Publication
Ineligible List of Occupations for employment permits
- Published on: 28 August 2024
- Last updated on: 16 January 2025
Employments in respect of which an employment permit shall not be granted
This list is set out in Schedule 4 of the Regulations.
This list is effective from 20 December 2023, when SI 680 of 2023 came into effect.
The Ineligible List of Occupations is organised using the Standard Occupational Classification system (SOC 2010), a system which classifies workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. The list indicates the broad employment category, but not all employments which come into these categories are necessarily ineligible for employment permits. Specific employments within the broader occupation group that are ineligible are listed under ‘Ineligible Employments’ – in most cases, applicants may not apply for employment permits in respect of these employments (other than the exceptions listed).
In respect of the Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit Scheme and the Reactivation Employment Permit Scheme, foreign nationals are eligible to undertake any employment on this list, provided it does not take place in a domestic setting (other than certain carers) or is contrary to public interest.
| SOC-3 | Categories of employment | SOC-4 | Employment |
| 122 | Managers in Hospitality and Leisure Services | 1225 | Leisure and sports facilities managers |
| 1226 | Travel agency managers | ||
| 124 | Managers in Health and Care Services | 1242 | Residential, day and domiciliary care managers (with the exception of those working in disability services) |
| 125 | Managers in Other Services | 1251 | Property, housing and estate managers |
| 1252 | Garage managers | ||
| 1253 | Hairdressing and beauty salon managers | ||
| 1254 | Shopkeepers – wholesale and retail | ||
| 1255 | Waste disposal and environmental services managers | ||
| 1259 | Other managers in other services not elsewhere classified (includes Betting shop manager, Graphic design manager, Library manager, Plant hire manager, Production manager) (with the exception of Safety Manager) | ||
| 222 | Therapy Professionals | 2229 | Other therapy professionals not elsewhere classified (with the exception of orthoptists, and chiropractors who are members of the Chiropractic Association of Ireland) (with the exception of Play Therapists working in disability services) |
| 244 | Welfare Professionals | 2443 | Probation officers |
| 2449 | Other welfare professionals not elsewhere classified | ||
| 312 | Draughtspersons and Related Architectural Technicians | 3121 | Town planning technicians |
| 321 | Health Associate Professionals | 3217 | Pharmaceutical technicians |
| 3218 | Dental technicians only | ||
| 3219 | Other health associate professionals not elsewhere classified (includes Acupuncturists, Homeopaths, Hypnotherapists, Massage therapists, Reflexologists, Sports therapists) (with the exception of Genetic Counsellor) | ||
| 323 | Welfare and Housing Associate Professionals | 3231 | Youth and community workers (with the exception of Family Support Workers working in disability services) |
| 3233 | Child and early years officers | ||
| 3234 | Housing officers | ||
| 3235 | Counsellors | ||
| 3239 | Other welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified (with the exception of Project Officer working in disability services) (with the exception of Support Worker) | ||
| 331 | Protective Service Occupations | 3311 | NCOs and other ranks |
| 3312 | Police officers (sergeant and below) | ||
| 3313 | Fire service officers (watch manager and below) | ||
| 3314 | Prison service officers (below principal officer) | ||
| 3315 | Police community support officers | ||
| 3319 | Other protective service associate professionals not elsewhere classified | ||
| 344 | Sports and Fitness Occupations | 3443 | Fitness instructors |
| 352 | Legal Associate Professionals | 3520 | Legal associate professionals (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a State which is not a member of the EEA and who has market knowledge of that non-EEA state) |
| 354 | Sales, Marketing and Related Associate Professionals | 3544 | Estate agents and auctioneers |
| 3546 | Conference and exhibition managers and organisers | ||
| 356 | Public Services and Other Associate Professionals | 3561 | Public services associate professionals |
| 3563 | Vocational and industrial trainers and instructors (with the exception of mobility instructors for the visually impaired) (with the exception of Autism Assistance Dog Instructor) | ||
| 3564 | Careers advisers and vocational guidance specialists (with the exception of career guidance teachers in secondary schools) | ||
| 3565 | Inspectors of standards and regulations | ||
| 3567 | Health and safety officers (with the exception of Construction Safety Officers) | ||
| 411 | Administrative Occupations: Government and Related Organisations | 4112 | National government administrative occupations |
| 4113 | Local government administrative occupations | ||
| 412 | Administrative Occupations: Finance | 4121 | Credit controllers (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, in a role in credit control where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency) |
| 4122 | Book-keepers, payroll managers and wages clerks (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA in a role in accounts payable where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency) | ||
| 4123 | Bank and post office clerks | ||
| 4124 | Finance officers | ||
| 4129 | Other financial administrative occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 413 | Administrative Occupations: Records | 4131 | Records clerks and assistants |
| 4132 | Pensions and insurance clerks and assistants | ||
| 4133 | Stock control clerks and assistants | ||
| 4135 | Library clerks and assistants | ||
| 4138 | Human resources administrative occupations | ||
| 415 | Other Administrative Occupations | 4151 | Sales administrators |
| 4159 | Other administrative occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 416 | Administrative Occupations: Office Managers and Supervisors | 4161 | Office managers |
| 4162 | Office supervisors | ||
| 421 | Secretarial and Related Occupations | 4211 | Medical secretaries |
| 4212 | Legal secretaries | ||
| 4213 | School secretaries | ||
| 4214 | Company secretaries | ||
| 4215 | Personal assistants and other secretaries | ||
| 4216 | Receptionists | ||
| 4217 | Typists and related keyboard occupations | ||
| 511 | Agricultural and Related Trades | 5111 | Farmers (with the exception of Pig Manager) |
| 5112 | Horticultural trades | ||
| 5113 | Gardeners and landscape gardeners | ||
| 5114 | Groundsmen and greenkeepers | ||
| 5119 | Other agricultural and fishing trades not elsewhere classified | ||
| 523 | Vehicle Trades | 5236 | Boat and ship builders and repairers |
| 5237 | Rail and rolling stock builders and repairers | ||
| 524 | Electrical and Electronic Trades | 5244 | TV, video and audio engineers |
| 5249 | Other electrical and electronic trades not elsewhere classified | ||
| 531 | Construction and building trades | 5319 | Other construction and building trades not elsewhere classified |
| 541 | Textiles and Garments Trades | 5411 | Weavers and knitters |
| 5413 | Footwear and leather working trades | ||
| 5419 | Other textiles, garments and related trades not elsewhere classified | ||
| 542 | Printing Trades | 5421 | Pre-press technicians |
| 5422 | Printers | ||
| 5423 | Print finishing and binding workers | ||
| 543 | Food Preparation and Hospitality Trades | 5432 | Flour confectioners |
| 5433 | Fishmongers and poultry dressers | ||
| 5434 | Chefs with the exception of – | ||
| Executive Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience | |||
| Head Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience | |||
| Sous Chef with minimum of 5 years’ experience | |||
| Chef de Partie with minimum of 2 years’ experience | |||
| Commis Chef with minimum of 2 years’ experience who will be employed in establishments other than fast food outlets) | |||
| 5435 | Cooks | ||
| 544 | Other Skilled Trades | 5441 | Glass and ceramics makers, decorators and finishers |
| 5443 | Florists | ||
| 5449 | All other skilled trades not elsewhere classified | ||
| 612 | Childcare and Related Personal Services | 6121 | Nursery nurses and assistants |
| 6122 | Childminders and related occupations | ||
| 6125 | Teaching assistants | ||
| 6126 | Educational support assistants | ||
| 613 | Animal Care and Control Services | 6131 | Veterinary nurses |
| 6132 | Pest control officers | ||
| 6139 | Other animal care services occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of work riders) | ||
| 614 | Caring Personal Services | 6142 | Ambulance staff (with the exception of paramedics) |
| 6143 | Dental nurses | ||
| 6144 | Houseparents and residential wardens | ||
| 6146 | Senior care workers (with the exception of those working in disability services) | ||
| 6147 | Care escorts | ||
| 6148 | Undertakers, mortuary and crematorium assistants | ||
| 621 | Leisure and Travel Services | 6211 | Sports and leisure assistants |
| 6212 | Travel agents | ||
| 6214 | Air travel assistants | ||
| 6215 | Rail travel assistants | ||
| 6219 | Other leisure and travel service occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of tourist guides fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA) | ||
| 622 | Hairdressers and Related Services | 6221 | Hairdressers, barbers, and related occupations |
| 6222 | Beauticians and related occupations | ||
| 623 | Housekeeping and Related Services | 6231 | Housekeepers and related occupations |
| 6232 | Caretakers | ||
| 624 | Cleaning and Housekeeping Managers and Supervisors | 6240 | Cleaning and housekeeping managers and supervisors |
| 711 | Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers | 7111 | Sales and retail assistants |
| 7112 | Retail cashiers and check-out operators | ||
| 7113 | Telephone salespersons | ||
| 7114 | Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants | ||
| 7115 | Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers | ||
| 712 | Sales Related Occupations | 7121 | Collector salespersons and credit agents |
| 7122 | Debt, rent and other cash collectors | ||
| 7123 | Roundspersons and van salespersons | ||
| 7124 | Market and street traders and assistants | ||
| 7125 | Merchandisers and window dressers | ||
| 7129 | Other sales related occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 713 | Sales Supervisors | 7130 | Sales supervisors |
| 721 | Customer Service Occupations | 7211 | Call and contact centre occupations (with the exception of employment of a person fluent in the official language, apart from English, of a state which is not a Member State of the EEA, where the employment is supported by an enterprise development agency and is in a customer service and sales role with relevant product knowledge, a specialist online digital marketing and sales role, or a specialist language support and technical sales support role) |
| 7213 | Telephonists | ||
| 7214 | Communication operators | ||
| 7215 | Market research interviewers | ||
| 7219 | Other customer service occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 722 | Customer Service Managers and Supervisors | 7220 | Customer service managers and supervisors |
| 811 | Process Operatives | 8111 | Food, drink and tobacco process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative and Meat processor operative) |
| 8112 | Glass and ceramics process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8113 | Textile process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8114 | Chemical and related process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8115 | Rubber process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8116 | Plastics process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8117 | Metal making and treating process operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8118 | Electroplaters (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8119 | Other process operatives not elsewhere classified (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 812 | Plant and Machine Operatives | 8121 | Paper machine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) |
| 8122 | Coal mine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8123 | Quarry workers and related operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8124 | Energy plant operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8125 | Metal working machine operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8126 | Water and sewerage plant operatives (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8127 | Printing machine assistants (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) | ||
| 8129 | Other plant and machine operatives not elsewhere classified (with the exception of Computer Numerical Control Operative) (with the exception of Saw Doctor) | ||
| 813 | Assemblers and Routine Operatives | 8131 | Assemblers (electrical and electronic products) (with the exception of Armature Rewinder) |
| 8132 | Assemblers (vehicles and metal goods) | ||
| 8133 | Routine inspectors and testers | ||
| 8134 | Weighers, graders and sorters | ||
| 8135 | Tyre, exhaust and windscreen fitters | ||
| 8137 | Sewing machinists | ||
| 8139 | Other assemblers and routine operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
| 814 | Construction Operatives | 8142 | Road construction operatives |
| 8143 | Rail construction and maintenance operatives | ||
| 8149 | Other construction operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
| 821 | Road Transport Drivers | 8211 | Large goods vehicle drivers (with the exception of heavy goods vehicle drivers who have- a category CE or C1E driving licence, or an equivalent category to a category CE or C1E driving licence identified through a mutual recognition agreement between the Road Safety Authority and the appropriate regulatory authority in another jurisdiction) |
| 8212 | Van drivers | ||
| 8213 | Bus and coach drivers (with the exception of bus and coach drivers who have a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence, or an equivalent category to a category D, DE, D1 or D1E driving licence identified through a mutual recognition agreement between the Road Safety Authority and the appropriate regulatory authority in another jurisdiction). | ||
| 8214 | Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs | ||
| 8215 | Driving instructors | ||
| 822 | Mobile Machine Drivers and Operatives | 8222 | Fork-lift truck drivers |
| 8223 | Agricultural machinery drivers | ||
| 8229 | Other mobile machine drivers and operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
| 823 | Other Drivers and Transport Operatives | 8231 | Train and tram drivers |
| 8232 | Marine and waterways transport operatives | ||
| 8233 | Air transport operatives | ||
| 8234 | Rail transport operatives | ||
| 8239 | Other drivers and transport operatives not elsewhere classified | ||
| 911 | Elementary Agricultural Occupations | 9111 | Farm workers (with the exception of dairy farm assistants) (with the exception of pig farm assistants) |
| 9112 | Forestry workers (with the exception of forestry worker/speciality forestry harvesting technician) | ||
| 9119 | Other fishing and other general agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified (with the exception of horticulture worker) | ||
| 912 | Elementary Construction Occupations | 9120 | Elementary construction occupations |
| 913 | Elementary Process Plant Occupations | 9132 | Industrial cleaning process occupations |
| 9134 | Packers, bottlers, canners and fillers | ||
| 9139 | Other elementary process plant occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 921 | Elementary Administration Occupations | 9211 | Postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers |
| 9219 | Other elementary administration occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 923 | Elementary Cleaning Occupations | 9231 | Window cleaners |
| 9232 | Street cleaners | ||
| 9233 | Cleaners and domestics | ||
| 9234 | Launderers, dry cleaners and pressers | ||
| 9235 | Refuse and salvage occupations | ||
| 9236 | Vehicle valeters and cleaners | ||
| 9239 | Other elementary cleaning occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 924 | Elementary Security Occupations | 9241 | Security guards and related occupations |
| 9242 | Parking and civil enforcement occupations | ||
| 9244 | School midday and crossing patrol occupations | ||
| 9249 | Other elementary security occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 925 | Elementary Sales Occupations | 9251 | Shelf fillers |
| 9259 | Other elementary sales occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| 926 | Elementary Storage Occupations | 9260 | Elementary storage occupations |
| 927 | Other Elementary Services Occupations | 9271 | Hospital porters |
| 9272 | Kitchen and catering assistants | ||
| 9273 | Waiters and waitresses | ||
| 9274 | Bar staff | ||
| 9275 | Leisure and theme park attendants | ||
| 9279 | Other elementary services occupations not elsewhere classified | ||
| All | Work in the private home | All | Domestic operatives |