Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) released its weekly application-processing snapshot on 7 January, confirming that backlogs remain extensive across most permit categories. General Employment Permit (GEP) files lodged on or after 27 November 2025 are only now being reviewed, while Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) cases dated 17 December have reached assessment.
In practical terms, first-time GEP applicants face end-to-end timelines of nine to eleven weeks—longer if additional information is requested—whereas CSEP files average five to six weeks from receipt to decision. Trusted Partner (TP) route applications, designed to offer an accelerated channel for high-volume employers, are currently taking three to four weeks.
For companies that want additional support navigating these delays, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date permit requirements, document checklists and professional case reviews. Their specialists can pre-screen applications, flag missing items and coordinate submissions, helping employers avoid costly rejections and keep hiring plans on track.
![Work-Permit Processing Bulletin Shows DETE Backlog Now Stretching to Late November Submissions]()
Mobility managers should factor the delays into Q1 hiring plans, particularly in ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare—sectors that dominate GEP demand. Employers can mitigate risk by ensuring applications are ‘decision-ready’, uploading full supporting documentation at point of filing and responding to additional-information requests within the five-day window.
The backlog coincides with a major upgrade of DETE’s Employment Permits Online (EPO) portal last April. While the new platform offers two-factor authentication and real-time tracking, industry feedback indicates users still encounter intermittent page-time-outs and file-upload errors, which can further slow case progression.
DETE says it has authorised overtime for processing teams and will launch an internal ‘Blitz Week’ in February aimed at clearing older files. Companies with urgent hiring needs may consider intra-company transfer routes or short-stay Van der Elst postings as interim solutions.
In practical terms, first-time GEP applicants face end-to-end timelines of nine to eleven weeks—longer if additional information is requested—whereas CSEP files average five to six weeks from receipt to decision. Trusted Partner (TP) route applications, designed to offer an accelerated channel for high-volume employers, are currently taking three to four weeks.
For companies that want additional support navigating these delays, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers up-to-date permit requirements, document checklists and professional case reviews. Their specialists can pre-screen applications, flag missing items and coordinate submissions, helping employers avoid costly rejections and keep hiring plans on track.
Mobility managers should factor the delays into Q1 hiring plans, particularly in ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare—sectors that dominate GEP demand. Employers can mitigate risk by ensuring applications are ‘decision-ready’, uploading full supporting documentation at point of filing and responding to additional-information requests within the five-day window.
The backlog coincides with a major upgrade of DETE’s Employment Permits Online (EPO) portal last April. While the new platform offers two-factor authentication and real-time tracking, industry feedback indicates users still encounter intermittent page-time-outs and file-upload errors, which can further slow case progression.
DETE says it has authorised overtime for processing teams and will launch an internal ‘Blitz Week’ in February aimed at clearing older files. Companies with urgent hiring needs may consider intra-company transfer routes or short-stay Van der Elst postings as interim solutions.
