Changing Employer on an Irish Employment Permit

If you currently hold an Irish Employment Permit and are considering changing employer, there are important updates under the Employment Permits Act 2024 that you should be aware of.

Can I Change Employer While on an Employment Permit?

In most cases, yes — once you’ve completed nine months of employment on your first employment permit in the State. This is commonly referred to as the “9-month rule.”

The purpose of this rule is to strike a balance between protecting employers who invest significant resources in recruitment and onboarding, and safeguarding employees from being indefinitely tied to a single employer.

However, there are certain exceptions which may allow you to change employer within your first nine months. These include:

• Redundancy; or

• Unforeseen changes in your employment relationship. For example:

• Your employer relocating the business to a site a significant distance away;

• Major changes to your working hours or duties.

If you fall under these exceptional circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a new employment permit. Such applications should be supported by relevant documentation, such as:

• A P45;

• A letter from your current employer outlining the redundancy or changes in terms and conditions.

New Provisions Under the Employment Permits Act 2024

The 2024 Act has introduced a significant change for holders of the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) and the General Employment Permit (GEP).

Once you have completed nine months on your first employment permit in Ireland, you may now change employer without having to apply for an entirely new permit from scratch. Instead, you can submit a Change of Employer application, which results in your existing permit being updated to reflect your new employer details. This process eliminates the need for a fresh Labour Market Needs Test and streamlines the transition.

Key Points for Permit Holders

Here are the main conditions you need to be aware of:

• Occupation or SOC code restrictions

  • GEP holders must remain within the same occupation, identified by the 4-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code (e.g. a meat processing operative can move to another meat processing role).

  • CSEP holders have slightly broader flexibility and may change to a different role within the same 3-digit SOC code group (e.g. moving between different types of engineering roles).

• Your current permit must be valid and have at least two months remaining when you make your application.

• The duration of your existing permit remains unchanged after the change of employer.

• The new employment must begin within one month of your updated permit being issued. You cannot start working for your new employer until you have received the reissued permit.

• You may change employer a maximum of three times under this provision during your overall permit validity.

Documentation Requirements

When applying to change employer under this scheme, you will need to provide:

• A signed Contract of Employment between you and your new employer.

• A statement from Revenue showing the new employer’s monthly statutory returns within the past three months.

If your new employer operates a restaurant business, you must also submit:

• A letter from the relevant Local Health Authority confirming permission to operate the restaurant at the premises.

• A statement from the employer confirming that the business is not a fast-food outlet.

• Copies of utility bills for the business premises, dated within two months prior to the application.

Do I Need to Complete a Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT)?

No. Unlike a brand-new employment permit application, the Change of Employer process does not require a Labour Market Needs Test, provided you are remaining in the same occupation or occupation classification for which your original permit was granted. The rationale is that your role has already been tested in the domestic and EEA labour market, or is recognised as a critical skills shortage.

How to Apply

The Change of Employer application is a joint online process, completed via the Employment Permits Online Portal. Both you and your prospective new employer will each complete your respective parts of the application and upload the necessary documentation.

It’s important to ensure that all documents are correct and complete, as errors could delay your transition to your new role.

If you’re considering changing employers and would like tailored advice or assistance preparing your application, feel free to get in touch. Navigating Irish employment permit rules can be complex — but with the right support, it’s entirely manageable.