If, as a non-EU citizen, you are not eligible to get a job under the green card permits scheme, you might be able to get one under the Work Permits scheme. This covers jobs for which the annual salary is at least €30,000, excluding bonuses, and in some very rare cases, below €30,000. It is primarily designed for unique jobs that do not fit into a category under the Green Card scheme. Either the employee or the employer can apply for the work permit, which will initially be issued for two years, and is renewable. Once you apply for a work permit, it takes about four to eight weeks to process. The fee for applying for a work permit is €500 to €1,000. If you have a spouse and children, they will not be able to come and live with you in Ireland for 12 months.

Certain workers – including administrative and clerical staff, operations and production staff, general operatives and labourers, retail or sales staff, drivers (excluding HGV drivers), childcare workers, hotel, catering and tourism staff (excluding chefs) and craft workers and apprentice/trainee craft workers are not covered under the work permits scheme and are not allowed to apply for one.

Also, under the work permit scheme, your potential employer must do a labour market needs test – in other words, they must advertise the job to see if there are any suitable EU, Romanian or Bulgarian citizens who can fill it before they can offer it to you.