To work in Ireland you first need an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise (DETE), usually a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a General Employment Permit. Once the permit is granted, Pakistani nationals apply for a long stay employment visa through AVATS. After arrival they register with immigration.
Processing timePermits are processed in date order. On 24 September 2026, DETE was processing Critical Skills applications received 16 September 2026 and new GEP applications from 19 August 2026. The visa decision then takes approximately 8 weeks.
Validity / stayCritical Skills: 2-year job offer, after which you can move to Stamp 4. General Employment Permit: up to 24 months at first, renewable for up to 3 more years.
Official fees (approx.)PKR 114,249
Documents11 items
Critical Skills Employment Permit: needs a job offer of at least 2 years from an Irish employer. The job must pay at least €40,904 and be on the Critical Skills Occupations List with a relevant degree (€36,848 if the degree was awarded in the last 12 months), or pay over €68,911 in most other jobs. No labour market test is needed, and your family can join you immediately.
General Employment Permit: usually needs a salary of at least €36,605 and a Labour Market Needs Test, unless the job pays €68,911 or more. It is granted for up to 24 months and can be renewed.
- At least 50% of the employer's staff must be EEA nationals.
- You should normally stay with your first employer for 9 months.
How to apply:
- You or your employer applies on Employment Permits Online at least 12 weeks before the start date.
- Once the permit is granted, complete the AVATS visa form and send your passport and documents to the named office.
- After arrival, register with immigration. The standard fee is €300.
Other fees and options (not included in the fee total):
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: 1,000 EUR
- General Employment Permit (6 to 24 months): 1,000 EUR
- General Employment Permit (6 months or less): 500 EUR
- Entry visa (multiple entry): 100 EUR
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This summary is for guidance. Requirements can change at short notice; always confirm on the official website before you apply.
Common refusal reasons & how to avoid them
Unexplained or insufficient funds
Officers look for a steady financial history, not a snapshot. A large deposit shortly before applying looks like borrowed money parked to pass the funds check. If the source is unclear, they cannot be sure the money is really yours or available for the trip, so they conclude you have not shown sufficient means.
How to fix it: Keep money in your account for at least three to six months before reapplying so the statement shows a natural pattern. If a large deposit is genuine, such as a property sale, gift or bonus, attach proof: sale deed, gift deed with the giver's statement, or employer letter. Explain the deposit in one clear paragraph of your cover letter. Never borrow money to show and return it later; officers recognise this pattern and it damages credibility.
Limited travel history raises doubt about return
A blank passport is not a refusal reason by itself, but it gives the officer no evidence that you have visited a country and come back on time. When combined with weak ties or modest funds, the lack of history makes it harder to believe you will leave at the end of your stay.
How to fix it: Build a travel record with easier destinations first, for example Turkey, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka or the UAE, and return on time. Keep boarding passes and hotel receipts. When you reapply, focus on strong evidence of ties at home: stable job, business records, family responsibilities and property. Plan a short, clear itinerary that matches your income. A modest, well-explained first trip is more believable than a long multi-country tour.
Non-disclosure of previous refusal (misrepresentation)
Visa systems share and store refusal records, and officers see them. Hiding a past refusal is treated as deception, not a mistake. Many countries refuse for misrepresentation in its own right, and the UK and Canada can impose re-entry bans of several years where false information is given deliberately.
How to fix it: Always declare every previous refusal, from any country, even if the form wording seems unclear. Attach the old refusal letter and explain in your cover letter what has changed since then, such as a new job, higher income or better documents. If you already failed to disclose, seek advice from a regulated adviser before reapplying. Honest disclosure of a refusal is a small negative; being caught hiding one can close the door for years.
Identity inconsistency across documents
Officers must be sure every document belongs to the same person. Different spellings, a missing surname or a different date of birth between your passport, CNIC, degree and bank statement can make documents look unreliable or suggest they belong to someone else. The application may be refused or delayed for verification.
How to fix it: Correct the source documents before reapplying. Update your CNIC through NADRA or your passport through the passport office so they match. Where a record cannot be changed, such as an old school certificate, get an affidavit or one-name certificate explaining the variation and attach it with a short note. Fill in the application exactly as your passport reads. Check every date and spelling twice before you submit.
Income not clearly evidenced or stable
Irregular payments from Upwork, Fiverr or foreign clients are genuine income, but they are harder to verify than a salary. If statements show random inflows without contracts or platform records, officers may not see a reliable income or a reason for you to return to ongoing work at home.
How to fix it: Show a full picture of your freelance work: platform earnings reports for the last six to twelve months, client contracts or emails, invoices, and bank statements showing the same payments arriving. Register with PSEB or the relevant freelancer body if you can, and file your FBR tax return so your income is on record. A letter explaining your work, main clients and upcoming projects helps show you have business to return to.
Income and business not independently verifiable
Without a tax return or NTN, officers have only your word and bank statements to judge your business income. They cannot confirm the business is real, how much it earns, or whether the funds shown actually come from it. This weakens both the funds assessment and the evidence of ties to home.
How to fix it: Register for an NTN and file income tax returns for the current and, where possible, previous years before reapplying. Being on the Active Taxpayers List adds credibility. Add business registration or chamber of commerce membership, shop rental agreement, supplier invoices and business bank statements. File accurately and declare real income; a return inflated just for a visa can be checked and create a mismatch with your statements.
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