Master prompt
Employment Permits Act 2024 — what changed and how to plan around it
CSEP / GEP / DPP / Seasonal / Sport-and-Cultural permits under the EP Act 2024; processing times, conditions, change-of-employer rules.
IrelandEmployment Permits Act 2024CSEPGEPDPPSeasonalSport-and-CulturalDETE
You are explaining the Employment Permits Act 2024 (EP Act 2024) and its implications for [CLIENT_NAME] on [KEY_QUESTION]. EP Act 2024 is the most-significant overhaul of Irish employment permit law since EP Act 2006 and consolidated the regime previously spread across EP Acts 2003 / 2006 / 2014.
CONTEXT
- Client: [CLIENT_NAME]
- Permit of interest: [PERMIT_INTEREST]
- Current status: [CURRENT_STATUS]
- Employer / sector: N/A
- Specific question: [KEY_QUESTION]
§1 - WHAT EP ACT 2024 CHANGED (HEADLINE)
Change 1 - Two new permit types introduced (s.6 / s.11 / s.12)
- Seasonal Employment Permit (SEP) - horticulture / agri-food;
max 7 months per calendar year; non-renewable in same year
- Sport-and-Cultural Employment Permit - fast-track for elite
athletes, coaches, performers; bespoke conditions
Change 2 - Standalone Dependant Partner Permit (DPP) (s.14)
- Previously spouse-of-CSEP-holder accessed work rights via Stamp
1G or Stamp 4 family-reunification; now there is a clean DPP
- EUR 30,000 salary minimum (verify Jan 2026)
- No LMNT
- Faster grant
Change 3 - Change-of-employer rules modernised (s.17)
- On CSEP or GEP, after first 9 months continuous employment,
holder may change to a different employer WITHIN THE SAME
OCCUPATION without fresh permit application, subject to
written notification to DETE
- Previously: required full new permit and full LMNT (for GEP)
- The 9-month "anchor period" prevents permit-shopping
Change 4 - LMNT reform (s.18)
- Required mediums updated: JobsIreland (free, run by Department
of Social Protection) AND a second medium (Irish newspaper OR
major Irish recruitment website - IrishJobs.ie, Indeed.ie,
Recruit Ireland)
- 28-day window required
- Documented EEA-candidate rejections
Change 5 - Fees consolidated (s.22)
- EUR 1,000 for new 2-yr permit
- EUR 1,500 for renewal / extension
- Verify Jan 2026 revisions
Change 6 - Primary-purpose declaration (s.4)
- Applicant declares that primary purpose of permit is employment
with named employer; sham-employment offence sharpened
§2 - APPLIES TO [CLIENT_NAME] - DETAILED
Address [KEY_QUESTION] directly using the relevant sections.
Common question patterns and answers:
Q: "Can I change employer 6 months into CSEP?"
A: No. EP Act 2024 s.17 imposes a 9-month anchor period from the
permit start date. If [CURRENT_STATUS] shows < 9m continuous CSEP,
a change requires a new CSEP application by the new employer. At
or after 9m, change permitted within same occupation with written
notification to DETE (specify occupation, new employer, salary).
Q: "Can I change occupation mid-CSEP?"
A: A change of occupation is treated as a fresh permit application
regardless of timing. The new occupation must independently meet
CSEP / GEP gating.
Q: "My spouse is in Hyderabad - can I bring her on DPP?"
A: If [CLIENT_NAME] holds CSEP, spouse / civil partner can apply
for DPP from outside Ireland once [CLIENT_NAME]'s CSEP is granted.
DPP requires a job offer from an Irish employer at EUR 30,000+
(verify Jan 2026). Alternative: spouse joins on Stamp 1G work
permission (no employer-specific permit needed; can take any work)
once joined as accompanying family - this is often the preferred
early route while spouse job-hunts.
Q: "I work in horticulture - can I get a Seasonal Employment Permit?"
A: SEP under s.11 EP Act 2024 launched in pilot for horticulture in
Q4 2024. Conditions:
- Employer registered in DETE's seasonal-employer scheme
- Maximum 7 months per calendar year
- Non-renewable in same year (but repeatable in subsequent years)
- Salary at sectoral minimum (typically EUR 12.70/hr or sector
floor - verify)
- No path to Stamp 4 from SEP alone
[CLIENT_NAME] in N/A - assess applicability.
Q: "I'm an elite athlete - what does Sport-and-Cultural permit do?"
A: s.12 EP Act 2024 created a fast-track for elite athletes /
coaches / performers. Eligibility:
- International-level recognition in sport / cultural field
- Employer / sponsor in Ireland (sports body, theatre, orchestra)
- Bespoke salary considerations
- Family reunification rights
Q: "What new conditions apply to my renewal?"
A: On renewal under EP Act 2024:
- Fee EUR 1,500
- Primary-purpose declaration (s.4) - declare continued primary
purpose is employment
- Tax Clearance + employer letter + continued occupation
eligibility (CSOL/IOL revisions affect this)
- LMNT NOT typically required for CSEP renewal (or GEP renewal
of same role)
(Address [KEY_QUESTION] verbatim and answer with section references.)
§3 - PROCESSING TIMES AND CONDITIONS (Jan 2025-Q1 / verify Jan 2026)
CSEP (Trusted Partner employer): 2-4 weeks
CSEP (Standard): 8-12 weeks
GEP (Trusted Partner): 4-6 weeks
GEP (Standard): 10-14 weeks
DPP: 4-8 weeks
SEP: 2-4 weeks (employer-pre-registered scheme)
Sport-and-Cultural: 4-8 weeks
Trusted Partner status (held by major tech / pharma / HSE) reduces
processing materially. Confirm N/A Trusted Partner status
before quoting timeline.
§4 - DOWNSTREAM STAMP IMPLICATIONS
EP Act 2024 did NOT change stamp downstream rules:
- CSEP grant -> Stamp 1 -> Stamp 4 at 21 months continuous
- GEP grant -> Stamp 1 -> Stamp 4 at 5y aggregate Stamp 1
- DPP grant -> Stamp 1 in own right; spouse's CSEP-derived family
reunification still permits Stamp 1G or Stamp 3 alternative
- SEP grant -> Stamp 1 with seasonal restriction; no Stamp 4 path
- Sport-and-Cultural -> Stamp 1; Stamp 4 considered case-by-case
after established residence
§5 - INTERACTION WITH OTHER LAWS
Immigration Act 2004 - permission to remain (Stamp issued by ISD)
is separate from work permit (issued by DETE). Both required for
employment-based residence.
INCA 1956 s.15 - reckonable residence for naturalisation begins on
grant of Stamp 1 (after CSEP/GEP) or Stamp 1G; SEP holders should
not expect reckonable accrual.
Aliens Order 1946 - Indian nationals are visa-required; long-stay
visa application follows DETE permit grant.
§6 - PRACTICAL CHECKLIST FOR [CLIENT_NAME]
Based on [KEY_QUESTION] and [CURRENT_STATUS], produce a numbered action
list:
1. Verify Trusted Partner status of N/A with DETE
2. Calendar 9-month anchor date if CSEP / GEP holder considering
employer change
3. If DPP applicable, gather spouse job offer documentation
4. If renewal coming, prepare Tax Clearance + continuity letter 60
days ahead
5. If LMNT required (GEP), schedule 28-day advertising window;
verify which mediums chosen
6. Confirm current CSOL / IOL revision date (S.I. 374/2024 or later)
- quarterly revisions
7. Update primary-purpose declaration accuracy - any side ventures /
secondary employment must be transparently flagged
§7 - WHERE TO READ THE STATUTE
- Employment Permits Act 2006 (consolidated text): irishstatutebook.ie
- Employment Permits (Amendment) Act 2024: irishstatutebook.ie
- S.I. 374 of 2024 (Employment Permits Regulations 2024): irishstatutebook.ie
- DETE Employment Permits Section guidance: enterprise.gov.ie/dete
- EPOS portal (employer/applicant): epos.djei.ie
- ISD: irishimmigration.ie
§8 - HONEST CAVEAT
EP Act 2024 commenced in stages through 2024-2025. Some sections may
have transitional provisions. Quarterly CSOL/IOL revisions may shift
gating before a permit grant date. Confirm with DETE Employment
Permits Section (permits@enterprise.gov.ie) and Irish-side solicitor
before any application.
OUTPUT FORMAT
Sections 1-8. Cite EP Act 2024 sections (s.4, s.6, s.11, s.12, s.14,
s.17, s.18, s.22) inline. End with a direct one-line answer to
[KEY_QUESTION]: "Answer: [yes/no/with conditions]. Action: [next step].
Statute: EP Act 2024 s.[X]."
End with: "DRAFT - for solicitor or qualified immigration consultant review. Verify against current DETE + ISD guidance before submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt