Work in Ireland for South Africans

Ireland has become a hotspot for many South Africans looking to relocate for work; its well-connected geographical location enables workers to access both the UK and European professional market, while a large number of multinational corporations have European headquarters in the country.

As well as the professional draw of Ireland, the country also has many personal ties with South Africa. The Irish embassy in South Africa works hard to strengthen political and economic relationships between the two countries, and in 1990 - just five months after he was released from prison - Nelson Mandela paid a visit to Ireland.⁵

If you’re considering moving from South Africa to Ireland for work, this article will cover everything you need to know, including work permits, how to find a job in Ireland, and everything you’ll need to do after arriving in the country.

We’ll also provide a brief introduction to Wise*, an international money transfer service provider. If you’re thinking about sending part of your salary back to South Africa, Wise can help you save money when making overseas transactions.⁴

Learn more about Wise

*Wise Europe is not a bank. Wise Europe is an authorised Payment Institution incorporated as an SA in Belgium, supervised by the National Bank of Belgium.

Do South Africans need a work visa/permit for a job in Ireland?

Since South Africa is outside the EEA, Switzerland and the UK, professionals from the country must have permission to come to Ireland for work. To get this permission, you must apply for an employment permit.

Are there different types of permits?

There are several different work permits South African professionals can apply for to work and reside in Ireland legally.

Critical Skills Work Permit

Those with any of the critical skills listed on the Eligible Occupations List can apply for a Critical Skills Work Permit.⁶ After the permit has been granted, you must also apply for an Irish work visa if required.

General Employment Permit

For most other professionals, a General Employment Permit will enable you to work in Ireland legally - provided your occupation isn’t on the Ineligible List of Employment.⁷ If required, you’ll also need to apply for an Irish Work Visa if this permit is granted.

Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit

If your employer in South Africa is temporarily transferring your work, you might be eligible for the Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit. This permit was designed to ease the transfer of key personnel, senior management, or trainees who are non-EEA nationals, like those from South Africa.⁸

Work opportunities in Ireland?

The service sector dominates the Irish job market, with a high number of vacancies found in numerous major industries.

There are also over 1,000 global companies based in Ireland;⁹ the majority of these multinationals serve the EMEA market and are looking for multi-lingual staff to increase their growth across the region.

South African professionals can search for job vacancies on the following online platforms:

1. Jobs Ireland¹⁰
2. Irish Jobs¹¹
3. Monster.ie¹²
4. Jobs.ie¹³
5. Recruit Ireland¹⁴

Below is a table of the average annual salaries in Ireland for a range of different occupations.¹⁵

Profession	Average Annual Salary (EUR)	Average Annual Salary (ZAR)
Pharmacist	€62,970	1,286,247 ZAR
Accountant	€52,117	1,064,492 ZAR
Secondary School Teacher	€56,736	1,158,835 ZAR
Nurse	€45,337	926,010 ZAR
Software Developer	€49,201	1,004,879 ZAR
Chemical Engineer	€52,530	1,072,824 ZAR
Architect	€52,784	1,078,011 ZAR

Send money to South Africa from Ireland using the mid-market rate

If you’re a South African expat living in Ireland, Wise can help you save money¹ when making international money transfers back to South Africa.

Although the majority of banks may allow their account holders to make an international transfer, it is possible that a markup is added to the mid-market exchange rate. It is recommended to check the exchange rate offered by your bank against the mid-market rate, which is similar to the exchange rate shown on Google. Say no to hidden fees!

The mid-market exchange rate is the rate that banks use to transfer money between them and is considered the fairest rate in the market. Find out what you would pay for an international money transfer with Wise:

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Wise customers don’t have to pay an additional markup fee but only a small transparent fee to make an international transaction¹. That’s because Wise uses the mid-market rate for overseas payments!

With Wise, South African expats can save money¹ when making international payments from Ireland to South Africa.

Join Wise!

What is the process when applying for a work permit in Ireland for South Africans?

Before relocating to Ireland for work, you must obtain the relevant work permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE).

You can apply for a General Employment Permit or a Critical Skills Employment Permit online using the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS).¹⁶ Your employer can also do the application on your behalf.

What is the processing time?

The DETE processes all work permit applications in date order. While processing times often vary between countries, it can take up to 13 weeks to get a decision.¹⁷ You can find an updated list of the current processing dates for employment permits online.¹⁸

Do I need a residence permit/ visa for Ireland before applying for a work visa/permit?

It’s normal for many South African professionals to wonder, “Can I work in Ireland without specifically obtaining a work visa?” Unfortunately, to work in Ireland on a long-term basis, a non-EEA National must first have a valid employment permit.

What is the total cost of applying for a work permit for Ireland for South Africans?

While the cost of applying for a permit is generally the same regardless of the type of permit you’re applying for, there can be other costs to consider. For example, if you want to work in Ireland for a shorter period or renew your employment permit during your stay.

The application fee for the most common work permits in Ireland is €1,000. It’s the responsibility of either you or your employer to pay this cost. If your application is rejected, the person who paid the fee will get 90% of the application cost back.¹⁹

Visa Type	Cost (EUR) per person²⁰	Cost (ZAR) per person
General Employment Permit	€1,000	20,402 ZAR
Critical Skills Work Permit	€1,000	20,402 ZAR
Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit	€1,000	20,402 ZAR
General Employment Permit for a stay of up to 6 months	€500	10,203 ZAR
Critical Skills Work Permit for a stay of up to 6 months	€500	10,203 ZAR
Intra-Company Transfer Employment for a stay of up to 6 months	€500	10,203 ZAR
Renew any employment permit from 6 - 36 months	€1,500	30,610 ZAR

What are the application requirements for South Africans?

To apply for an Irish work permit as a South African, you’ll need to fulfill the following requirements:²¹

• You have received a job offer or work contract from an Irish company.
• Your employer has passed the Labour Markets Needs Test to prove that an Irish or EU/EEA/Swiss citizen couldn’t be found for the role - this criteria doesn’t apply if you’re coming to the country on a Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• Your minimum salary is at least €30,000 if you’re applying for a General Employment Permit.
• Your minimum salary is at least €30,000 or €80,000 (depending on the profession) if you want to come to Ireland on a Critical Skills Employment Permit.
• At least 50% of the employers in the Irish company who have offered you a work contract are EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.

Do employers provide sponsorship for working in Ireland?

Many Irish organisations sponsor foreign workers to come over to Ireland and work. To successfully get sponsored to work in the country, South African professionals need to search for a job vacancy with an organisation that sponsors non-EEA nationals.²²

After you receive your formal offer, you can then apply for the relevant employment permit. When you have the permit, you can apply for your work visa which gives you the legal right to come to the country to work.

What are the required documents?

When applying for an Irish work permit, professionals need to submit several documents. The Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has created a useful online checklist of everything you need to apply for a General Employment Permit in Ireland.²³

This checklist includes:

• Photocopy of your passport. The copy should show your photo, personal details, and signature.
• A passport-sized photo that adheres to Ireland's photo requirements.
• Copy of your signed work contract.
• Details of a contact: name, phone number, email, and position in the company.
• License number or pin of the organisation issued by the relevant Irish Regulatory bodies or Government Ministers.
• Employer details: name, company registration number, address, and any relevant certificates.
• Employment details: work responsibilities, salary, and duration.

For South African professionals applying for a Critical Skills Permit, the documents required to apply are similar. There is also a checklist of the necessary documents online.²⁴

Working as a student in Ireland

Ireland is a popular destination for many South African students looking to go abroad to study; the standard of education in the country is among the world’s highest, while Ireland’s quality of life has been ranked as the best in Europe.²⁵

To support themselves while they’re in the country, many international students often look for part-time work.

Can students work part-time in Ireland?

South African students with Stamp 2 permission to remain are legally allowed to take up part-time work. During term time, these students can work for a maximum of 20 hours per week, while in university holidays, they can work for up to 40 hours per week.

Stamp 2 permission is granted to students studying a full-time course in Ireland on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes.²⁶

Are students allowed full-time work in Ireland?

International students can only work full-time in Ireland (up to 40 hours) during the holiday periods.²⁷ The university holiday periods are standardised below:

• June - September inclusive
• 15 December - 15 January

Can you work in Ireland after completing your higher education there (already have a study visa)?

Many South African students enjoy living in Ireland so much they wish to remain in the country after finishing their degree. If you want to extend your stay in the country, you can apply for a Third Level Graduate Scheme.²⁸

Is there a need for a new visa/work visa for students?

Students who want to remain in Ireland after their studies must apply for the relevant visa to extend their stay. The Third Level Graduate Scheme allows non-EEA national students to stay for up to two years in Ireland to find a job in the country or apply for a green card.²⁹

To be eligible for this scheme, you need to demonstrate the following:

• You’ve graduated in Ireland with a degree and can provide evidence of your qualifications.
• You have a valid Stamp 2 permission on your student visa.
• You’ve not applied more than twice for this scheme previously.
• You’ve not gone over the maximum seven-year stay limit for non-EEA graduates.

Visa for partner/family members in Ireland

Many South African professionals will want to bring their partner and family over with them to Ireland. However, dependents don’t have an automatic right to join someone with an employment permit in the country.

Your partner and family members must apply separately for permission to join you.

Can I invite my partner if I already have a residence permit + work visa in Ireland?

South African professionals on a Critical Skills Employment permit can invite their partner and family members to apply to join them in Ireland without any waiting period.³⁰ For those on any other employment permit, including a General Employment Permit, your dependants can only apply to move to the country after a 12-month waiting period.

If you have children, the Irish immigration service will determine if you have the required minimum salary to support them in the country. If you don’t have kids, you need to be earning at least €30,000 per year for your partner to be able to come to Ireland.

What visa does my partner need to apply for to join me in Ireland? Is the process different?

Partners of someone with an employment permit in Ireland need to apply for a ‘Join Family’ Long Stay D Visa to join them in the country.³¹ They can only apply for this visa once their partner has arrived in Ireland and registered.

Working self-employed (as a freelancer)

Ireland currently doesn’t offer a work permit for self-employed professionals or freelancers. However, if you want to move to Ireland to set up a new business, you can enter the country through the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.³²

Starting your own business in Ireland

The Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) gives innovative entrepreneurs the chance to set up a business and reside in the country full-time. To apply for STEP, you need to demonstrate the following:

• You’re a person of good character.
• You have the necessary €50,000 funding available.
• You have a comprehensive and innovative business proposal.
• You haven’t got any prior criminal convictions.

You can apply for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme by email. When completing the application you need to submit the following:³²

• Your completed STEP application form.
• Supporting documentation as outlined in the STEP guidelines.³³
• Proof of the €50,000 funding and information about the source of this funding.
• Evidence of your good character.
• Business proposal outlining your innovative idea.

Applicants also need to pay a non-refundable fee of €350 (7,189 ZAR) to apply for the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme.

Important processes to complete once you arrive in Ireland

After your Irish work permit and visa have been approved and you relocate to Ireland, there are several important processes to complete when you arrive in the country:

• Pass immigration checks. Immediately after you enter the country, you need to show your passport, permit, visa, and other relevant documentation to airport immigration.³⁴
• Sign up to your local GP. You can find your nearest service by looking at the directory by the country’s Health Service Executive.³⁵
• Open an Irish bank account to start receiving your new salary. You can also search for a payment account alternative that supports overseas payments like Wise.⁴

Is it worth moving to Ireland from South Africa for work?

Pros	Cons
There are many different types of work permits available that let professionals legally work in Ireland in several professions.	Unless you’re coming over on a Critical Skills Work Permit, you might have to wait 12 months for your partner and family to join you in Ireland.
The high number of multinational companies with European headquarters in Ireland means there are always lots of job vacancies in the country.	If your employer asks you to apply for a work permit yourself, the process can be lengthy and complex.

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For South African professionals who want to take advantage of the country’s professional opportunities and their personal ties to South Africa, relocating to Ireland can be a great option for those keen to work in an English-speaking European country.

If you’re considering moving from South Africa to Ireland for work, it’s essential to research the various work permits on offer, and the options for bringing your partner and family over to the country to join you.

When it comes to managing your salary, Wise is a great international money transfer services provider for making international transactions from Ireland to South Africa.⁴

Join Wise!

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Sources

1. Please seeTerms of Use for your region or visit WiseFees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
2. Transaction speed claimed depends on funds availability, approval by Wise’s proprietary verification system and systems availability of our partners’ banking system, and may not be available for all transactions.
3. Eligibility is subject to verification of customers identity. Wise may request additional documents to verify a customer's identity.
4. Please note that certain products or features may not be available in all regions. Please visitwww.wise.com to check for availability and learn more about our offerings.
5. Work of the Irish embassy in South Africa
6. Critical Skills Occupations List
7. Ineligible List of Employment
8. Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
9. Number of global companies based in Ireland
10. Jobs Ireland
11. Irish Jobs
12. Monster.ie
13. Jobs.ie
14. Recruit Ireland
15. Average annual salaries in Ireland
16. Employment Permits Online System (EPOS)
17. Processing time for employment permits
18. List of the current processing dates for employment permits
19. Paying the work permit application fee
20. Cost of employment permits in Ireland
21. Requirements for Irish work permit
22. How to get sponsorship in Ireland
23. Document checklist for General Employment Permit
24. Document checklist for Critical Skills Employment Permit
25. Quality of life in Ireland
26. Stamp 2 permission
27. Full-time work as a student
28. Staying in Ireland after studies
29. Third Level Graduate Scheme
30. Family reunification policy
31. Visa to live in Ireland with non-EEA partner
32. Start-Up Entrepeneur Programme
33. STEP guidelines
34. Immigration processes after arriving in Ireland
35. GP directory