Stamp 4 after two years
You stop needing an employment permit entirely and can change jobs freely.
In-demand occupations · 2026
🇮🇪 Ireland in-demand & shortage occupation list
updated for 2026.
20 shortage occupations across 4 sectors, with indicative salaries, official codes and the visa route each one unlocks.
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment · Reviewed 2026
Overview
Critical Skills Occupations List & Ineligible List
Ireland runs an explicit Critical Skills Occupations List. Roles on it qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit — no labour market needs test, immediate family reunification, and Stamp 4 residence after two years, which removes employer ties entirely. Occupations off the list use the General Employment Permit with a higher barrier.
How the Ireland shortage list works
- 1Confirm your role is on the Critical Skills Occupations List and not on the Ineligible List.
- 2Salary threshold: €38,000 for listed degree-level roles, €64,000 for occupations not on the list but not ineligible.
- 3The employer applies for the permit; a two-year contract is typical.
- 4After two years on a CSEP you can apply for Stamp 4, then citizenship after five years of reckonable residence.
Sector-wise demand
Ireland shortage occupations by sector
ICT & digital
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software developer & engineer | — | €55,000 – 90,000 | |
| Cloud, DevOps and site reliability engineer | — | €60,000 – 95,000 | |
| Cyber security analyst | — | €60,000 – 95,000 | |
| Data scientist & machine learning engineer | — | €60,000 – 100,000 | |
| IT project manager & business analyst | — | €58,000 – 90,000 |
Healthcare
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse & midwife | — | €35,000 – 55,000 | NMBI registration |
| Medical practitioner & consultant | — | €80,000 – 200,000 | |
| Radiographer & sonographer | — | €42,000 – 62,000 | |
| Physiotherapist and occupational therapist | — | €40,000 – 58,000 | |
| Pharmacist | — | €55,000 – 78,000 |
Engineering & construction
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil, structural and site engineer | — | €50,000 – 78,000 | |
| Mechanical & building services engineer | — | €52,000 – 80,000 | |
| Electrical and automation engineer | — | €55,000 – 85,000 | |
| Quantity surveyor & construction project manager | — | €55,000 – 88,000 | |
| Validation and process engineer (pharma) | — | €55,000 – 85,000 |
Life sciences, finance & trades
| Occupation | Code | Indicative salary | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality assurance and regulatory affairs specialist | — | €52,000 – 82,000 | |
| Biotech and pharmaceutical scientist | — | €50,000 – 78,000 | |
| Financial analyst, actuary and risk specialist | — | €55,000 – 90,000 | |
| Chef de partie and sous chef | — | €34,000 – 45,000 | General Employment Permit quota |
| HGV driver and transport operative | — | €36,000 – 48,000 | Quota-limited |
Salaries are indicative gross annual figures for 2026 hiring and vary by employer, city, experience and negotiation. Shortage lists are revised by the issuing authority — we re-verify your occupation before any filing.
Why it matters
What a shortage occupation gets you in Ireland
Family reunification immediately
CSEP holders bring spouse and children from day one, with spousal work rights.
English-speaking EU member
No language barrier, EU market access and a large Indian professional community.
Matching visa routes
File under the right Ireland category
Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)
Fast-track skilled-worker route to Irish Stamp 4
General Employment Permit (GEP)
Ireland's mainstream work permit for eligible occupations
Ireland Student Visa (Stamp 2)
Study at Trinity, UCD, UCC, DCU, NUI Galway
Dependant / Partner / Spouse Permit
Family reunification for CSEP holders — immediate work rights
Documents Required for Ireland
Irish consular documentation checklist
Ireland in-demand occupations — FAQs
Do I need a job offer for the Critical Skills permit?
+
Yes — Ireland has no job-seeker visa. The offer must be a two-year contract from an Irish-registered employer at or above the threshold.
What is the Ineligible Occupations List?
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It names roles that cannot be sponsored at all, mostly general clerical, retail, and low-skill service jobs. We check both lists before you invest in an application.
Can my spouse work in Ireland?
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Yes. Spouses of CSEP holders receive Stamp 1G, allowing them to work without a separate employment permit.
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