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Understanding the employment permit renewal process & requirements is vital for employers who wish to retain non-EU staff after the 24 month duration of their initial employment permit. Applying to renew an employment permit before its expiry date ensures that the employee can remain in employment in Ireland, maintains uninterrupted business and compliance with Irish immigration laws.
Below is VisaWork’s comprehensive guide to permit renewal.

Renewal Eligibility & Requirements

Employment permit renewals allow employees wishing to extend their employment to continue working in Ireland under the terms of their original permit. The following types of permit can be renewed:

  1. General Employment Permit
  2. Contract for Services Employment Permit
  3. Reactivation Employment Permit
  4. Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
  5. Intra-Company Employment Permit
  6. Sport and Cultural Employment Permit

Critical Skills Employment Permits are not generally renewable as after 21 months of holding a CSEP, the holder can apply to INIS for Stamp 4 permission, which allows them to work without an employment permit and is more favourable than a CSEP renewal.

For the permit types that are renewable, certain criteria must be met to ensure that the renewal application is granted.

Renewals must be for a continuation of the same employment that the initial permit is for. This means that the Employer and Job Title must be the same. Permit holders wishing to change job or employer must go through DETE’s other relevant channels and should not apply for a Renewal.

The remuneration on the renewal application must adhere to the DETE remuneration requirements at the time of the renewal application. This means that the salary may need to be increased in line with new salary requirements if there has been a change since the first permit was granted.

General Employment Permit Holders should note that they are entitled to apply for Stamp 4 once they have completed 5 years (60 months) on their GEP, and this is more favourable than applying for a further GEP renewal.

How To Apply & Required Documentation

Renewal applications can be submitted online via DETE’s EPOS portal. Applications can be submitted up to 16 weeks in advance of the current permit’s expiry, and it is advisable for employers to submit as early as possible to ensure continuity of the employee’s permission to work.

The documentation to be submitted with the renewal application is as follows:

  • Permit holder current passport
  • New employment contract for new duration & updated remuneration if required
  • Current employment permit
  • Current IRP (Irish Residence Permit) card
  • Revenue Employment Summary Details for proceeding year
  • Employee’s recent pay slips

Renewal Fees & Processing Times

DETE’s application fee for a renewal is €750.00 for a permit up to 6 months in duration, and €1500.00 for up to 36 months duration. There is no fee for the renewal of a Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit. Rejected applications receive a 90% refund from DETE as per current refund policy.

As of January 2025, renewal applications take 11 weeks for Standard Employers, and 9 weeks for Trusted Partners. It is therefore advisable for a renewal application to be submitted as soon as 20 months have elapsed on the first permit to ensure continuity of employment.

Summary

Renewals are a valuable tool for employers and employees alike if used correctly. Our guide above breaks down the key information so that you can ensure a successful application. Contact VisaWork for more information on submitting a renewal application, or if you need advice on a specific circumstance.