Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE) published an announcement regarding the planned roadmap for the gradual increase of Employment Permit salary thresholds in Ireland for 2026. The new Roadmap for Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) Salary Thresholds sets out a gradual increase in salary thresholds for all Employment Permit types, while also phasing out very low thresholds for certain agri-food and healthcare roles. The first increase will take effect on March 1, 2026.
Key Elements of the New Roadmap
Please refer to the information and table below for the 2026 salary threshold increases applicable to each Employment Permit type and category.
- General Employment Permit (GEP) MAR thresholds will rise by 7.66% in March 2026, bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €36,605.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) MAR thresholds will rise by 7.66% in March 2026, bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €40,904 with relevant degree, or €68,911 without a relevant degree, but with relevant experience.
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit (ICT) MAR thresholds will rise by 7.66% in March 2026, bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €49,523.
- Sub-standard MAR thresholds (for example, healthcare and agri-food sectors) will be phased out by 2030, rather than 2026, increasing by 9% in 2026, bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €32,691.
Lower starting thresholds will apply for recent graduates, reflecting their early career stage.
General Employment Permit (GEP): Graduates from Irish third-level institutions (Level 8 or above) within the previous 12 months. Bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €34,009.
Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP): Graduates from any recognised third-level institution (Level 8 or above) relevant to the occupation applied for, who have graduated in the 12 months before applying. Bringing the minimum annual remuneration to €36,848.
Revised MAR Rules for Public Sector, Community Organisations, and Certain Healthcare and Agri-Food Roles.
Public sector roles that otherwise qualify for the CSEP with a relevant qualification and are subject to national pay agreements will be exempt from CSEP MAR thresholds. This will also apply to community and voluntary organizations whose pay scales are linked to the public sector pay deal.
The previously deferred increase to €30,000 for healthcare assistants, home carers, and care workers is now aligned with the same schedule of annual increase as the other roles with below-standard MARs, meat processing operatives, and horticulture workers.
| January 2024 | January 2025 | 2026 | January 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEP & ICT Trainees | €34,000 | €34,000 | €36,605 | TBD |
| HCAs, Home Carers and Care Workers | €27,000 | €30,000 | €32,691 89.3% of GEP | 92.5% of GEP |
| Meat and Horticultural Operatives | €30,000 | €30,000 | €32,691 89.3% of GEP | 92.5% of GEP |
| GEP Irish Graduates | N/A | N/A | €34,009 | Index Only |
| CSEP with Relevant Degree | €38,000 | €38,000 | €40,904* | TBD* |
| CSEP without Relevant Degree | €64,000 | €64,000 | €68,911 | TBD |
| Critical Skills Graduate | N/A | N/A | €36,848 | Index Only |
| Intra-Company Transfer and Contract for Services | €46,000 | €46,000 | €49,523 | TBD |
* Critical skills roles, subject to the public service pay agreement or linked agreement are to be exempt from this, subject instead to the pay agreement pay scales. This will also apply to community and voluntary organisations whose pay scales are linked to the public sector pay deal.
TBD = To Be Determined following annual review and indexation.
Index Only = Will adjust based on national average earnings index.
It’s important to acknowledge that the hourly rate equivalent of the MAR is calculated by dividing the MAR by 2,028 hours, which represents a standard full-time working year (39 hours per week × 52 weeks).
If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to contact the Newland Chase team in Dublin.
This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.
