Ireland, the second largest island nation in Europe, is home to many multinational corporations and tech industries. Its connection to other European countries, friendly corporate tax, and potential job markets attract many foreign entrepreneurs and talents, including those from South Africa. In this passage, we are going to talk about the requirements for South African citizens to work in Ireland.
Do South Africans Need a Work Visa/Permit for Jobs in Ireland
Yes. All foreigners except nationals of European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland must file the first application for a work permit to work and live in Ireland which is issued by the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Applicants abroad should submit the second application for an Ireland work visa to enter the country which is issued by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). Therefore, a work visa/permit is needed to get Ireland jobs for South African citizens.
Types of Ireland Work Permit
The Ireland employment permit can be divided into the following types according to the employees’ professions, status, and industry.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: for individuals whose skills and professions are listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
- General Employment Permit: for non-EEA nationals with a wider range of skills and professions excluded on the Critical Skills Occupations List.
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit: for employees of multinational corporations to work in Irish branches or headquarters.
- Sport and Cultural Employment Permit: for sports or cultural professionals, including athletes, coaches, actors, performers, etc.
- Internship Employment Permit: for foreign students who do not study in Irish educational institutions and who want to have an internship in Ireland.
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit: for non-EEA nationals who come to Ireland for educational, professional, cultural, or research exchange based on internationally reciprocal agreements, such as AIESEC or IAESTE between South Africa and Ireland.
- Contract for Services Employment Permit: for employees of a company outside Ireland who come to Ireland to join temporary projects or provide services.
- Reactivation Employment Permit: for previously Ireland work permission holders to come back to Ireland and take the same occupation.
- Dependent, Partner, Spouse Employment Permit: for family members of Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and some other work permit holders to work and live in Ireland.
Jobs in Ireland for Foreigners
Foreigners who want to work in Ireland must get a job from an employer in the country before applying for an Ireland work visa. There are a vast majority of Ireland vacancies for expats, among which opportunities in the fields of healthcare, IT, engineering, hospitality, transport, logistics, business, and finance are most popular.
Jobs in Ireland for South African citizens can be found through the following avenues.
- Irish recruitment agencies.
- Irish job websites.
- A company’s website.
- Social media.
- Job advertisements in Irish newspapers.
- Open days and recruitment days in Ireland.
Ireland Work Visa Requirements for South Africans
To work on jobs for South Africans in Ireland, applicants should get permission to work in Ireland, also called a work permit or employment permit which is issued to the employer and the employee who satisfy the following requirements.
- The employee has received a formal job offer or signed an employment contract with an employer in Ireland.
- The employer has passed the Labour Markets Needs Test (unless applying for critical skills employment permits, dependant/partner/spouse employment permits, or in other exempted cases) which proves that no EEA nationals are suitable for the position.
- The minimum salary is not less than €30,000 (required for general employment permit application).
- The minimum salary is not less than €30,000 or €80,000 required for critical skills employment permit application).
- The company must comply with the 50/50 rule, which means the number of EU/EEA/Swiss employees in the company should take up at least 50%.
How to Apply for Ireland Work Permit for South African Citizens
The work permit can be applied by the employer, employee, or an authorized agent. No matter who the applicant is, he/she should go through the following steps.
Confirm Eligibility
The visa fees are non-refundable even if the application is rejected or withdrawn. Therefore, it is necessary to check the requirements for the employer and the employee and confirm that you are eligible to apply. It also helps you choose the most suitable type of employment permit.
Prepare Required Documents
Incomplete supporting documents might result in visa refusal or delay. You should submit documents and information to prove your identity and qualifications, including:
- A duly accomplished application form.
- A valid passport and a photocopy of the bio-data page which clearly shows your personal information and photo.
- A recent passport size photo.
- Copy of the invitation letter, job offer, or the signed employment contract indicating name, contact, position, work responsibilities, salary, and length of employment.
- Business license of the employer stating the company name, registration number, address, etc.
- Other supporting documents according to the visa type, such as marriage certificate, proof of previous work experience, academic certificates, etc.
Fill out Ireland Work Visa Application Form
The form is available on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). It could be filled out online by following these steps.
- Go to the EPOS portal, scroll down to the end, and click on “I will select Employment Permit Application Form from the list”.
- Click on the permit type that you intend to apply for. Make sure to choose the form marked with New instead of Renewal.
- Read the instructions and fill out the form online. Make sure all seven sections are completed and click on the green “Form Complete” button.
- Supposing that you want to pause the application, click on the “Save Draft” button and note down the MyWork-ID at the top left corner which allows you to leave and resume the ongoing application afterward. Please note that the form must be finished in 28 days, after which all data will be cleared. After filling out the form, print it out and sign it.
Submit Ireland Work Permit Applications
After submitting the form, a drop-down box showing the required documents will appear. Upload the document in the form of PDF, PNG, or JPEG/JPG one by one. Each file size should not exceed 10MB. Finally, the application fees must be paid. Depending on the permit type, the authority might require you to have an interview and submit biometrics at the Irish embassy or consulate in South Africa.
Apply for Ireland Work Visa
Supposing that you finally receive the work permit, please apply for a work visa for Ireland from South Africa. on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website or in person at the Irish embassy in South Africa to enter Ireland. According to the Ireland work visa requirements, the supporting documents are listed as follows.
- 2 recent passport photos.
- A valid passport.
- A signed application letter including detailed contacts, the purpose of travel, length of stay, information about family members in Ireland (if any), details of accommodation in Ireland, and commitment to obey rules.
- An approved employment permit.
- Employment contract.
- A letter from the Irland employer explaining details of the job, salary, and details of accommodation if it is provided by the employer.
- Proof of qualifications, such as a letter of employment, professional certificate, training certificate, etc.
- Proof of financial capability, such as bank statements for the last 6 months.
- Medical or travel insurance (optional).
- Information about previous visa refusals (if any).
How Long does it Take to Get Work Permit
The authority deals with visa applications on a first-come-first-processed basis. It generally takes 8 weeks to receive a work permit. It is necessary to note that it might be longer when you are required to submit extra proof, when you file an appeal against the visa refusal, or when you apply at peak seasons.
How Much Does Ireland Work Permit Cost
It costs €60 for single-entry Ireland work visa and €100 for multiple-entry ones. As for the work permit, the application fees are subject to the permit types and the length of stay, which ranges from €500 – €1,000 for first-time applications. Moreover, Dependent/Partner/Spouse Permits and Exchange Agreement Employment Permits are waived from the fees. Here is a specific price list.
| Types of Employment Permit | First application fee (for up to 2 years) | First application fee (for up to 6 months) |
| General Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | €1,000 | / |
| Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Sport and Cultural Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Internship Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Exchange Agreement Employment Permit | 0 | 0 |
| Contract for Services Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Reactivation Employment Permit | €1,000 | €500 |
| Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit | 0 | 0 |
Work Visa/Permit for Students in Ireland
Non-EEA international students in Ireland on immigration Stamp 2 permission can work for up to 20 hours every week during term time or up to 40 hours during college holidays (from June to September and from 15 December – 15 January).
Ireland study visa holders who want to remain in the country to work after graduating should apply for an Internship Employment Permit. It replaces the previous Internship class of Work Permit Employment Permit for students who major in a discipline relevant to the occupations listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List or enrolled in a third-level institution outside Ireland. The foreign national must be a full-time student taking a degree course (or higher) and have received an internship offer from an employer in Ireland.
The permit is only valid for up to 12 months and not renewable, after which the permit holder should leave the country or apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit or General Employment Permit.
Visa for Partner/Family Members in Ireland
Critical Skills Employment Permit holders and researcher on a Hosting Agreement can invite their partners and family members to join them in Ireland through a join family visa. The dependants are allowed to get a job offer and then apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit to work in Ireland. They can take all jobs except those of domestic operatives and earn at least the national minimum wage. To apply for this permit, the applicant must reside and accompany the primary permit holders or researchers as a dependant. The validity of the permit is consistent with the permitted residence of the primary permit holder or the research, which is valid for up to 2 years and renewable.
Work as Self-employed/Freelancer
To apply for an Ireland work visa or work permit, the foreign national must have a job offer from an Irish employer. Therefore, self-employed persons and freelancers cannot obtain a work visa/permit. If you want to enter Ireland by setting up a company, you can join the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.
Get Ireland Work Visa Photo Online
To apply for a visa for work in Ireland from South Africa, you must submit an employment permit photo compliant with a set of official requirements on size, dimensions, background, dress code, poses, and photo quality. If you have a mobile phone that is connected with Internet access, you can DIY a qualified biometric picture with an ID photo editor by AiPassportPhottos at any time and anywhere. Here is what AiPassportPhotos can do.
- Compliance Check
The online ID photo is equipped with official photo templates for various documents in dozens of countries, including Ireland work visa. Supported by AI technology, it will scan every detail of the picture, making sure it is 100% acceptable to the authority.
- Photo Resizing
The whole picture should measure 35 x 45mm. the photo tool will automatically crop the picture and adjust the head and shoulder proportions. Compared with manual resizing, it is more convenient and accurate.
- Background Removal
The subject must contrast with a plain white background without shadows, patterns, irrelevant items, and persons. When the photo editor detects an unqualified background, it will remove it and replace it with a new one, thus ensuring photo compliance.
FAQ
Q: How do I qualify to work in Ireland?
A: Nationals outside the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK must get a job and then obtain an employment permit.
Q: How much bank balance is required for an Ireland work visa?
A: It depends on the visa type and the intended duration of stay. The bank balance is suggested to be at least €10,000.
Q: Is it easy to find a job in Ireland as a foreigner?
A: It depends on your qualifications, experience, and skills. It might be easier for foreigners included Critical Skills Occupations List to get a job in Ireland.
Conclusion
To work in work, South African citizens must obtain an Ireland work visa and employment permit. Vacancies of jobs in Ireland for foreigners are available in multiple industries. After getting a job offer, the employee should obtain an Ireland work permit on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS) and then an Ireland work visa on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service Website or at the Irish embassy. There are 9 types of Ireland work permits. We hope this passage can help you pick a proper one.