Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

Ireland · for applicants from Nigeria

Verified · 20 August 2026

Ireland's premium work permit for high-demand skilled roles. Fast track to residence: after 21 months you can apply for Stamp 4 (no longer tied to one employer). Two ways in: a role on the Critical Skills Occupations List with a relevant degree at €40,904+, or any non-ineligible role at €68,911+ (no specific degree). No labour market needs test.

Rules last verified: 20 August 2026 · by Elizabeth O

At a glance

Embassy processing

Via Employment Permits Online System (EPOS); varies

Our turnaround

5–7 working days

Done-for-you Standard

Government fees

~£1,199

≈ ₦2,184,578

Why applications get refused

Salary below threshold

Pay under €40,904 (listed) / €68,911 (high earner) from day one.

Fix: Ensure base salary clears the correct band before bonuses/overtime.

Role not on Critical Skills list

Occupation not on the Critical Skills Occupations List and salary under €68,911.

Fix: Confirm the role is listed, or meet the €68,911 high-earner route.

Qualification not relevant/recognised

Degree not relevant to the role or not evidenced.

Fix: Provide certified, relevant qualification evidence.

Document checklist

Required

Valid passport

When: "all"

Signed employment contract / job offer

When: "all"

Qualification certificates (certified translations if not English)

When: "listed-salary band"

CV

When: "all"

Employer's CRO number & Revenue compliance evidence

When: "all"

Long Stay D visa (Nigeria is visa-required)

When: "all"

Application timeline

1. Prepare your application

Gather documents, draft supporting letters, complete forms

1–3 weeks

2. Rekoja review (if Done-for-you)

Specialist checks your file before you submit

5–7 working days

3. Submit online or at visa centre

Biometrics appointment may be required

1 day

4. Embassy decision

Standard processing. Priority options may be available.

Via Employment Permits Online System (EPOS); varies

All-in government fees

These are the fees you pay to the government, not Rekoja's service fee. Shown at the indicative exchange rate.

Mandatory

Critical Skills Employment Permit (24 mo)

£856

1,559,632

IRP registration (residence card)

£257

468,254

Long Stay D visa (Nigeria visa-required)

£86

156,692

Total government fees

1,199

≈ ₦2,184,578

Indicative. 1 GBP = 1,822 NGN · 16 September 2026. Government fees change. Confirm on the official website before paying.

What a free chatbot cannot do

A free AI can tell you the rules. Rekoja does the harder part: we verify them against the official government source, prepare the actual application file, catch what gets people refused, and a specialist checks everything before you submit. We stand behind our work.

  • Rules verified against the official source, with the date
  • Document checklist built for your specific profile
  • The inconsistency check that catches what gets people refused
  • A human reviews your complete file before submission

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Common questions about the Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP)

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Real outcomes

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Not a visa decision or legal advice. Rules shown are as of the last verification date above. Immigration rules change. Confirm before filing. The embassy decides, not Rekoja.