In its long-trailed Roadmap for a Sustainable Migration Model, Dublin has confirmed that the minimum annual remuneration (MAR) thresholds for every category of employment-permit holder will rise on 1 March 2026, with index-linked increases phased in until 2030. According to guidance circulated to relocation suppliers on 19 February, the entry-level General Employment Permit salary jumps from €34,000 to €36,605, while the Critical Skills Employment Permit threshold moves from €38,000 to €40,904 for graduates and from €64,000 to €68,911 for experienced candidates. Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) permits rise to €49,523. A new, lower CSEP graduate rate (€36,848) recognises early-career talent.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment says the adjustments will preserve Ireland’s competitiveness while maintaining wage parity with local labour-market trends. However, mobility teams should budget for higher total-reward packages and recalibrate assignment cost projections immediately. Trusted-Partner employers also need to update employment contracts lodged with permit applications filed on or after 1 March.
Processing remains uneven. Critical Skills permits are averaging 2–3 weeks, but General Employment Permits still take 6–8 weeks and renewals can stretch to 12–14 weeks. Separately, the Immigration Service Registration Office warns of 10–12-week queues for Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewals, potentially delaying PPS number issuance, bank-account opening and payroll onboarding.
![Government roadmap lifts Irish employment-permit salary floors from 1 March; processing delays persist]()
For companies seeking hands-on support with these changes, VisaHQ can guide HR teams and assignees through Ireland’s evolving permit landscape. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates up-to-date salary rules, document checklists and appointment-booking tools, helping applicants reduce errors and navigate backlogs efficiently.
Practical tips for HR: • Front-load budget approvals to meet the higher salary levels. • File renewal applications at least 90 days ahead of expiry to avoid IRP gaps. • Brief relocating families on possible delays in obtaining residence cards, which may affect travel plans during Easter and summer peak seasons.
The gradual path to 2030 offers long-term cost certainty, but the immediate 1 March uplift leaves little room for error for offers currently in flight.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment says the adjustments will preserve Ireland’s competitiveness while maintaining wage parity with local labour-market trends. However, mobility teams should budget for higher total-reward packages and recalibrate assignment cost projections immediately. Trusted-Partner employers also need to update employment contracts lodged with permit applications filed on or after 1 March.
Processing remains uneven. Critical Skills permits are averaging 2–3 weeks, but General Employment Permits still take 6–8 weeks and renewals can stretch to 12–14 weeks. Separately, the Immigration Service Registration Office warns of 10–12-week queues for Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewals, potentially delaying PPS number issuance, bank-account opening and payroll onboarding.
For companies seeking hands-on support with these changes, VisaHQ can guide HR teams and assignees through Ireland’s evolving permit landscape. Its online portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) consolidates up-to-date salary rules, document checklists and appointment-booking tools, helping applicants reduce errors and navigate backlogs efficiently.
Practical tips for HR: • Front-load budget approvals to meet the higher salary levels. • File renewal applications at least 90 days ahead of expiry to avoid IRP gaps. • Brief relocating families on possible delays in obtaining residence cards, which may affect travel plans during Easter and summer peak seasons.
The gradual path to 2030 offers long-term cost certainty, but the immediate 1 March uplift leaves little room for error for offers currently in flight.
