Any non-EEA national will generally require a work permit before being allowed to take up employment here. It is the employer and not the employee that must apply for the work permit.
The following Occupational Sectors are currently deemed ineligible for Work Permit application purposes:
• Clerical and Administrative
• General Labourers and Builders
• Operator and Production Staff
• Sales Staff, including retail sales, sales representatives and Management/Supervisory/Specialist Sales
• Transport Staff including Drivers - Bus, Coach, Car, Taxi, Fork Lift, etc. (excluding HGV and Articulated vehicle driver - International)
• Childcare Workers including Nursery/ Crèche Workers, Child Minder/ Nanny
• Hotel Tourism and Catering
• Reception staff and Barpersons
• Craft Workers and Apprentice/Trainee Craft Workers including Bookbinder, Bricklayer, Cabinet Maker, Carpenter / Joiner, Carton Maker, Fitter - Construction Plant, Electrician, Instrumentation Craftsperson, Fitter, Tiler - Floor / Wall, Mechanic - Heavy Vehicles, Instrumentation Craftsperson, Metal Fabricator, Mechanic - Motor, Originator, Painter And Decorator, Plumber, Printer, Engineer - Refrigeration, Sheet Metal Worker, Tool Maker, Vehicle Body Repairer, Machinist – Wood (Excluding Plasterers and Aircraft Mechanic/Engineer)
These categories may be amended from time to time depending on the labour supply.

There is a "Working Visa" and "Work Authorisation" scheme in operation to facilitate the recruitment of suitably qualified people from non-EEA countries for designated sectors of the employment market where skill shortages are in particularly short supply. This scheme makes it possible for prospective employees with job offers from employers in Ireland to obtain immigration and employment clearance in advance from Irish Embassies and Consulates.
The issue of a Working Visa or Work Authorisation does not give the holder an automatic right to enter Ireland as Immigration Officers retain discretion in specified circumstances to refuse entry to any non-national.
Applications for Working Visas and Work Authorisations will only be accepted when the application is made from outside of Ireland. Applications must normally be made through the Irish Embassy/Consulate in the applicant’s country of permanent residence.
At present the designated categories of employment for which a Working Visa or Working Authorisation may be issued are:
• Information and computing technologies professionals
• Information and computing technologies technicians
• Architects, including architectural technicians/technologists
• Construction engineers, including engineering technicians
• Quantity surveyors and Building surveyors
• Town planners
• Medical Practitioners
• Registered Nurses
• Dentists
• Specified professionals in the Public Health and Social Care sectors

Any non-EEA national wishing to establish a business in Ireland will be required to apply for Business Permission. In order to obtain Business Permission the following criteria must be met:

• The proposed business must result in the transfer to the State of capital in the minimum sum of €300,000.
• The proposed business must create employment for at least two EEA nationals.
• The proposed business must add to the commercial activity and competitiveness of the State.
• The proposed business must be a viable trading concern and provide the applicant with sufficient income to support themselves and any dependants without resorting to social assistance or paid employment for which a work permit would be required.
• The applicant must be in possession of a valid passport or national identity document and be of good character.

Anyone who married an Irish citizen on or after November 30, 2002, can only get Irish citizenship by going through the naturalization process. Before that date, if a non-Irish citizen married an Irish citizen, he or she could make a simple post-nuptial declaration to obtain citizenship. If someone was married to an Irish citizen before November 30, 2002, they can still opt for a post-nuptial declaration, but only up to November 29, 2005. After that date, they will have to follow the naturalisation process to obtain citizenship.
To make an application for naturalisation on the basis of marriage the applicant must be married to an Irish citizen for at least 3 years. The applicant must be resident in Ireland for a minimum of 2 years out of the 4 years immediately preceding the date of application for naturalisation. Furthermore, in such a case, the final 12 months immediately preceding the application must be one of continual residence.