Compare Immigration Pathways by Country
Compare fees, processing times, requirements, and pathway options across two or more countries side by side — every figure backed by cited official sources.
| Attribute | Ireland 5 Pathways |
|---|---|
| Official authority | — |
| Work permit | |
| Pathway | Working Holiday Authorisation Ireland Work permit Application fees and payment methods depend on the participating-country scheme and competent Irish authority. Check that authority's current fee and any separate immigration registration fee; no single application fee applies to every nationality. No universal processing time is stated in the official Irish working-holiday overview. Use the current instructions for your nationality and application office; a timeframe for one country's scheme is not a guarantee for another. Job offer Language test Family possible |
General Employment Permit Work permit Department of Enterprise: new permit EUR 500 for 6 months or less, EUR 1,000 for 6 to 24 months; renewal EUR 750 (6 months or less) or EUR 1,500 (up to 36 months). 90% is refunded if the application is unsuccessful.≈ $540 The Department publishes the date it has reached. As of 8 October 2026 it was processing new General Employment Permit applications received on 2 September 2026. Apply at least 12 weeks before the start date. Job offer Language test Family possible | |
| Employer sponsored | |
| Pathway | Critical Skills Employment Permit Employer sponsored Department of Enterprise: processing fee EUR 1,000; 90% is refunded if the application is unsuccessful. Minimum annual pay EUR 40,904 for listed occupations.≈ $1,080 The Department processes in date order and publishes the date it has reached. As of 8 October 2026 it was processing Critical Skills applications received on 1 October 2026. Apply at least 12 weeks before the start date. Job offer Language test Family possible |
| Post-study work | |
| Pathway | Stamp 1G Third Level Graduate Post-study work The official graduate programme page states a registration fee of €300 per person. This is a registration fee, not a guaranteed processing time or a separate visa fee.≈ $324 Processing time is not stated on the current programme page; the application deadline and permission duration are separate rules, not processing estimates. Job offer Language test Family possible |
| Business | |
| Pathway | Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) Business Pay the non-refundable €350 application fee in full by electronic fund transfer; applications are not processed before full payment. Under the linked September 2023 guidelines, this covers the principal applicant and nominated family members.≈ $378 Proposals are evaluated quarterly by a committee; the current official page gives no fixed processing time in days, weeks or months. Job offer Language test Family possible |
Working Holiday Authorisation Ireland
Work permit
No universal processing time is stated in the official Irish working-holiday overview. Use the current instructions for your nationality and application office; a timeframe for one country's scheme is not a guarantee for another.
General Employment Permit
Work permit
The Department publishes the date it has reached. As of 8 October 2026 it was processing new General Employment Permit applications received on 2 September 2026. Apply at least 12 weeks before the start date.
Critical Skills Employment Permit
Employer sponsored
The Department processes in date order and publishes the date it has reached. As of 8 October 2026 it was processing Critical Skills applications received on 1 October 2026. Apply at least 12 weeks before the start date.
Stamp 1G Third Level Graduate
Post-study work
Processing time is not stated on the current programme page; the application deadline and permission duration are separate rules, not processing estimates.
Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Business
Proposals are evaluated quarterly by a committee; the current official page gives no fixed processing time in days, weeks or months.