Working in Ireland

What are the requirements for working in Ireland?

If you are a citizen of a non-EEA country you may not have automatic permission to work in Ireland. You may need to obtain an Employment Permit in order to work. According to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation citizens of non-EEA countries who do not require Employment Permits include:

• a non-EEA national who has obtained explicit permission from the Department of Justice and Equality to remain resident and employed in the State
• a non-EEA national who has been granted refugee status
• a non-EEA national who holds appropriate business permission to operate a business in the State
• a non-EEA national who is a registered student working less than 20 hours a week
• Swiss nationals.

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Employment Permit System

General Employment Permit

General Employment Permits are issued for up to 2 years. Generally the salary must be €30,000 or more and the employer must have carried out a labour market test. The cost for a 2 year work permit is €1000. After 12 months working in the country, work permit holders can apply for their family members to join them. For a list of eligible jobs and further information go to: www.dbei.ie.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Critical Skills Employment Permits are issued for jobs where the salary is over €60,000. Green card permits are also issued for certain jobs where the salary is between €30,000 and €59,999, for an up-to-date list of eligible jobs go to: www.dbei.ie. There is no labour market test. There must be a job offer of 2 or more years. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can apply for immediate family re-unification.

Dependant/Partner/Spousal Employment Permit

Dependant/Partner/Spousal Employment Permits are issued to spouses, partners or dependants (who came to Ireland before they were 18 years of age). If the main employment permit holder is a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder, a Green Card Permit holder or a Researcher then:

• There is no labour market test
• There is no fee for the work permit
• There are no ineligible jobs

What else do I need to work in Ireland?

You should have a Personal Public Service (PPS) number. Your PPS number is a unique reference number which your employer uses to make the required tax and social insurance contributions on your behalf. You also use your PPS number when accessing social welfare and health benefits.

How do I apply for a PPS Number?

You apply through the Department of Social Protection. Not all social welfare offices issue PPS numbers so you should contact your local social welfare office to get information on where to go.  Alternatively follow this link: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Personal-Public-Service-Number-Registration-Centres-by-Count.aspx 

What do I need in order to apply for a PPS number?

In order to receive a PPS number, you need to show you have a reason for needing one.  For example, you have a job offer or you need to apply for a social welfare payment or child benefit. 

Go to this page for detailed information on the PPS number, process and requirements: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/ppsn.aspx

How long will it take to get a PPS number?

Usually 5 working days from the date you applied.

I have qualifications obtained in a country outside of Ireland. Will these qualifications be recognised by employers in Ireland?

This will depend on the nature of the qualification and the country where it was obtained. It may be possible for you to get formal recognition of your qualification in Ireland. Quality and Qualifications Ireland provides a way of relating foreign qualifications to the nearest comparable qualification in Ireland. You should contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland. This service is free of charge.

Quality and Qualifications Ireland
26/27 Denzille Lane 
Telephone: 01 9058100
Website: www.qqi.ie 

I’m looking for work. Where should I start?

• Update your CV
• Get written work references from current and previous employers
• Have details of your qualifications with an English translation and contact Quality and Qualifications Ireland to get a formal recognition of your qualifications.

What kind of CV should I prepare?

CVs can take many formats. The most important criteria are that your CV is clear and easy to read. It should contain personal contact details, educational history, relevant skills or interests and most importantly work experience details.

Volunteering can also be a great way of gaining work experience in Ireland: www.volunteeringireland.ie

Where can I go to get help with my CV?

• Your Local Employment Service: www.localemploymentservices.ie
• Your local Employment Services Office in your local Intreo office

In Dublin you can also contact:

• EPIC – Employment for People from Immigrant Communities aims to assist citizens of both EU and non-EU countries (stamp 4) to find employment and/or further training and education in Ireland: www.bitc.ie 31 Lower O’Connell Street, Dublin 1
  Telephone: 01 8743840/1
  Email: epic@bitc.ie

• Jobcare helps people find jobs by providing training, resources, expertise and opportunities for personal development: www.jobcare.ie The Exchange, 50 Gardiner Street, Dublin 1
  Telephone: 01 6773897
  Email: info@jobcare.ie

• The Larkin Unemployed Centre: www.larkinctr.com 57-58 North Strand Road, North Strand, Dublin 3
  Telephone: 01 8365544
  Email: info@larkinctr.com

Where can I begin looking for employment?

Intreo is a single point of contact for all employment services and income supports. For more information you should check out their website: www.intreo.ie or call in to your local Intreo office.

You can also contact your Local Employment Service (LES): www.localemploymentservices.ie 

You can check local and national newspapers: The Irish Times and The Irish Examiner (job supplement on Fridays), The Irish Independent (job supplement on Thursdays), The Sunday Independent and The Evening Herald.

Use personal contacts, for example, relatives or friends who may know of current vacancies.

You can also check the internet for details of current vacancies – here is a sample of some websites for job-seekers:

• www.irishjobs.ie
• www.monster.ie
• www.jobs.ie
• www.activelink.ie

Can I get assistance looking for work if I have a disability?

The Department of Social Protection runs the EmployAbility Service to assist jobseekers with a disability to find employment in the open labour market.

To avail of the EmployAbility Service, call into your local Intreo Office or Social Welfare Office: http://employability.ie/

I have lost my job, am I entitled to a social welfare payment while I am looking for another job?

There are two categories of payments for unemployed people: Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance. To qualify for either of these you must be:

• Capable of work, and
• Available for and genuinely looking for full-time work

It is important to note that you can get part-time or casual work and still be considered unemployed. So you may be eligible for a part-payment if you are in part-time or casual work.

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Jobseeker’s Benefit

How do I qualify?

This payment is based on insurance contributions paid while in employment in Ireland (PRSI) or another country covered by EC Regulations (see Social Welfare Section). You will qualify for Jobseeker’s Benefit if:

• You are less than 66 years of age
• You have suffered a loss in employment
• You have paid enough social insurance contributions (search for ‘Jobseeker’s Benefit on www.welfare.ie for more information)
• You are available for and genuinely seeking work
• You are capable of work
• You must be unemployed for at least 3 days in any period of six consecutive days

How do I apply?

To apply you must register (sign-on) with the Department of Social Protection at your local Social Welfare Office. You should apply straight away because Jobseeker’s Benefit is not paid for the first 3 days you are unemployed. Complete Form UP1 and bring this to your local Social Welfare Office.

What do I need to provide?

• Proof of identity (Long Birth Certificate or passport)
• Proof of address
• P45 and P60 Forms from your employment in Ireland

What if I do not qualify?

If your claim for Jobseeker’s Benefit is refused, you have the right to appeal the decision. If you still do not qualify, you may be eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

How do I qualify?

To qualify you must:

• Be over 18 and less than 66 years of age
• Be unemployed
• Be available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment
• Satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition (See Social Welfare Section)
• Satisfy a means test
• Be capable of work

How long can I claim Jobseeker’s Allowance?

You can claim Jobseeker’s allowance for as long as you need, as long as you satisfy all the requirements.

How do I apply?

You must complete Form UP1 and bring it to your local social welfare office.

What do I need to bring with me?

• details of efforts to find work
• P45
• Child dependant details
• Proof of your identity (long version Birth Certificate/Passport)
• Proof of your address

What if I do not qualify?

If your claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance is refused, you have the right to appeal the decision. If you still do not qualify, you may be entitled to other payments. You can contact your local social lntreo office for further information.

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Links:

If you have lost your job www.redundancy.ie provides practical information in English.

Information on all social welfare payments is available at: www.welfare.ie and www.gettingbacktowork.ie 

Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed represents the interests and views of all unemployed people and their dependents at a national level: www.inou.ie

Araby House, 8 North Richmond Street, Dublin 1
Telephone: 01 8560090
Email: info@inou.ie

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Starting a business in Ireland

What are the requirements for setting up a business in Ireland?

If you are from a non-EEA country you may need business permission to start a business in Ireland depending on your immigration status.

You do not need to get business permission if you:

• Have been granted refugee status by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (stamp 4)
• Are a dependant relative of an EEA national exercising a valid right to reside in Ireland (stamp 4 EU FAM)
• have been granted permission to remain in the State on one of the following grounds:
• as the spouse of an Irish national (stamp 4)
• as the parent of an Irish born child (stamp 4)
• granted temporary leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, having been in the asylum process (stamp 4).

For further details see: www.inis.gov.ie or contact the INIS about Investor and Entrepreneur Schemes: investmentstartup@justice.ie

What help can I get if I want to start a business in Ireland?

Enterprise Ireland provides advisory and financial support to High Potential Start-Up businesses and encourages all forms of entrepreneurship: www.enterprise-ireland.com

Local Enterprise Offices support the start up and development of local businesses in Ireland. This includes advice, mentoring and grants or financial supports for training and growth: www.localenterprise.ie

Chambers Ireland: A chamber of commerce is an organisation made up of local business representatives who join together to promote the economic and social development of their community in order to make it a better place in which to live, work and do business: www.chambers.ie

Toil and Trouble is an excellent guide on the various procedures that you need to go through to become self-employed in Ireland.