General Occupations List
Occupations not appearing on the Critical Skills Occupations List may potentially qualify for a General Employment Permit, subject to salary and permit requirements.
How General Employment Permit Eligibility Works
Not Critical Skills
Your occupation is not on the Critical Skills list (77 occupations)
Not Ineligible
Your occupation is not on the Ineligible list (262 occupations), or has an approved exception
Meets Salary Threshold
Your salary meets the minimum of €36,605
Salary Threshold
Minimum annual salary
Labour Market Test
Employer must demonstrate the role could not be filled from the EEA labour market (advertised for 28 days).
Duration
Initially granted for up to 2 years, renewable for a further 3 years. After 5 years, you may apply for long-term residency.
Dynamically Derived Pathway
Unlike the Critical Skills and Ineligible lists, General Employment Permit eligibility is not defined by a fixed list of occupations. Any occupation that does not appear on the Critical Skills Occupations List (77 occupations) or the Ineligible Occupations List (262 occupations) may qualify for a General Employment Permit, provided salary and other requirements are met.
Use the Work Permit Eligibility Check to determine which pathway applies to your specific occupation and salary.
Ineligible Occupations with Exceptions
63 occupations on the Ineligible list have documented DETE exceptions that may allow a General Employment Permit to be granted under specific conditions. These include roles such as senior chefs, HGV drivers, bus drivers, language-specific customer service and credit control roles, disability service roles, construction safety officers, genetic counsellors, CNC operatives, paramedics, farm assistants, and others.
Exception Occupations
63 ineligible occupations with documented exceptions that may qualify for a General Employment Permit.
Showing 63 of 63 exception occupations
124 - Managers in Health and Care Services
3(with the exception of those working in disability services)
(with the exception of those working in disability services)
(with the exception of those working in disability services)
125 - Managers in Other Services
5(with the exception of Safety Manager)
(with the exception of Safety Manager)
(with the exception of Safety Manager)
(with the exception of Safety Manager)
(with the exception of Safety Manager)
321 - Health Associate Professionals
6(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
(with the exception of Genetic Counsellor)
323 - Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals
2(with the exception of Family Support Workers working in disability services)
(with the exception of Family Support Workers working in disability services)
352 - Legal Associate Professionals
2(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a State which is not a member of the EEA and who has market knowledge of that non-EEA state)
(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a State which is not a member of the EEA and who has market knowledge of that non-EEA state)
356 - Public Services and Other Associate Professionals
7(with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) (with the exception of Autism Assistance Dog Instructor)
(with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) (with the exception of Autism Assistance Dog Instructor)
(with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) (with the exception of Autism Assistance Dog Instructor)
(with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) (with the exception of Autism Assistance Dog Instructor)
(with the exception of career guidance teachers in secondary schools)
(with the exception of career guidance teachers in secondary schools)
(with the exception of Construction Safety Officers)
412 - Administrative Occupations: Finance
4(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, in a role in credit control where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency)
(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA in a role in accounts payable where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency)
(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA in a role in accounts payable where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency)
(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA in a role in accounts payable where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency)
511 - Agricultural and Related Trades
1(with the exception of Pig Manager)
543 - Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades
1(with the exception of - Executive Chef with minimum of 5 years' experience Head Chef with minimum of 5 years' experience Sous Chef with minimum of 5 years' experience Chef de Partie with minimum of 2 years' experience Commis Chef with minimum of 2 years' experience who will be employed in establishments other than fast food outlets)
613 - Animal Care and Control Services
1(with the exception of work riders)
614 - Caring Personal Services
3(with the exception of paramedics)
(with the exception of paramedics)
(with the exception of those working in disability services)
721 - Customer Service Occupations
2(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency and is in- a customer service and sales role with relevant product knowledge, a specialist online digital marketing and sales role, or a specialist language support and technical sales support role)
(with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency and is in- a customer service and sales role with relevant product knowledge, a specialist online digital marketing and sales role, or a specialist language support and technical sales support role)
811 - Process Operatives
11(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative and Meat processor operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative and Meat processor operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative and Meat processor operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
812 - Plant and Machine Operatives
8(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
(with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative)
813 - Assemblers and Routine Operatives
2(with the exception of Armature Rewinder)
(with the exception of Armature Rewinder)
821 - Road Transport Drivers
3(with the exception of heavy goods vehicle drivers who have- a category CE or C1E driving licence, or an equivalent category to a category CE or C1E driving licence identified through a mutual recognition agreement between the Road Safety Authority and the appropriate regulatory authority in another jurisdiction)
(with the exception of bus and coach drivers who have- a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence, or an equivalent category to a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence identified through a mutual recognition agreement between the Road Safety Authority and the appropriate regulatory authority in another jurisdiction).
(with the exception of bus and coach drivers who have- a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence, or an equivalent category to a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence identified through a mutual recognition agreement between the Road Safety Authority and the appropriate regulatory authority in another jurisdiction).
911 - Elementary Agricultural Occupations
2(with the exception of dairy farm assistants) (with the exception of pig farm assistants)
(with the exception of forestry worker/speciality forestry harvesting technician)
Want to check your eligibility for a General Employment Permit?
Based on official figures
The General Employment Permit is a derived pathway defined by DETE. Roles are eligible unless on the Ineligible List, subject to a Labour Market Needs Test and the current salary threshold.
Official government sources · last checked 6 July 2026.