Who it’s for
The permit is for staff of an overseas company being transferred to a connected company in Ireland: a branch, subsidiary or other company in the same group. The application is made by the Irish company, and the transfer must be for a genuine temporary assignment. It can’t be used as a permanent substitute for filling a vacancy in Ireland.
The three categories
| Category | Time with the overseas company before transfer | Minimum salary a year |
|---|---|---|
| Senior management | At least 6 months | €49,523 |
| Key personnel (specialist knowledge essential to the Irish operation) | At least 6 months | €49,523 |
| Trainees on a training programme | At least 1 month | €36,605 |
The Ineligible List of Occupations doesn’t apply to Intra-Company Transfers.
DETE's own page still contains an older line quoting €46,000 and €34,000. The figures above are the current thresholds from the same page's eligibility section, and they're the ones applications are assessed against.
How long it lasts, and the fees
The first permit can be granted for up to two years and extended, on application, to a maximum stay of five years. A renewal can be applied for in the four months before the permit expires.
| Government fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New permit, 6 months or less | €500 |
| New permit, over 6 months (up to 2 years) | €1,000 |
If an application is refused, 90% of the fee is refunded.
Family
Spouses, partners and children aren’t eligible for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse permit under this scheme. If they want to work in Ireland they need their own permit, such as a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit.
How we help
- We confirm which category each employee fits and whether their salary and service meet the rules.
- We prepare the company and employee documents and submit the application on Employment Permits Online.
- We deal with the Department’s queries, and handle renewals within the five-year limit.