VisaIreland permit holders must check occupation codes before changing employer
A current guide to Ireland’s nine-month employer-change process explains occupational limits, joint applications and the deadline to start after a permit is reissued.
Official source date: 2026-10-29
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
Identify the permit and occupation before accepting a move
Ireland’s employer-change procedure gives eligible General Employment Permit and Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, who work under Ireland’s employment-permit system for non-EEA nationals, a route to move without making a completely new permit application. It does not give unrestricted permission to start any job with any business. This current guide reviews the established rules under the Employment Permits Act 2024 and the online process operating since 28 April 2025; it does not present those earlier changes as a new October announcement.
The department’s information note explains the distinction. A General Employment Permit transfer stays within the same four-digit Standard Occupational Classification code. A Critical Skills transfer can move within the broader three-digit category. Compare the proposed duties and classification with the original permit before arranging notice or a start date. The occupation code, rather than a broadly similar job title, is the useful starting point.
Check nine months, remaining validity and exceptions
The ordinary threshold is nine months after beginning the first employment permit in Ireland. The permit must still be valid, with at least two months remaining when the transfer application is made. A transfer does not extend its duration. The 2024 information note also sets a maximum of three granted employer changes. A worker approaching expiry therefore needs to distinguish an employer transfer from a renewal.
The official employment-permits FAQ explains that exceptional circumstances can support an earlier new application, including redundancy or an unforeseen fundamental change to employment conditions. Evidence matters: a redundancy letter or documents explaining a significant change in work may be relevant. This is a discretionary exception, not an automatic right to move before nine months. Someone whose proposed role falls outside the permitted classification needs a new eligible permit application rather than treating the transfer facility as an exemption.
Prepare the signed contract and employer records
Use the current Changing employer webpage for the documentary list. It asks for a new employment contract signed by the worker and employer, and a Revenue Commissioners statement showing the employer’s monthly statutory returns, dated within the preceding three months. Confirm that the dates and employer identity match the application rather than relying on an older recruitment file.
Restaurant employers face additional evidence: a local health authority letter confirming permission to operate at the premises, an employer statement concerning work outside a fast-food outlet, and premises utility bills dated within the preceding two months. The same guidance says a fresh labour market needs test is not required for an eligible employer change. That exemption does not remove the other transfer conditions.
Complete the joint online request
The department’s practical-steps sheet says the worker, employer or appointed agent can initiate the application, although employer initiation is described as the most efficient approach. Each party completes its own information and signs electronically. The request remains a draft until the required parties have completed and signed their parts. Preparing a draft should not be mistaken for obtaining permission.
The Employment Permits Online launch guide explains the account arrangements. Users need their own portal registration, with email and mobile-based multifactor verification. Employers provide Revenue and Companies Registration Office information for validation. Permit transfers, renewals and related requests are handled through the portal accounts, which also show application status. Use that guide for account problems and the practical-steps sheet for initiating the transfer.
Wait for the reissued permit and agree a lawful start
The department explicitly instructs workers not to begin with the new employer until the updated permit has been received. Employment with that employer must then commence within one month of the reissued permit. There is no single annual deadline for all transfers: the nine-month threshold, two-month remaining-validity requirement and one-month commencement period determine the relevant dates for the individual.
The reviewed transfer instructions do not state a separate fixed transfer charge or guarantee a processing time. Check the live portal’s requirements before submission and resolve any payment question with the department rather than assuming a new-permit fee applies. Retain the submission record and updated permit, and agree a start date that follows permission rather than merely the date a contract was signed.
