How to Find a Job in Ireland

People from across the globe have long been drawn to Ireland for its gorgeous landscapes, storied history, rich culture and friendly people. But as a foreigner who wishes to live in the Emerald Isle, what are the career opportunities like?

The economy in Ireland is going strong. In fact, the country boasts the fourth-highest GDP in the world on a per-capita basis.

Several industries that have enjoyed significant growth in recent years — meaning skilled professionals in these areas are in demand — include pharmaceutical and medical technology, software and information and computer technology, and financial services. Experts say these fields will continue to thrive down the road. They also anticipate a rise in other areas, including digital marketing and social media, tourism and hospitality, business, languages and anything related to climate change. So, no matter what field you are in, you will find job opportunities.

Finding and securing a job in Ireland might seem like an overwhelming process. Relocate, an independent marketplace for global migration, provides channels to connect directly with qualified Irish Advisors to help simplify the process and walk you through the steps.

Visa and Immigration Requirements for Ireland

Before coming to Ireland, workers from non-European Union countries, the United States or other parts of the world must first apply for and receive immigration permission to stay in the country. Several types of work visas are offered to foreigners in Ireland through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation, including:

General Employment Permit

Those who aren’t from the U.K., an EU member state, or who aren’t a Swiss national need to apply for some sort of visa before coming to Ireland, and this is one option for jobs where there’s a labor shortage in Ireland. More specifically, this permit allows you to work in any field facing a labor shortage in Ireland or in positions that pay at least €30,000 annually.

Critical Skills Employment Permit

This visa is offered to highly skilled workers in specific fields facing a short supply in the labor market, such as information and computer technology professionals and engineers. Work with an independent Advisor on Relocate to discover eligible occupations and specific requirements.

Contract for Service Employment Visa

These visas are for individuals working contract positions ranging from six months to five years. You must be registered with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and be paid a minimum of €40,000 a year, and the position should meet the Labour Market Needs Test.

Working Holiday Agreement Permission

This agreement between Ireland and the United States allows Irish and U.S. citizens to work and travel freely between the two countries for up to 12 months.

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

This permit is geared toward employees of multinational companies who have worked for them for at least six months and are transferring to an Irish branch of the corporation.

Reactivation Employment Visa

This visa is for non-EEA citizens who came to Ireland on an employment visa but became undocumented through no fault of their own or were treated poorly by an employer.

Immigrant Investor Programme

This program offers a number of investment options for approved non-EEA investors and their immediate families. It allows them to stay in Ireland for up to five years with a possible renewal. The four areas of investment under this program are Enterprise Investment, Investment Fund, Real Estate Investment Trust, and Endowment. Approved investments must benefit the public interest and bring jobs to Ireland. It must also be funded solely by your own money — so you can’t use any loans or credit — and you must have a minimum net worth of €2 million.

Start-up Entrepreneur Programme

This program is designed to encourage non-EEA citizens just starting to bring their business ideas and enterprises to Ireland. Minimum funding of €50,000 is required for this program, which also offers 12-month immigration permission to individuals participating in incubators or innovation boot camps and mentoring programs leading up to their STEP applications. STEP also allows those accepted into the program and their families to stay in the country for up to five years.

What to Consider Before Your Ireland Job Search

If you are serious about working and living in Ireland, there is a lot to consider before you start your job search. Below are some key topics to keep in mind before you make your move.

Where to Find Jobs in Ireland

If you are seeking a new job in Ireland, you need to know where to look. Here are some of the top places to explore and find your dream job.

Aside from the major web-career portals, there are few tailored for Ireland.

Find the perfect IT job with Relocate

Are you a tech-professional, software engineer or rising star in the IT world? Dig-deeper into our partner platform Relocate.me to land that next dream job in the Ireland.

IrishJobs.ie

Search jobs, both part-time and full-time opportunities, in Ireland by job title, industry, location and company name. You can also read candid company reviews, learn about contract positions, discover graduate opportunities, and even find a work-from-home position if that is what you are looking for.

JobsIreland

Whether you are thinking about changing careers or employers, JobsIreland connects companies and job seekers in Ireland. In addition to searching through thousands of jobs, there are other resources for workers, including training and advice on resumes and interviews.

Tips for Getting a Job in Ireland

Now that you have an idea of how to start your job hunt in Ireland, here are some tips for landing the job of your dreams.

Learn the Visa and Immigration Rules for Working in Ireland

It is easy to get a short-stay C visa if you are interested in visiting Ireland for less than three months, but it is a more involved process if you are looking to stay in the country for longer than that. It is important to understand how the visa and immigration system works there. If you do not follow the legal avenues to relocating in Ireland, you could find your visa denied.

The visa and immigration process is different in each scenario. For example, if you are coming overseas for a career opportunity, you need to have a job offer and contract in hand before you do anything else. Once you do, you can file for permission from Ireland’s immigration department to stay in the country longer than three months. After you receive this permission to work in Ireland, you need to apply for an employment visa or D visa. This grants you permission to work in Ireland.

With all the immigration paperwork and visa applications sorted, you can start planning your move. You should not move to Ireland until you have all of these documents, though.

Form Professional Connections

It might seem difficult to establish professional connections from abroad, but it is encouraged to reach out to potential employers, mentors and leaders in your field in Ireland. These connections can be a powerful tool while you are job hunting.

First, see if your colleagues, friends or family members have professional connections in Ireland they can introduce you to. If not, get online and look for virtual networking groups, internet forums in your field, and headhunters or recruiters. Also, use networking sites like LinkedIn. If you build your network abroad before you start looking for work, this comes in handy when looking for a new job.

Understand the Irish Etiquette

Having experience in a country is definitely a plus. You become familiar with the idiosyncrasies of the culture and working-habits of the locals. Ireland, while close in proximity to the United Kingdom since ancient-times, is extremely unique. The Irish are a strong, yet considerate culture with tested history that contributes to a uniform national pride. If you're going through interviews in Ireland with someone who has roots, be sure to know a thing or two about the Emerald Isle and be ready to explain why you have earned your rite of passage there.

Learn More About Ireland and Immigration With Relocate

As you look for suitable employment opportunities, learn more about Ireland with help from qualified experts on Relocate. We make it easy to connect to qualified Advisors who can help prepare you for your move and job search. You can also submit general inquiries to Irish Advisors and request consultations to address specific questions about immigrating to Ireland.

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