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

If you are a Filipino worker with trade skills or practical experience, moving to Europe for work can change your family's future. Ireland is a popular choice because English is spoken everywhere, and the country has a strong economy. However, getting a job in Ireland requires following strict legal steps. Ireland does not offer open visas for general labor, and the country maintains a list of occupations that foreign workers cannot get permits for.

Before starting your journey, you need to know if your trade is eligible. Ireland actively hires qualified Filipino workers in healthcare caregiving, specialized construction, and industrial food processing. But if you are looking for general warehouse labor, standard farm hand work, or basic cleaning jobs, Ireland is a tough target. The government blocks work permits for those specific roles to protect the local labor market. If you work in basic general labor without specialized certificates, nearby European countries like Poland, Romania, or Croatia may offer more realistic permit options. For skilled trade workers, however, Ireland provides a safe, legal pathway to build a career.

The permit and visa route for Filipino workers

To work legally in Ireland as a Philippine passport holder, you must secure two separate legal approvals before you board a plane: an Employment Permit and an Employment Visa.

• Step 1: The Employment Permit - Your path begins with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) in Ireland. For trade and skilled roles, the most common route is the General Employment Permit. In almost all cases, the employer in Ireland applies for this permit on your behalf after offering you a job. You cannot get this permit without a direct job offer from an Irish company.
• Step 2: The Entry Visa - Once DETE grants your employment permit, you must apply for a Long Stay Employment Visa (Type D). You complete the initial visa application online using Ireland's official AVATS system.
• Step 3: Document Submission in the Philippines - After submitting your AVATS form, you must bring your physical documents and passport to an official visa application centre. In the Philippines, visa collection and biometrics for Ireland are handled by VFS Global, which has application centres in Manila and Cebu City.
• Step 4: DMW Clearance - As a Filipino worker departing the Philippines, you must also complete registration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, formerly POEA). You will need an Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) to clear Philippine immigration legally.

Trades Ireland hires for right now

Ireland has specific labor shortages, and employers frequently recruit experienced staff from the Philippines for key technical roles.

• Healthcare Assistants and Caregivers: Irish healthcare providers recruit trained Filipino caregivers to work in residential care facilities and nursing homes under structured employment permit rules.
• Construction Specialists: Infrastructure and housing development across Ireland drive steady demand for experienced heavy equipment operators, certified pipefitters, and structural carpenters.
• Meat Processing Operatives: Industrial food processing plants in Ireland regularly sponsor experienced deboners and industrial butchers under dedicated national permit quotas.

Required documents and legalisation

Preparing your paperwork early will prevent long delays during your permit and visa evaluation. All official documents issued in the Philippines must meet Irish standards.

• Signed Employment Contract: A binding offer from an Irish employer that specifies your job title, duties, working hours, and a salary that meets the minimum statutory threshold for Irish permits.
• Valid Passport: Your Philippine passport must be valid for at least 12 months past your intended date of arrival in Ireland, with at least two blank pages.
• NBI Clearance: A national police clearance issued by the National Bureau of Investigation in the Philippines, showing no criminal record.
• DFA Apostille: Your NBI clearance and trade diplomas or certificates must be apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in the Philippines. Ireland requires the Apostille seal to verify that your documents are genuine.
• Proof of Experience: Formal employment certificates, TESDA trade qualifications, or detailed reference letters from previous employers proving you have the required skills.
• Biometrics and Photos: Passport photos meeting Irish visa specifications and digital fingerprint scans taken at the VFS Global centre in Manila or Cebu.

Official fees and real costs on the Philippines side

Understanding the costs involved helps you budget safely and avoid financial strain. Official permit fees are set by the Irish government, while personal processing costs occur in the Philippines.

• Irish Employment Permit Fee: Set by Ireland at approximately 1,000 EUR for a standard General Employment Permit valid up to two years. In most reputable hiring arrangements, the employer pays this fee directly to DETE.
• Irish Long Stay Visa Fee: Approximately 60 EUR to 100 EUR, depending on whether you require a single-entry or multi-entry visa, paid during your visa submission.
• NBI Clearance and DFA Apostille: Approximately 1,000 PHP to 2,500 PHP (around 15 EUR to 40 EUR) for government processing fees and apostille authentication in the Philippines.
• Medical Examination: Approximately 3,500 PHP to 7,000 PHP (around 55 EUR to 110 EUR) at an accredited medical clinic in the Philippines.
• DMW Processing and OEC Fees: Approximately 1,500 PHP to 3,000 PHP (around 25 EUR to 50 EUR) covering administrative fees and mandatory insurance contributions.
• Flight Ticket to Dublin: Approximately 35,000 PHP to 60,000 PHP (around 550 EUR to 950 EUR). Many reputable Irish employers pay for or reimburse your travel ticket, but you should verify this in your contract.

Placement fees and avoiding scams

Filipino workers are often targeted by fraudulent recruiters demanding large sums of money. You must protect yourself from illegal charges before sending any funds.

Under Irish law, employment agencies are strictly prohibited from charging job seekers any placement fees to secure a job or access an employment contract. The Irish employer or agency must carry the cost of recruitment. In the Philippines, DMW regulations also forbid agencies from charging placement fees for countries where local laws prohibit them, which applies to Ireland.

Watch out for illegal agencies asking for "processing fees," "reservation fees," or "visa guarantee deposits." If an agency in Manila, Cebu, or online asks you to pay tens of thousands of pesos for a guaranteed job offer in Ireland, walk away. Legitimate Irish employers pay for the permit process themselves.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can fly to Ireland on a tourist visa and apply for a work permit after you arrive.
  Fact: Ireland does not allow tourist visa holders to convert to an employment permit from inside the country. You must apply while residing in the Philippines and wait for full approval.
• Myth: Any trade worker can easily get a permit for general farm or warehouse work in Ireland.
  Fact: Most non-specialized manual roles are on Ireland's Ineligible List of Occupations. Permits are only granted for skilled trades or specific quota roles like healthcare caregiving and meat processing.
• Myth: You have to pay a recruitment agent in Manila a fee to get an Irish job contract.
  Fact: Charging workers placement fees for jobs in Ireland is illegal under both Irish law and DMW rules. Employers pay recruitment costs.
• Myth: An EU Blue Card is the main permit used for trade workers going to Ireland.
  Fact: Ireland does not participate in the EU Blue Card scheme. Foreign trade workers enter through Ireland's national General Employment Permit system.

Before you sign

Review this checklist carefully before signing any offer or handing over your original documents:

• Check the Ineligible List: Confirm that your exact job title is eligible for an Irish General Employment Permit on the official DETE website.
• Verify the Employer: Ensure the Irish company is a registered business in Ireland and that the job offer comes directly from them or a licensed agency.
• Read the Salary Terms: Ensure the offer clearly states your working hours and guarantees a pay rate that meets or exceeds the Irish legal minimum salary threshold for permits.
• Confirm Travel and Permit Costs: Verify that the employer is covering the 1,000 EUR permit fee and check if they provide airfare or temporary housing assistance.
• Refuse Placement Fees: Do not pay any agency money for placing you in an Irish job offer or promising a guaranteed visa outcome.
• Verify DMW Agency Status: Ensure any Philippine recruitment agency you deal with has a valid license listed on the official DMW online portal.

Set up your profile on Workuro

If you are ready to explore legal work opportunities in Europe, start by creating a complete profile on Workuro. Make sure to list your specific trade skills, your TESDA or technical certifications, your years of practical experience, and your English language ability. Having your NBI clearance and DFA apostille ready will help you stand out when European companies look for qualified workers. Workuro connects skilled trade workers directly with legitimate European employers seeking international talent. Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.