For European nationals, working in Ireland is straightforward as no permits or visas are required. EU nationals have the same rights to work in Ireland as an Irish citizen does.

However, if you are from outside the EU you may require an employment permit and/or a visa to work in Ireland.
You may also want to bring your family members with you when you start work. Is your spouse/partner allowed to live and work in Ireland too?
For answers to these key questions and more, read on…

Employment Permits – what are they and who needs one to work in hotel jobs in Ireland?

Employment permits give a non-Irish employee the same employment rights as an Irish citizen for the duration of the permit.

EU Citizens working in hotel jobs

EU and Swiss Nationals do not require employment permits to work in hotel jobs in Ireland. Spouses or civil partners of citizens of the EU member states do not require an employment permit regardless of their nationality.

Non-EU Citizens working in hotel jobs

If you are from outside the EU you will need to check the requirements for your nationality. In general, non-EU citizens require an employment permit to work in hotel jobs in Ireland. For non-EU workers, the right to have your family come and live with you in Ireland depends on the type of permit you have.

There are 9 different types of employment permits issued by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI). The ‘General Employment Permit´ can be applied for as long as your profession is not on the ´Ineligible Categories of Employment List’. The hotel job must also have an yearly remuneration of €30,000. Currently the Ineligible List includes hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering establishment managers and publicans and managers of licensed premises. As a result, candidates interested in these roles would not be able to apply for an employment permit.
Find out more at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation (DBEI).

Latest changes to Employment Permits for Chefs (2018)

The chef shortage in Ireland has reached critical levels. The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) says there is an urgent need for 7,000 chefs per year to the Irish market. To address this demand, the DBEI has made some chef grades eligible for Employment Permits by removing them from the ‘Ineligible Categories of Employment List’.

The following are the chef grades which have been removed from the Ineligible Categories of Employment List:

• Executive Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience at that level
• Head Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience at that level
• Sous Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience at that level
• Chef de Partie with minimum of 2 years’ experience at that level

Note: a quota will be applied to the scheme, with a limit of two general employment permits per establishment and an overall quota of permits of 610.

Visas – do I need a visa to work in Ireland?

You do not need a visa to work in Ireland if you are from an EU member state. Citizens from determinate non-EU countries are also exempt from needing a visa to work in Ireland. Example countries include Chile, Mexico and Paraguay. You can find a full list of exempt countries here.

If you are from an EU member state but your spouse or partner is not, they will not require a visa as long as they hold a residence document from and EU country. For example, a ‘residencia’ card in the case of Spain. If your family member does not have a residency card they may require a visa to enter Ireland. They will need to apply for a residency card if they plan to stay for more than 3 months.

How can I find out more information?

Sagesa Hospitality have the knowledge and experience in the Irish job market to advise you on the legal requirements for hotel staff working in Ireland. If you would like more information, please contact one of our dedicated team. Understanding the legal requirements of working in hotel jobs in Ireland is just one of the services Sagesa Healthcare provide to potential candidates and interested parties. For more information stay tuned for our ‘Ultimate Guide to Hotel Jobs In Ireland’.