of Employment Permit held by the foreign national.

• Employment Permit Application Renewal

Employers and Employees who wish to apply for the renewal of an existing employment permit should
use this form.

This form should NOT be used where an Employer or Employee wishes to apply for:

- a change in the type of Employment Permit held by the foreign national, or
- an Employment Permit for a foreign national currently employed by a different employer on foot of an
Employment Permit; in these cases a New Employment Permit Application Form should be used.