Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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172. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legislation for a person who is currently in the country and does not have a work permit at present but would like to apply for a work permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32075/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland has a clear division between the application of economic migration and general immigration policies. In order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require either a valid employment permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice which allows them to reside and take up employment in the State without the requirement for an employment permit. A person who does not hold a valid work permit or a visa which grants them permission to work in the State is not entitled to enter into a contract of employment in the State.

My Department administers the employment permits legislation and criteria for the granting of employment permit permissions to work in the State.

All first-time applicants for employment permits should normally make their application before travelling into the State. However, non-EEA citizens who are already legally in the State and hold valid immigration permission and a Certificate of Registration Card and have been offered employment in an eligible occupation may submit an application for an employment permit.

Employment permit applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Acts and must meet all the legislative requirements for the permit type which include the skills and requirements of the role, minimum remuneration thresholds, a labour market needs tests where required and the location of where the employment is to take place in the State.

Information on the Employment Permit System is available on the Departments website using the following link:

Employment-Permits-FAQs-2020.pdf (enterprise.gov.ie).