Employment Permits Arrangements

Guide To Green Card Permits

January 2007
 Guide to Green Card Permits

Introduction
The Employment Permits Acts 2003 and 2006 allow for the
establishment, for the first time in Ireland, of a Green Card Scheme for
occupations where high level strategic skills shortages exist. This new
Green Card Scheme replaces the Work Visa/Work Authorisation
Scheme which has been discontinued.

What is a Green Card Permit?

The Green Card Permit is an employment permit issued to the employee
and allows his or her employment in the State by the named employer
in the occupation specified on the permit. It will be issued for an initial
period of two years and will thereafter normally be renewed indefinitely.

The new arrangements allow the employee to apply for immediate family
re-unification and will normally allow a pathway to permanent
residency after two years.

No labour market needs test (e.g. newspaper and FAS/EURES

advertising) is required prior to making an application.

Who can apply for a Green Card Permit?

Either the employee or the employer can apply for a Green Card Permit.

Green Card
Page 1
For what occupations can a Green Card Permit be applied for?

Applications may be made in respect of two categories of occupation,

based on salary level:

(i) Firstly, where the annual salary (excluding bonuses) on offer is

€60,000 or more, the Green Card Permit is available for all
occupations, other than those which are contrary to the public
interest.

(ii) Secondly, Green Card Permits are available in the annual salary
range €30,000 - €59,999 (excluding bonuses) for a restricted
number of strategically important occupations as specified in
Appendix A.

What qualifications must the employee have?

The foreign-national concerned must possess the relevant
qualifications, skills or experience that are required for the employment.

What form must the Job Offer take?

The issue of a Green Card Permit is contingent on a job offer from a
bona-fide employer registered with the Companies Registration Office
and the Revenue Commissioners and trading in Ireland. The Job Offer
must be on company headed paper, dated within the previous 60 days,
must be of 2 years or more duration and must specify the following:

(i) A full description of the proposed employment,

(ii) Starting date,
(iii) Annual salary excluding bonuses, and
(iv) Information in respect of the qualifications, skills or experience
that are required for the employment.

Green Card
Page 2
What are the processing fees for a Green Card Permit?
The processing fees for a Green Card Permit, which must be paid by the
applicant, are as follows:

New - €1,000 - 2 year period

Renewal - €1,500 - Renewed indefinitely

(after 2 years)

Is it possible to pay a lower fee for a permit for a shorter period

than 2 years?
No. Green Cards are only issued in respect of job offers of 2 years
duration.

Green Card
Page 3
 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am a foreign national who fulfills all of the above criteria, but

am already working in the State on foot of a work permit. Will I
be eligible to apply for a Green Card Permit?
Yes you are free to make a new application for a Green Card Permit.
However, if you have a current valid work permit this must be returned
with your application.

As an employee, am I free to move employer after I get a Green

Card Permit?
If this is your first employment permit in the State then (other than in
exceptional circumstances) you are expected to stay with your initial
employer for a period of 12 months but then you may move employer
provided that a new application for a Green Card Permit is made.

Can my Spouse and Dependants work?

Yes once they are legally resident in the State on the basis of being
your Spouse or Dependant, they are free to seek employment and apply
for a Spousal/Dependant work permit.

Green Card
Page 4
A Green Card Permit issues to me - what then?
If a Green Card Permit issues to a foreign national they should, where
necessary, obtain an entry visa from their local Irish
Embassy/Consulate. Contact details for the Irish
Embassies/consulates abroad can be obtained from the Department of
Foreign Affairs website at www.dfa.ie.

On arrival in the State the employee should register with the National
Garda Registration Office (Immigration Registration Office, Garda
National Immigration Bureau, Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, for persons
intending to reside in the Dublin area, or the Garda Superintendent's
office in the relevant Garda District for persons intending to reside
elsewhere in the State) to obtain the appropriate permission and correct
immigration status for permission to remain in the State as an
employee.

To whom do I apply for family reunification?

The Immigration and Citizenship Bureau of the Department of Justice,
Equality and Law Reform.

After 2 years on a Green Card Permit to whom do I apply for

permanent residence?
The Immigration and Citizenship Bureau of the Department of Justice,
Equality and Law Reform.

Green Card
Page 5
To whom do I apply for a Green Card Permit? Can I apply to an
Irish Embassy?
Embassies will not process applications for Green Cards. Applications
must be made to the Employment Permits Section of the Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

To whom is a Green Card Permit granted? To whom can it be

sent?
It is granted to the employee and a copy is sent to the employer.

Will employment permits be granted for applications proposing

to pay wages below Registered Employment
Agreement/Employment Registered Order rates?
No.

Can I download the application forms from a website?

Yes, www.entemp.ie

Green Card
Page 6
 Guide for Employers

What can an employer do to ascertain whether an application

may be made under this scheme?
To ascertain whether or not an application may be made under this
scheme, an employer should satisfy him/herself that the following are
all in order:

• Is your company registered and trading in Ireland – Applications will

only be accepted from companies or employers that are registered
with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and with the
Companies Registration Office and which are currently trading in
Ireland.

• Employer/employee relationship – the foreign national concerned

must be employed, salaried and paid directly by you. Applications
from recruitment agencies, agents, intermediaries or companies who
intend to outsource or subcontract the employee to work in another
company will not be accepted under this scheme.

• Ratio of EEA/non-EEA nationals – an employment permit will not be

granted to companies where a consequence of granting the permit
would be that more than 50% of employees in the firm would be
non-EEA nationals.

• Occupations and Salary – Applications will only be accepted for the

salary ranges and occupations specified in Appendix A.

• If you are a foreign national and wish to operate a business in the

State, you are required to obtain business permission from
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Copies of
documentary evidence clearly demonstrating your status within the
State and your entitlement to operate a business must accompany
your application.

Green Card
Page 7
Note: a labour market needs test (e.g. advertisement of the vacancy with
FÁS/EURES and in newspapers) is not required for a Green Card application.

What can an employer do to ascertain whether or not an

employee is eligible under this scheme?

• Does the foreign national possess the relevant qualifications, skills

or experience that are required for the employment?

• If the foreign national is resident in the State - have they valid

permission to remain in the State granted by the immigration
authorities as evidenced by a stamp in their passport?

• If the foreign national is resident in the State and is visa required –

have they the appropriate visa to enable them to enter full-time
employment?

Green Card
Page 8
Application Process for Employers
and Employees

New application
An application for a Green Card Permit can be made by either the
employer or the employee. The following documentation must be
supplied:

• A fully completed new employment permit application form

specifying that it is a Green Card application, including all relevant
documentation. The form must be signed by both the employer and
the employee.

Note: The passport of the foreign national must be in date and valid
for 3 months after the proposed expiry date of the Green Card.

• An original Job Offer, of 2 years or more duration, on company

headed paper and dated within the previous 60 days and specifying

i. A full description of the proposed employment,

ii. Starting Date,
iii. Annual Salary excluding bonuses, and
iv. Information in respect of the qualifications, skills or experience
that are required for the employment.

• Documentary evidence of the employee’s certified qualifications.

• A processing fee of €1,000 paid for by the applicant.

• In the case of medical professionals, a copy of the registration with

the appropriate medical body or a validation of qualifications from

Green Card
Page 9
 the Department of Health and Children (List of registration and
validation bodies for medical professionals attached at Appendix B).

Renewal application (after 2 years)

An application for a renewal of a Green Card Permit can be made by
either the employer or the employee. The following documentation must
be supplied:

• A fully completed renewal employment permit application form

specifying that it is a Green Card application, including all relevant
documentation. The form must be signed by both the employer and
the employee.

Note: The passport of the foreign national must be in date and valid
for at least 12 months.

• A copy of the P60s of the employee concerned, for each year of

employment in respect of which a Green Card has previously been
granted and copies of 3 recent payslips dated within the previous 3
months.

• A processing fee of €1,500 paid for by the applicant.

Disclaimer
The information contained in this guide does not constitute legal advice
and is provided for information purposes only.

Green Card
Page 10
 Appendix A

Occupations in respect of which Green Card Permit

applications may be made

Salary between €30,000 - €59,999

Economic Sector Occupation Job Titles

Computer Systems Managers,

Information Computer Analysts,
ICT Professional
Technology Computer Programmers and
Computer Testers

Medical Practitioners,
Pharmacists/Pharmacologists and
Health related occupations, Registered
Professionals Nurses, Registered Midwives,
Specialist Nurses and Dental
Practitioners

Medical Radiographers,
Physiotherapists, Occupational
Therapists, Psychologists,
Healthcare Audiologists, Dieticians, Social
Workers, Medical Scientists,
Orthoptists, Medical Physicists, ECG
Health associate
Technicians, Speech and Language
professionals
Therapists, Neuropsychological
Measurement Technicians,
Biochemists, Vascular Technicians,
Respiratory Technicians, Cardiac
Catheterisation Technicians and GI
Function Technicians

Green Card
Page 11
 Civil, Mining, Electrical, Software,
Professional Chemical, Design and Development,
Industry Engineers and Planning and Quality Control,
Technologists Network, Validation, Product
Development, Process and Equality

Construction Architects, Quantity and Other

Industry
Professionals Surveyors and Building Managers

Researchers, Chemists, Natural

Education/Healthca Researchers and
Scientists, Biological Scientists,
re/Industry Natural Scientists
Physicists and Material Scientists

Chartered and Certified Accountants,

Actuaries, Economists, Statisticians,
Management Consultants, Business
Analysts, Underwriters, Claims
Assessors and Analysts, Risk
Professionals, Security Specialists,
Business and Fund and Investment Management
Financial Specialists, Common Law
Financial Professionals and Jurisdiction Lawyers with experience
associate of the financial services sector,
professionals Investment Funds Professionals,
Fund Accountants, Fund Valuations
Professionals, Fund Administrators,
Custody Specialists, Transfer Agents,
Hedge Fund Specialists, Compliance
Specialists, Risk Specialists, Tax
Experts and Legal Experts

Specialist Marketing and other Specialist

Industry / Services
managers Managers.

Green Card
Page 12
 Appendix B

List of registration bodies for

medical professionals

The designated authority responsible

Profession
for the validation of qualifications

Medical Practitioner Medical Council of Ireland

Dentist The Dental Council
Nurse An Bord Altranais
Diagnostic or Therapeutic
Minister for Health & Children
Radiographer
Dietician Minister for Health & Children
Occupational Therapist Minister for Health & Children
Orthoptist Minister for Health & Children
Medical Physicist Minister for Health & Children
Psychologist Minister for Health & Children
Speech and Language Therapist Minister for Health & Children
Biochemist Minister for Health & Children
Audiologist Minister for Health & Children
Social Worker National Social Work Qualification Board
Medical Scientist Academy of Medical Laboratory Sciences
Physiotherapist Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
ECG Technician N/A –employer’s letter will suffice
Neurophysiological Measurement
N/A –employer’s letter will suffice
Technician
Cardiac Catheterisation
N/A –employer’s letter will suffice
Technician

Green Card
Page 13