Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals
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On 17 December 2008, the Government announced its decision that, from 1 January 2009, it would continue to restrict access to the Irish labour market for nationals of Bulgaria and Romania. This decision will be kept under on-going review and will be assessed comprehensively before the end of 2011.
Accordingly, Bulgarian and Romanian nationals will continue to require an employment permit to take up employment in Ireland and the job will continue to be subject to the current requirement for a labour market test. However, these employment permit requirements apply only to the first continuous twelve months of employment in the State. At the end of this twelve month period a Bulgarian or Romanian national will be free to work in Ireland without any further need for an employment permit.
Employers will be expected to satisfy their labour market requirements from within the European Economic Area (EEA) in the first instance and if this is not possible it will be necessary for them to give preference to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals ahead of non-EEA nationals.
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who have graduated from an Irish third level institution, and have obtained a qualification at level 7 or higher (primary degree or above) in the National Framework of Qualifications - http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/, and who have worked for 12 months or more post 2007 on the basis of being a student, will not require an Employment Permit after graduation. Prospective employers post-graduation of the Bulgarian or Romanian student may require the student to show evidence of their degree and P60s and/or P45s from previous employment to demonstrate that they satisfy the above requirements for exemption from employment permit requirements.
The changes to work permit application requirements being implemented for new entrants from 1st June 2009 apply to non-EEA nationals only and do not apply to Bulgarian or Romanian nationals. Work Permit applications in respect of Bulgarian or Romanian nationals will continue to be considered in line with the original Work Permit eligibility requirements which were published in January 2007. The ineligible list as applicable in 2007 is the list which applies to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.
Applications for Green Cards in respect of Bulgarian or Romanian nationals will continue to be considered in line with the original Green Card eligibility requirements which were published in January 2007. All occupations where the annual salary on offer is ¤60,000 or higher will continue to eligible for Green Cards.
For further information on the employment permit arrangements for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, including details of those categories who do not need an employment permit, please click on the following links:
• Employment Permit Information for Bulgarian nationals - English Version (pdf 84Kb)
• Employment Permit Information for Romanian nationals - English Version (pdf 78Kb)
Frequently Asked Questions
I am resident in the State on a valid employment permit for more than 12 months – will I require an employment permit after the 31st December 2006?
No, nationals of Bulgaria and Romania who have been resident in the State as the holder of an employment permit for an uninterrupted period of 12 months expiring on or after the 31st December 2006 will not require a permit after the 1st January 2007.
I am resident in the State on a valid employment permit for more than 12 months – will my Spouse or Dependants require a work permit?
If your Spouse or Dependant has been legally resident in the State prior to the 31st December 2006 on the basis of being your Spouse or Dependant and you have had a valid employment permit for an uninterrupted period of 12 months expiring on or after the 31st December 2006 then they will not require a work permit.
However, if they enter the State after 1st January 2007 then they will require a work permit. Applications will be accepted on foot of a job offer from spouses or dependants provided some basic requirements such as minimum wage are satisfied but the applications will not require a labour market test i.e. advertising in the newspapers and with FAS.
You should note that, in accordance with the Accession Treaties of Bulgaria and Romania, the spouse or dependants of a Bulgarian or Romanian worker who have lived in Ireland with the Bulgarian or Romanian worker legally employed in the State for an uninterrupted period of 12 months, or more, will not require a work permit from 01 January 2010.
I am resident in the State on a valid employment permit for less than 12 months – will I require a work permit after the 31st December 2006?
Yes, nationals of Bulgaria and Romania who are resident in the State as the holder of an employment permit for less than an uninterrupted period of 12 months on the 31st December 2006 will require a permit after the 1st January 2007 to bring them up to an uninterrupted period of 12 months.
I am resident in the State on a valid employment permit for less than 12 months – will my Spouse or Dependants require a work permit?
Yes, if your Spouse or Dependant has been legally resident in the State on the basis of being your Spouse or Dependant, or if they enter the State after the 1st January 2007, and you have had a valid employment permit for less than an uninterrupted period of 12 months on the 31st December 2006, then a work permit is required to cover the period up to the expiry date of your permit.
I intend travelling to Ireland in the near future to live and find employment – will I require an work permit?
Yes, any national of Bulgaria and Romania who has not been resident in the State on a valid employment permit for an uninterrupted period of 12 months on the 31st December 2006 will require a work permit for an uninterrupted period of 12 months.
Will I be able to apply for a Green Card?
Yes, any national of Bulgaria or Romania who fulfils the eligibility requirements can apply for a Green Card in accordance with the original Green Card eligibility requirements which were published in January 2007. The changes to the Green Card eligibility requirements which were introduced in June 2009 do not apply to Bulgarian or Romanian nationals.
Green Cards will be issued to Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for a period of one year.
I am/have been a third level student in Ireland. Will I require an employment permit?
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals who have graduated from an Irish third level institution, and have obtained a qualification at level 7 or higher (primary degree or above) in the National Framework of Qualifications - http://www.nfq.ie/nfq/en/, and who have worked for 12 months or more post 2007 on the basis of being a student, will not require an Employment Permit after graduation. Prospective employers post-graduation of the Bulgarian or Romanian student may require the student to show evidence of their degree and P60s and/or P45s from previous employment to demonstrate that they satisfy the above requirements for exemption from employment permit requirements.
Last modified: 15/02/2010
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