US immigration law firm Tafapolsky & Smith (T&S) reports that the Irish government quietly confirmed on 22 December 2025 a new schedule of minimum salary thresholds that will apply to all employment-permit applications lodged on or after 1 March 2026. The biggest jump affects Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEPs) with relevant degrees, rising to €40,904, while General Employment Permit (GEP) salaries move to €36,505.
The increases form part of a long-promised roadmap to align migrant pay with national earnings but are less steep than the €39,000 figure floated in 2024. Employers in tech, life sciences and hospitality—heavy users of CSEPs and GEPs—have been lobbying for “predictable and moderate” rises amid margin pressure and hiring freezes.
![Ireland Publishes 2026 Salary Thresholds for Employment Permits]()
International employers scrambling to finalise Irish work-authorisation paperwork should note that online specialists like VisaHQ can streamline the employment-permit filing process, from document gathering to courier delivery. Their Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers live eligibility checks and concierge support, helping companies and assignees hit salary-proof and timing requirements with far less administrative friction.
For HR and mobility teams, the announcement sets a clear deadline: any hires who can submit complete permit applications before 1 March may still rely on the 2025 thresholds (€38,000 for CSEP with degree, €34,000 for GEP). After that, budget forecasts and assignment letters must reflect the new numbers or risk rejection.
Action items: Audit current talent-acquisition pipelines to identify roles that should be accelerated, update cost-of-employment models, and brief recruiters that offers should specify gross salary figures meeting 2026 rules.
The increases form part of a long-promised roadmap to align migrant pay with national earnings but are less steep than the €39,000 figure floated in 2024. Employers in tech, life sciences and hospitality—heavy users of CSEPs and GEPs—have been lobbying for “predictable and moderate” rises amid margin pressure and hiring freezes.
International employers scrambling to finalise Irish work-authorisation paperwork should note that online specialists like VisaHQ can streamline the employment-permit filing process, from document gathering to courier delivery. Their Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers live eligibility checks and concierge support, helping companies and assignees hit salary-proof and timing requirements with far less administrative friction.
For HR and mobility teams, the announcement sets a clear deadline: any hires who can submit complete permit applications before 1 March may still rely on the 2025 thresholds (€38,000 for CSEP with degree, €34,000 for GEP). After that, budget forecasts and assignment letters must reflect the new numbers or risk rejection.
Action items: Audit current talent-acquisition pipelines to identify roles that should be accelerated, update cost-of-employment models, and brief recruiters that offers should specify gross salary figures meeting 2026 rules.
