To move to Ireland on a Critical Skills Employment Permit from the UAE, you need a job offer of at least 2 years. Since 1 March 2026 the minimum salary is €40,904 a year for jobs on the Critical Skills Occupations List that need a degree, or €68,911 a year for most other jobs. You or the employer apply online for a €1,000 fee. Then, if your passport needs a visa for Ireland, you apply for a long-stay employment visa through VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. After about two years you can move to Stamp 4 and work for any employer.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the Irish Immigration Service and the Embassy of Ireland in the UAE. Ireland is not in the Schengen area, so an Irish permit does not let you live or work in other EU countries.
What salary do you need for an Irish Critical Skills permit in 2026?
| Category | Minimum annual salary (from 1 March 2026) | Approx. in AED a year |
|---|---|---|
| Job on the Critical Skills Occupations List, relevant degree required | €40,904 | About AED 165,000 |
| Same, if your qualification was awarded in the last 12 months | €36,848 | About AED 148,500 |
| Other jobs (not on the Ineligible List) | €68,911 | About AED 278,000 |
| For comparison: General Employment Permit | €36,605 | About AED 147,500 |
The salary can include basic pay and qualifying health insurance paid by the employer. It must come from the Irish employer; your UAE allowances do not count. The government plans further increases each year up to 2030, so check the figure on the day you apply. AED amounts are rounded at about AED 4.03 to €1.
Who is eligible?
- A job offer of at least 2 years from an employer trading in Ireland and registered with Revenue. Shorter offers can only use the General Employment Permit.
- The right job. Roles in the €40,904 band must be on the Critical Skills Occupations List. These are mainly ICT, engineering, science, health and some finance roles.
- The 50:50 rule. At least half of the employer’s staff must be EEA nationals. Start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland can be exempt.
- Your qualifications and experience must match the job. Nurses and midwives need a qualification accepted by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
No labour market test is needed. The employer does not have to advertise the job to Irish and EU workers first, because these jobs are classed as in short supply.
How to apply from the UAE: step by step
- Get a 2-year job offer at or above the threshold for your role.
- Apply on Employment Permits Online. Either you or the employer can apply, ideally at least 12 weeks before your start date. Pay the €1,000 fee.
- Answer any queries within 28 days. Applications are processed in date order. Employers with Trusted Partner status are in a faster queue.
- Receive the permit. It is issued to you, and the employer gets a certified copy.
- Apply for an Irish employment visa if your nationality needs one. Fill in the online AVATS form, print the summary and submit it at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi decides.
- Travel to Ireland and register. Book an appointment for your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) after you arrive. The fee is €300, payable by card. You will receive Stamp 1.
The Irish visa from Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Your passport decides whether you need an entry visa. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi and Nigerian nationals, among others, need one. Emirati citizens do not. Your UAE residence decides where you apply: residents lodge at VFS Global in the UAE, not in their home country.
- Visa type: long-stay (D) employment visa
- Passport: valid for at least 12 months for a long-stay visa; include previous passports
- Documents: AVATS summary sheet signed, 2 photos, the employment permit, originals plus photocopies of every document, in English or with certified translations. Do not put documents in folders or envelopes.
- Fee: the Irish visa fee, paid in AED, plus the VFS service charge. Fees are not refunded.
Total costs to budget
| Item | Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills Employment Permit | €1,000 (90% refunded if refused) | You or the employer. If the employer pays, it cannot deduct the fee from your pay. |
| Irish employment visa | Visa fee in AED + VFS charge | You |
| IRP registration | €300 | You |
| UAE police clearance and attestations | Varies | You (only if the employer or visa officer asks) |
Can your family come with you?
Yes. Critical Skills holders can bring their spouse or partner and children straight away. There is no waiting period. Family members apply for a join-family visa if their passport needs one. Once in Ireland, a spouse or partner can work.
From Stamp 1 to Stamp 4 and long-term residence
- Stamp 4: after 21 months on the Critical Skills permit, you may apply to the Department of Justice for Stamp 4. No new employment permit is needed. Stamp 4 lets you work for any employer and is granted for 2 years, renewable.
- Long-term residence: you can apply after 60 months of legal residence.
- Citizenship: naturalisation generally needs 5 years of reckonable residence in the last 9 years.
Why permits are refused, and what to do
- The salary is below the threshold, or it counts allowances that do not qualify
- The job is not on the Critical Skills list but is paid below €68,911
- The employer fails the 50:50 rule
- The contract is shorter than 2 years
You can ask for a review within 28 days of a refusal.
Questions people ask
What is the minimum salary for a Critical Skills permit in 2026?
€40,904 a year for roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List that need a degree, and €68,911 for other eligible roles, from 1 March 2026.
Can I apply for the Critical Skills permit myself?
Yes. Either you or the employer can apply online, but you still need a job offer from an Irish employer.
Where do I apply for the Irish visa in the UAE?
At VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, after filling in the AVATS form online. The Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi processes it.
How long until I can change employers?
Normally you are expected to stay with the employer for the first 12 months. After about 21 months you can apply for Stamp 4 and work for anyone.
Does an Irish permit let me travel in Schengen?
No. Ireland is outside Schengen, so most non-EU nationals living in Ireland still need a Schengen visa to visit France, Germany or Spain.
Related guides
- How to move to Europe from the UAE: all routes compared
- Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant visa from the UAE
- UK Skilled Worker visa from the UAE
- UAE police clearance certificate for immigration
Sources
- Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment: Critical Skills Employment Permit
- Embassy of Ireland, UAE: Visas for Ireland
- Irish Immigration Service: Registering your permission (IRP) and fees
- Vialto Partners: Employment permit thresholds from 1 March 2026
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Irish salary thresholds are rising in steps until 2030. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.