Ireland | New Employment Permits Online system launched

Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) has launched its new Employment Permits Online system (EPOS).

Key Points:

• EPOS officially launched on April 28, introducing a portal space with separate and individual accounts for both employers, employees and agents, making it easier to get up-to-date information on the status of applications.
• DETE states on the website that the new system “makes the application process easier, more secure, more intuitive and in so doing will reduce inaccuracies in the submission of applications, resulting in more streamlined processing.”
• EPOS requires all users (employer, employee and agent) to set up a portal account in order to access the system and to submit future employment permit applications. This involves confirming an email address and password and verifying these via a secure multifactor authentication process (using mobile phone confirmation).
• For employers, registration also requires the provision of some key additional documents, that is, revenue and Companies Registration Office details. No new applications can be submitted until the employer sets up their portal.
• Further details about EPOS, support tools and technical support can be found here.
• To access the system directly, users can go to Employment Permits Online.

Additional Information: The Irish government began sweeping changes to key immigration programs, including what the government called the “largest ever expansion to the employment permits system,” in 2023. As of March 10, certain changes to the employment permits system were in effect to address skills shortages in Ireland’s planning and home care sectors.

An updated 100-page FAQ on Ireland’s employment permits can be accessed here.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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