• You must have current and valid permission to be in the Republic of Ireland. For further information refer to Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment website and the permission must not prevent you from taking a job in Ireland.

To facilitate the recruitment of suitably qualified people from non EU countires, where skills shortages are particularly acute, the above scheme has been introduced. This 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 new scheme does not replace but is a faster alternative to the work permit procedure which continues to be available to employers in Ireland.

At present the designated categories are:

• Information and computing technologies professionals
• Information and computing technologies technicians
• Architects, including architectural technician / technologists
• Construction engineers, including engineering technicians
• Quantity surveyors
• Building surveyors
• Town planners
• Registered nurses