Welcome to Ireland's Healthcare System
You must supply one of the following:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- General Employment Permit
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
- Contract for Services Employment Permit
- Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
- Internship Employment Permit
- Sports & Cultural Employment Permit
.
Employment Permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Ireland’s healthcare system is renowned for its blend of public and private services, ensuring high-quality, accessible healthcare for all residents. Whether you’re seeking routine medical care, specialist consultations, or emergency services, Ireland’s healthcare network is designed to meet your needs with compassion and efficiency.
The public system, managed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), offers numerous services either free of charge or at a reduced cost, making healthcare accessible to everyone. Many residents also opt for private health insurance to enjoy additional benefits, including faster access to treatments and private hospital accommodations.
With ongoing reforms like Sláintecare aiming to further enhance patient access and care integration, Ireland’s healthcare system is committed to evolving and improving to better serve its population. Welcome to a system that prioritizes your health and well-being.
To apply, follow these three steps:
Create a visa application online
Use the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS) to apply for your visa online
Answer all questions in AVATS fully and honestly
Follow the instructions on the Summary Application Form created by the online system. This summary form will contain information on where you are to submit your supporting documentation
Print, sign and date the summary form and submit it with your supporting documentation.
The visa officer considers each application on its merits and may request additional information or documentation.
Details of the current visa fees are available here.
The fee covers the administrative cost of processing your application. This will not be refunded if you withdraw your application or if we refuse your application.
Some applicants are exempt and do not need to pay visa fees. Click here to check if you are exempt from paying Visa fees.
You will receive an Application Summary Form when you complete your AVATS online application. This will let you know how to submit your application for processing and pay your visa fee.
Payment methods and currency options may differ between offices. Extra charges may apply for some applications, such as consular fees.
Send your supporting documents
Prepare your documents carefully. They contain information that we need to make a decision about your visa application. It is your responsibility to provide all information to help us process your application quickly and fairly.
Sending these documents does not guarantee that your application will be successful.
welcome to Ireland
If you want to work in Ireland and are a non-EEA/non Swiss national, you will need to have a valid Employment Permit or Atypical Permission first. Depending on your nationality, you may also be required to apply for a visa. You then have to apply for the relevant permission.
If you are planning to stay longer than 90 days you will also have to register.
This is your chance to emphasize why the visitor should contact you right now.
The Employment Permits Acts 2024 establishes that an employer shall not employ a non-EEA national except in accordance with an employment permit, except in the cases listed below.
The following non-EEA nationals do not require an employment permit:
(A) Van der Elst Case The European Court of Justice delivered a judgement on the Van der Elst Case (Freedom to Provide Services) on 9 August, 1994. The Court ruled that in the case of non-EEA workers legally employed in one Member State who are temporarily sent on a contract to another Member State, the employer does not need to apply for employment permits in respect of the non-nationals for the period of contract.
(B) Where a non-EEA national has been granted permission to remain in the State on one of the following grounds:
- permission to remain as spouse/civil partner or a dependant of an Irish/EEA national
- permission to remain as the parent of an Irish citizen
- temporary leave to remain in the State on humanitarian grounds, having been in the Asylum process
- explicit permission from the Department of Justice to remain resident and employed in the State
- permission to be in the State as a registered student who is permitted to work 20 hours during term time and 40 hours during holiday periods
- permission to be in the State under the terms of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967, and are assigned to a Mission of a country with whom the Government has entered into a Working Dependents Agreement
- Swiss Nationals: In accordance with the terms of the European Communities and Swiss Confederation Act, 2001, which came into operation on 1 June 2002, this enables the free movement of worker between Switzerland and Ireland, without the need for Employment Permits
Requirement to register an Irish immigration residence permission.
If you are a national of a country outside the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland, and come to Ireland to work, study, live or join family for more than 90 days, you must register an immigration permission under the terms of the Immigration Act 2004.
First-time Registration of Irish Immigration Residence Permission.
On 13 January 2025, the final remaining responsibility for all nationwide first time registration of Irish immigration residence permissions will transfer, from the Garda National Immigration Bureau, to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice.
From that date, the first time in person registration of residence permissions for applicants residing in all counties will be done at the Registration Office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
To book an appointment to register your first time immigration residence permission, please create an account, or log into your existing account, on the Digital Contact Centre. Each registration appointment is linked to the unique applicant profile that booked it through the online account. Applicants are encouraged to book their appointment today.
For your appointment at the Registration Office in Burgh Quay, you must bring:
If you do not have all required documents or fee with you at your appointment, we will be unable to complete your registration and issue you with an Irish Residence Permit card. Please note, contactless and cash payments are not accepted.
Remaining first time registration appointments at a Garda station.
Applicants for first-time registration, resident outside of counties Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Limerick, Meath and Wicklow, who have a confirmed appointment up to 31 January 2025, should attend the relevant Garda registration office as scheduled. An Garda Síochána will continue to process confirmed appointments for first-time registrations until the end of January 2025. Applicants with such appointments may wish to check with the relevant Garda Station in order to confirm arrangements.
Alternatively, applicants with such confirmed appointments may wish to notify the Garda Station to remove their application, and then book an appointment with the Registration Office in Dublin by creating an account on the Digital Contact Centre.
Applicants who do not hold a confirmed appointment at a Garda registration office prior to 31 January 2025, should create an account on the Digital Contact Centre and book an appointment with the Registration Office at Burgh Quay in Dublin.
First time registration appointments are available for individual applicants or family groups only. Appointments are available at Burgh Quay within the 90 day legally required timeframe.
Renewal of Irish Immigration Residence Permission:
All nationwide online renewals of permissions are processed using the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) online renewal portal. Applicants will not need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person to renew permission. Please note that all applications for renewal are accepted up to 12 weeks prior to expiry to allow sufficient time for processing.
The Immigration Service website provides a live processing update for online renewal applications being processed. To ensure an equitable immigration system, applications are processed in the order in which they are received