Permit intelligence

Occupations & permit routes

Which jobs qualify for an Irish work permit

Whether a role can be sponsored depends on its occupation, not the employer. Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment publishes two lists that decide this.

Roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) qualify for a fast-track Critical Skills Employment Permit — the quickest route, with an accelerated path to long-term residence. Eligible roles that are not on the CSOL but not ineligible can be sponsored under a General Employment Permit, subject to salary thresholds and a labour-market needs test. Roles on the Ineligible Occupations List cannot be sponsored at all.

Critical Skills occupations

CSOL — fast-track permit

General-eligible occupations

General Employment Permit

Ineligible occupations

Cannot be sponsored

Occupation categories

Across all three lists

Where the sponsorable roles cluster

Occupation categories ranked by how many roles each list holds. Both charts share one scale, so fast-track depth and General-eligible depth are directly comparable.

Critical Skills by category

roles

1
Technology0
2
Medical0
3
Engineering0
4
Architecture & Construction0
5
Allied Health0
6
Finance & Business0
7
Animation0
8
Quality & Regulatory0
9
Natural and Social Science Professionals0
10
Nursing0
11
Academic0
12
Paramedic0

General-eligible by category

roles

1
General0
2
Health Associate Professionals0

How every occupation splits

all lists

0roles

Critical Skills (CSOL)97 · 7%
General-eligible1,079 · 75%
Ineligible260 · 18%

How classification picks the route

The occupation itself decides the permit route — before any employer is involved.

Occupation
On CSOL? → Critical Skills
Eligible? → General
Ineligible → no permit

Critical Skills

Critical Skills — fast-track permit

97 occupations

On the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL). Eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit with a faster route to long-term residence and family reunification.

Technology21

Software EngineerSenior Software EngineerFull Stack DeveloperBackend DeveloperFrontend DeveloperWeb DeveloperDevOps Engineer+14 more

Medical14

Medical PractitionerPsychologistPharmacistIndustrial PharmacistRadiographerRadiation TherapistPodiatrist+7 more

Engineering12

Civil EngineerStructural EngineerSite EngineerMechanical EngineerElectrical EngineerElectronics EngineerChemical Engineer+5 more

Architecture & Construction10

ArchitectArchitectural TechnologistQuantity SurveyorConstruction Project ManagerCommercial ManagerTown Planning OfficerGeospatial Surveyor / Land Surveyor / Geomatics Surveyor+3 more

Allied Health6

PhysiotherapistOccupational TherapistSpeech and Language TherapistOrthoptistProsthetistOrthotist

Finance & Business6

AccountantTax ConsultantManagement ConsultantActuaryEconomistStatistician

Animation6

AnimatorArt DirectorLocation DesignerCharacter DesignerProp DesignerAnimation Layout Artist

Quality & Regulatory4

Quality EngineerQuality Assurance SpecialistRegulatory Affairs SpecialistEnvironmental Health Officer

Natural and Social Science Professionals3

AgronomistMeteorologistOperational Forecaster

Nursing2

Registered NurseRegistered Midwife

Academic2

AcademicLecturer

Paramedic2

ParamedicAdvanced Paramedic

Sales & Marketing2

Business Sales ExecutiveInternational Marketing Expert

Managers and Proprietors in Agriculture Related Services2

Professional ForesterResource modelling, earth observation and data analyst

Social Work1

Social Worker

Production Managers and Directors1

Site Manager

Legal Professionals1

Intellectual Property Professionals

Artistic, Literary and Media Occupations1

Riggers (within the Games Industry)

Business, Finance and Related Associate Professionals1

Estimator

General

General — eligible, not on the CSOL

1,079 occupations

Not on the CSOL but not ineligible either. These roles can be sponsored under a General Employment Permit, subject to salary thresholds and a labour-market needs test.

General1077

2D ArtistAccommodation AssistantAccommodation ManagerAccount Manager - HospitalityAccountant (Film & TV)Accounting TechnicianAccounts Assistant+1070 more

Health Associate Professionals2

Pharmaceutical TechnicianDental Technician

Ineligible

Ineligible — cannot be sponsored

260 occupations

On the Ineligible List of Occupations. An employment permit will not be granted for these roles (narrow, listed exceptions aside).

Managers in Other Services14

Property ManagerHousing ManagerEstate ManagerGarage ManagerHairdressing Salon ManagerBeauty Salon ManagerShopkeeper+7 more

Assemblers and Routine Operatives13

Electrical AssemblerElectronic AssemblerVehicle AssemblerMetal Goods AssemblerQuality InspectorProduct TesterWeigher+6 more

Process Operatives11

Food Process WorkerDrink Process WorkerTobacco Process WorkerGlass Process WorkerCeramics Process WorkerTextile Process WorkerChemical Process Worker+4 more

Elementary Cleaning Occupations11

Window CleanerStreet CleanerCleanerDomestic WorkerLaundererDry CleanerPresser+4 more

Caring Personal Services10

Ambulance WorkerEmergency Medical TechnicianDental NurseHouseparentResidential WardenSenior Care WorkerCare Escort+3 more

Public Services and Other Associate Professionals9

Vocational TrainerIndustrial TrainerVocational InstructorIndustrial InstructorCareers AdviserVocational Guidance SpecialistStandards Inspector+2 more

Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers9

Sales AssistantRetail AssistantRetail CashierCheck-out OperatorTelesales AgentPharmacy AssistantDispensing Assistant+2 more

Sales Related Occupations9

Credit AgentDoor-to-Door CollectorDebt CollectorRent CollectorVan Sales RepresentativeMarket TraderStreet Trader+2 more

Other Elementary Services Occupations9

Hospital PorterKitchen AssistantCatering AssistantWaiterWaitressBartenderBar Worker+2 more

Secretarial and Related Occupations8

Medical SecretaryLegal SecretarySchool SecretaryCompany SecretaryPersonal AssistantSecretaryReceptionist+1 more

Plant and Machine Operatives8

Paper Machine OperatorCoal MinerQuarry WorkerEnergy Plant OperatorMetal Working Machine OperatorWater Treatment OperatorSewerage Plant Operator+1 more

Administrative Occupations: Finance7

Credit ControllerBook-keeperPayroll ManagerWages ClerkBank ClerkPost Office ClerkFinance Officer

Administrative Occupations: Records7

Records ClerkPensions ClerkInsurance ClerkStock Control ClerkLibrary ClerkLibrary AssistantHR Administrator

Road Transport Drivers7

HGV DriverVan DriverBus DriverCoach DriverTaxi DriverChauffeurDriving Instructor

Health Associate Professionals6

AcupuncturistHomeopathHypnotherapistMassage TherapistReflexologistSports Therapist

Sales, Marketing and Related Associate Professionals6

Estate AgentAuctioneerConference ManagerExhibition ManagerConference OrganiserExhibition Organiser

Agricultural and Related Trades6

FarmerHorticulturistGardenerLandscape GardenerGroundsmanGreenkeeper

Other Drivers and Transport Operatives6

Train DriverTram DriverMarine Transport WorkerWaterways WorkerAir Transport WorkerRail Transport Worker

Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals5

Youth WorkerCommunity WorkerChild and Early Years OfficerHousing OfficerCounsellor

Protective Service Occupations5

NCOPolice OfficerFire Service OfficerPrison Service OfficerPolice Community Support Officer

Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades5

Flour ConfectionerFishmongerPoultry DresserChefCook

Childcare and Related Personal Services5

Nursery NurseNursery AssistantChildminderTeaching AssistantEducational Support Assistant

Leisure and Travel Services5

Sports AssistantLeisure AssistantTravel AgentAir Travel AssistantRail Travel Assistant

Customer Service Occupations5

Call Centre AgentContact Centre AgentTelephonistCommunication OperatorMarket Research Interviewer

Elementary Security Occupations5

Security GuardParking AttendantCivil Enforcement OfficerSchool Crossing PatrolLunchtime Supervisor

Textiles and Garments Trades4

WeaverKnitterFootwear MakerLeather Worker

Printing Trades4

Pre-press TechnicianPrinterPrint FinisherBookbinder

Other Skilled Trades4

Glass MakerCeramics MakerGlass DecoratorFlorist

Hairdressers and Related Services4

HairdresserBarberBeauticianBeauty Therapist

Cleaning and Housekeeping Managers and Supervisors4

Cleaning ManagerHousekeeping ManagerCleaning SupervisorHousekeeping Supervisor

Elementary Process Plant Occupations4

Industrial CleanerPackerBottlerCanner

Elementary Administration Occupations4

Postal WorkerMail SorterMessengerCourier

Managers in Hospitality and Leisure Services3

Leisure Centre ManagerSports Facility ManagerTravel Agency Manager

Managers in Health and Care Services3

Residential Care ManagerDay Care ManagerDomiciliary Care Manager

Vehicle Trades3

Boat BuilderShip BuilderRolling Stock Engineer

Electrical and Electronic Trades3

TV EngineerVideo EngineerAudio Engineer

Animal Care and Control Services3

Veterinary NursePest Control OfficerAnimal Care Worker

Construction Operatives3

Road Construction WorkerRail Construction WorkerRail Maintenance Worker

Legal Associate Professionals2

Legal ExecutiveParalegal

Administrative Occupations: Government and Related Organisations2

Government AdministratorLocal Government Administrator

Administrative Occupations: Office Managers and Supervisors2

Office ManagerOffice Supervisor

Housekeeping and Related Services2

HousekeeperCaretaker

Customer Service Managers and Supervisors2

Customer Service ManagerCustomer Service Supervisor

Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives2

Fork-lift Truck DriverAgricultural Machinery Driver

Elementary Agricultural Occupations2

Farm WorkerForestry Worker

Welfare Professionals1

Probation Officer

Draughtspersons and Related Architectural Technicians1

Town Planning Technician

Sports and Fitness Occupations1

Fitness Instructor

Other Administrative Occupations1

Sales Administrator

Sales Supervisors1

Sales Supervisor

Elementary Construction Occupations1

Construction Labourer

Elementary Sales Occupations1

Shelf Filler

Elementary Storage Occupations1

Warehouse Worker

Work in the private home1

Domestic Worker (Private Home)

Source: Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, current lists. Historical issuance: a past permit does not mean an employer currently sponsors.

Occupation classification is drawn from the Department of Enterprise Critical Skills Occupations List and Ineligible List of Occupations. Permit-route framing references the DETE employment-permit programme (Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment (DETE)).