Ireland Work Permit Renewal: How to Renew a General Employment Permit

The initial General Employment Permit runs for 24 months. Most permit holders are so focused on getting the first permit that they give little thought to renewal until the 2-year mark is approaching — and by that point, the window to act safely is already narrowing.

Renewal has its own rules and its own failure points. A poorly timed or incorrectly prepared renewal application can create a gap in your legal right to work, which has knock-on consequences for your Stamp 4 timeline. Here is what GEP holders need to know.

The Renewal Window: 16 Weeks and 8 Weeks

The DETE operates a defined renewal window. You can submit a renewal application up to 16 weeks before your current permit expires, and the DETE's own guideline is to submit no later than 8 weeks before expiry.

Those two deadlines serve different purposes:

• The 16-week window is when you should ideally start the process, to allow for document preparation and to absorb any delays
• The 8-week cutoff is the practical deadline — if you submit later than 8 weeks out, processing may not complete before your current permit expires, creating a period where your legal work status is uncertain

If your permit is expiring in October, you should be starting the renewal application in July or August. Waiting until September is cutting it too close.

No New LMNT for Same-Role Renewals

This is the significant advantage of a GEP renewal over the original application. If you are renewing your permit with the same employer in the same role, you do not need to run a new Labour Market Needs Test.

The LMNT requirement is about proving the labor market was tested before the initial hire. Once you are established in the role and renewing, the State accepts that the test has already been satisfied.

This saves your employer 28 days of advertising, the associated costs of running ads on three platforms, and the risk of the LMNT being invalidated by a procedural error.

If you have changed roles within the same company or moved to a different employer, the situation is different — see the employer change section below.

The Salary Threshold Check at Renewal

The DETE will verify at renewal that your salary has kept pace with the updated Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) Roadmap. This is not optional — it is checked against the current threshold in force at the time of renewal.

As of March 2026, the standard GEP salary threshold is €36,605. If you were hired in 2024 when the threshold was €34,000, your employer must have increased your salary to at least €36,605 before the renewal application is submitted. Applying for renewal while still at the 2024 figure will result in refusal.

The threshold applies to gross basic salary only. Bonuses, pension contributions, healthcare benefits, and other non-salary elements do not count.

If your role falls under one of the sectoral thresholds, the relevant figure applies:

• Healthcare assistants and home carers: €32,691
• Meat processing operatives: €32,691
• Horticulture operatives: €32,691

These sectoral thresholds are on a trajectory to align with the standard rate by 2030. Each renewal cycle, your employer will need to confirm the updated figure applies.

The 50/50 Rule Applies Again

The 50/50 workforce rule — which requires that at least 50% of the employer's total workforce consists of EEA nationals — must be satisfied again at the time of the renewal application, not just at the original application.

If your employer has hired more non-EEA workers since your initial permit was granted, they may now be over the 50% threshold. In that situation, the DETE has two options: refuse the renewal or grant it for a shorter period (typically 12 months rather than the standard 36 months) to give the employer time to rebalance their workforce.

Employers in fast-growing industries who are actively hiring internationally should track their 50/50 ratio continuously, not just when a permit application is imminent.

Renewal Fees

Renewal fees are higher than initial permit fees:

The standard GEP renewal is issued for 3 years, making the total working life of the standard GEP structure 5 years (initial 2 years plus 3-year renewal). After 57 months of continuous work, you become eligible for Stamp 4 — so the timing aligns.

If you have been with the same employer continuously for 5 or more years, the renewal is issued without charge. At this point, you are approaching the Stamp 4 threshold and the system effectively removes the fee as an incentive to complete the pathway.

Submitting the Renewal Through EPOS 2.0

Renewals go through the same EPOS 2.0 portal as original applications. Both the employer and employee log into their existing accounts and initiate a renewal application linked to the original permit number.

The documents required at renewal are similar to the original application, with some differences:

• No LMNT evidence is needed (for same-employer, same-role renewals)
• A new Tax Clearance Certificate is required
• A current 50/50 workforce declaration on company letterhead
• Updated employment contract or a signed letter confirming the current salary and terms
• Passport scans (ensure the passport is still valid for the renewal period)

If you have changed roles or received a promotion that changed your job title or duties, you will need updated documentation showing the new terms. An internal promotion or role change within the same company does not require a new permit application under the 2024 Act — but you should document it clearly.

Changing Employers Under a GEP

Under the Employment Permits Act 2024, you can change employers after completing 9 months with your initial sponsoring employer. This is down from the previous 12-month requirement.

The change of employer process works through EPOS 2.0 using a dedicated Change of Employer form. You and the new employer must submit:

• The change of employer request form
• A new signed contract with the new employer
• Evidence that the new role is eligible for a GEP (not on the Ineligible List)
• Confirmation that the salary meets the current threshold

One important restriction: when changing employers, you must move to a role within the same occupational classification — defined by the 4-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code used on your original permit. A welder (SOC 5215) can move to another company as a welder. They cannot move into a different trade classification under the simplified change-of-employer process — that would require a full new permit application and a new LMNT.

If you need to change both employer and occupation, you are effectively starting again with a new permit. This includes running a fresh LMNT and paying the full application fee.

The Minister can waive the 9-month period in cases of documented workplace exploitation or where the employer goes out of business. This is handled through the DETE and requires supporting evidence — it is not self-certified.

What Happens to Your Stamp 4 Clock

Every month spent on a valid GEP — whether on the original permit or on a renewal — counts toward the 57-month Stamp 4 clock. So long as you do not have gaps in your permit status, the months accumulate continuously.

Things that do not count toward the 57-month total:

• Time spent on a student visa (Stamp 2)
• Gaps between permit expiry and renewal grant (if you let the permit lapse before renewing)
• Time spent outside Ireland for extended periods
• Time on a Dependent/Partner visa

This is why the 8-week renewal cutoff matters so much. If your permit expires before the renewal is processed, even by a few weeks, you may not be working legally during that gap — and that period does not count toward Stamp 4.

Transfer of Undertaking (TUPE)

If your employer is bought, merged, or undergoes a corporate restructuring that changes the company name, this is known as a Transfer of Undertaking. The DETE must be notified immediately.

Your terms of employment remain the same, but because the employer of record has changed, the permit needs to be updated. Failure to notify the DETE can result in your next renewal application being refused on the grounds that the company named on the permit no longer exists.

The Ireland General Employment Permit Guide includes the renewal planning tracker — showing you the exact 16-week and 8-week deadlines from any permit expiry date, the salary threshold check, and the 50/50 workforce calculation worksheet your employer needs to complete before submitting.

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