Withdrawals of Irish employment permits have surged to 13,784 in the first nine months of 2025, compared with just 1,064 in the whole of 2024, according to data analysed by news site Gript and published on 4 November. The sharp increase follows phased increases in minimum-salary thresholds introduced in January 2024 and more aggressive compliance audits by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).
Sectors hit hardest include hospitality and food services (28 percent of withdrawals), meat processing (22 percent) and IT (18 percent). Salary thresholds for many general permits rose from €30,000 to €34,000, while healthcare assistants and carers will move to €30,000 in January 2026. DETE has also revoked permits where employers changed job duties or failed labour-market-test obligations.
![13,784 Irish work permits withdrawn so far in 2025 as new salary thresholds bite]()
Indian, Brazilian and Filipino nationals have been most affected, reflecting their concentration in the impacted sectors. Employers blamed a mix of weaker demand and the wage hikes, while migrant-rights groups warned that sudden withdrawals leave workers vulnerable to exploitation in the grey economy.
For multinationals the message is clear: Ireland is tightening qualitative controls on permits even as overall immigration numbers rise. Companies relying on general or intra-company transfer permits should budget for higher salaries or explore Critical Skills Employment Permits, which have lower cancellation rates.
Practical advice: build a 6–12-month buffer in workforce-planning models and monitor DETE’s Trusted Partner scheme, which offers streamlined renewals but carries strict compliance obligations. A comprehensive audit of third-party suppliers in catering, cleaning and security — where many withdrawals occur — is also advisable to avoid reputational fallout.
Sectors hit hardest include hospitality and food services (28 percent of withdrawals), meat processing (22 percent) and IT (18 percent). Salary thresholds for many general permits rose from €30,000 to €34,000, while healthcare assistants and carers will move to €30,000 in January 2026. DETE has also revoked permits where employers changed job duties or failed labour-market-test obligations.
Indian, Brazilian and Filipino nationals have been most affected, reflecting their concentration in the impacted sectors. Employers blamed a mix of weaker demand and the wage hikes, while migrant-rights groups warned that sudden withdrawals leave workers vulnerable to exploitation in the grey economy.
For multinationals the message is clear: Ireland is tightening qualitative controls on permits even as overall immigration numbers rise. Companies relying on general or intra-company transfer permits should budget for higher salaries or explore Critical Skills Employment Permits, which have lower cancellation rates.
Practical advice: build a 6–12-month buffer in workforce-planning models and monitor DETE’s Trusted Partner scheme, which offers streamlined renewals but carries strict compliance obligations. A comprehensive audit of third-party suppliers in catering, cleaning and security — where many withdrawals occur — is also advisable to avoid reputational fallout.
