Call for Submissions on Occupations Lists for Employment Permits

Employers interested in making submissions can do so via a form available on the Irish government website. The completed form should be emailed to [email protected] by August 12, 2021. Fragomen can assist with comment drafting and submission.

The submission process is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide information and experiences and different perspectives on the nature and extent of skill and/or labour shortages. Fragomen can assist in drafting and submitting comments.

The Critical Skills Occupations List determines which occupations are eligible for the Critical Skills Employment Permit, an immigration route for local hires that exempts employers from labor market testing, among other advantages.

The Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits determines for which occupations non-EU/European Economic Area/Swiss nationals cannot qualify when applying for a sponsorship-based Employment Permit. Previous calls for submissions resulted in changes to the lists in previous years, with the last update in June, when more healthcare occupations were made eligible for Employment Permits.

Following the review period, the government may add occupations to the Critical Skills Employment Permit and General Employment Permit categories (both local-hire permits), which would expand hiring options for employers and prospective employees in the following months.

Fragomen will report on related updates.