An application for an employment permit seeks to secure permission to take up employment in the State on the basis of a job offer to fill a current vacancy in an eligible role from an Irish employer to a suitably qualified or skilled non EEA national. Applications are subject to a range of requirements and criteria set out in the employment permits legislation and are granted to the non EEA national concerned, to work with that employer in the role specified and set out in the contract of employment provided to that employee.
If a visa is required, where a non EEA national is denied visa permission then the employment permit becomes void and is cancelled. An employment permit cannot be transferred to another employment or non EEA national.
My Department and the Department of Justice are currently examining the development of a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions. An Inter-Departmental Group, led by the Department of Justice has been established to examine the legal and operational changes required to deliver a more seamless customer experience for users of the employment permits and entry visa systems.
