Working in Ireland from Togo: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Say this to yourself before anything else: Ireland has no agreement with Togo, no quota, and its permit system quietly closes the door on most general jobs through an ineligible occupations list. General labouring, retail and basic hospitality are not realistic targets here - France has far stronger existing Togolese community ties and a faster path for general work. Where Ireland is genuinely worth pursuing from Togo is in construction trades, healthcare assistant roles, and food or meat processing, so if one of these is your trade, read on.

The route is the General Employment Permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), with the Critical Skills Employment Permit covering a shorter list of higher-priority roles. The Irish employer, not you, files this application - there is no version of this process where a Togolese worker applies directly with just a job offer. For most General Employment Permit cases, the employer first has to advertise the role across Ireland and the EEA for at least four weeks, showing that no suitable local candidate came forward.

Where the paperwork actually goes

After DETE grants the permit, you apply separately for an Irish entry visa, since Togolese nationals require one. Ireland's diplomatic coverage of West Africa is limited, so confirm the current embassy or visa application centre handling Irish visas for applicants from Togo rather than assuming Lome has its own Irish visa office - processing is often routed through a centre covering several countries in the region. Verify this before scheduling biometrics or buying tickets.

Togo is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so your Togolese police clearance (extrait de casier judiciaire), diplomas and other civil documents will generally need full consular legalisation rather than a simple apostille. In practice this means certification by the relevant Togolese authority followed by legalisation at the Irish mission or designated visa centre - a slower, costlier step than an apostille, so start it as early as you can.

Fees, timing and your real costs

DETE's own permit fee runs approximately EUR 500 to 1,000, and it is the employer's cost to carry, not yours. The Irish entry visa fee for the worker is smaller, roughly EUR 60. Permit processing commonly takes approximately 4 to 12 weeks, and because Togo's documents need legalisation rather than apostille, add extra weeks before the visa stage even begins.

Your own costs in Togo stay fairly modest: a police clearance certificate might cost CFA 5,000 to 15,000 (roughly EUR 8 to 23), legalisation and certified translation together can run CFA 40,000 to 90,000 (roughly EUR 61 to 137) given the extra consular step, and a one-way flight to Dublin commonly costs CFA 500,000 to 800,000 (roughly EUR 760 to 1,220). These are rough planning figures only, since fares and charges change.

Across the EU, including Ireland, the employer is expected to carry recruitment costs, not the worker - confirm this applies to your situation before anyone asks you for money. A scam pattern reported in Togo and neighbouring countries involves agents advertising 'guaranteed Europe jobs' through Facebook or WhatsApp, asking for an upfront 'file processing fee' sent by mobile money - a legitimate DETE-sponsored role never requires payment from you to a third party to move forward.

Where Irish employers are actually recruiting

Construction trades have had specific job titles added to Ireland's eligible occupations list in recent years because the pace of housebuilding has outstripped the local skilled workforce. Healthcare assistant roles, particularly in residential and home care for Ireland's ageing population, are another real area of sponsorship. Food and meat processing plants outside Dublin continue to hire overseas operatives because local recruitment alone cannot fill the shifts. Focus your search and profile on these three areas rather than general labour.

What else to plan for

The Togolese community in Ireland is very small, smaller than in France or Germany, so do not expect an established network to lean on when you arrive - ask your employer directly about other West African workers at the same site or in the same town. Budget realistically for your first weeks: a rental deposit plus advance rent can total EUR 1,000 to 1,500 before any Irish paycheck lands, so arrange savings or a written agreement with your employer covering initial housing costs.

A verbal yes from an employer is not a permit, so keep your other plans moving until the written DETE approval is actually issued, since processing can run past published timelines, particularly for first-time sponsors. Get a clear, written answer from the employer about whether they help arrange accommodation for your first weeks, because trying to sort housing in an unfamiliar Irish town from Lome, without any local network, is genuinely difficult if nobody has agreed on it before you travel.

One more thing worth checking early: ask the employer whether induction or safety training in English is provided on day one, since construction and food processing sites in Ireland run strict safety rules, and arriving without basic workplace English can slow down your first weeks on site considerably.

Myths vs facts

Myth: Any Irish company willing to hire me can sponsor my permit. Fact: the job must be eligible under DETE's current list, regardless of the employer's willingness.

Myth: I can file the employment permit application myself with my job offer. Fact: the employer in Ireland has to submit it in almost every case, not the worker.

Myth: My Togolese documents just need an apostille like Senegal's or Tunisia's. Fact: Togo is outside the Hague Apostille Convention, so full consular legalisation is needed, which takes longer.

Myth: A faster result is available if I pay an agent in Lome more. Fact: DETE's own processing time is not affected by fees paid to outside agents.

Before you sign

• Check the exact occupation against DETE's current eligible occupations list
• Get it in writing that the employer is filing and paying for the employment permit
• Make sure the contract's job title, salary and hours match what the permit will state
• Start the legalisation of your Togolese police clearance and certificates early, since it takes longer than an apostille
• Confirm which embassy or visa centre currently serves Togo for Irish visa applications
• Never pay anyone who promises a guaranteed Ireland permit or a faster DETE decision

Put this on your Workuro profile

Name your trade precisely on your Workuro profile - 'construction carpenter' or 'food processing operative, two years' is far more useful to an employer than a general 'looking for work abroad.' Note that your legalisation process is underway, and give a fair account of your French and English levels. A specific profile helps a real Irish employer, one who already understands the permit process, take you seriously. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.