Disclaimer: General information, not immigration or legal advice. This list changes by statutory instrument — it was last amended on 13 May 2026. Always confirm the current position on the official DETE page linked below before making decisions.
Ireland does not have a single document called a “shortage occupation list.” What people mean by that phrase is the Critical Skills Occupations List — the roles the state has formally recognised as being in such short supply that it actively wants to recruit them from outside the EEA.
If your occupation is on this list, you get the best immigration deal Ireland offers: no Labour Market Needs Test, family reunification from day one, a working spouse, and Stamp 4 after 21 months. This page sets out what is on the list as it stands today, and how to use it.
Quick Answer: What Is Ireland’s Shortage Occupation List?
It is the Critical Skills Occupations List, maintained by DETE. Roles on it qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit at €40,904 with a relevant degree. The list was last updated on 13 May 2026, adding six new occupations. There is also a separate Ineligible List of roles that cannot be sponsored at all.
How the Lists Work
Ireland runs two lists that sit at opposite ends:
- The Critical Skills Occupations List — high-demand roles, eligible for the premium permit. If you are on this list, you are in the best position.
- The Ineligible List of Occupations — roles that cannot be sponsored under any employment permit, because there is adequate local supply.
Anything that is on neither list sits in the middle: not “critical,” but not banned either. Those roles can usually be sponsored under the General Employment Permit, provided the salary reaches €36,605 and the employer runs a Labour Market Needs Test.
| Where your role sits | What it means |
|---|---|
| On the Critical Skills list | Best case. CSEP at €40,904, no advertising test, fast Stamp 4 |
| On neither list | General Employment Permit possible at €36,605 with a Labour Market Needs Test |
| On the Ineligible list | Cannot be sponsored at all |
What Changed on 13 May 2026
The most recent revision, SI 213 of 2026, added six occupations to the Critical Skills list, reflecting shortages that had built up across community healthcare, construction and agriculture:
- Agronomists (added under SOC 2112)
- Construction planners and schedulers (SOC 2436)
- Community eye care optometrists and ophthalmic opticians (SOC 2214)
- Geospatial, land and geomatics surveyors (SOC 2434)
- Intellectual property professionals
- Riggers in the games and screen industry
This is why the date matters. Many competing lists online still show the pre-May 2026 version, and some still show pre-2025 salary figures. The list below reflects the current statutory instrument.
Critical Skills Occupations by Sector
This is a practical summary organised by field, with the SOC category where useful. It is not the full statutory text — many entries carry specific qualification or specialism conditions — so always confirm your exact role against the official DETE list.
Information Technology
- IT specialist managers, including BIM Managers (SOC 2133)
- IT project and programme managers (2134)
- IT business analysts, architects and systems designers (2135)
- Programmers and software development professionals (2136)
- Web design, cybersecurity, data and related ICT professionals (2137–2139)
Healthcare and Life Sciences
- Medical practitioners (2211)
- Psychologists (2212)
- Pharmacists and industrial pharmacists (2213)
- Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians in community eye care (2214) — added May 2026
- Radiographers and radiation therapists (2217)
- Podiatrists and chiropodists (2218)
- Audiologists, perfusionists, dieticians and medical scientists (2219)
- Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, orthoptists (222)
- Registered nurses (2231) and registered midwives (2232)
- Paramedics and advanced paramedic practitioners (3213)
- Prosthetists and orthotists (3218)
Engineering
- Civil, structural and site engineers (2121)
- Mechanical engineers (2122)
- Electrical engineers (2123)
- Electronics engineers in named specialisms — chip design, automation, power (2124)
- Design and development engineers (2126)
- Production and process engineers, including quality, validation and chemical process (2127)
- Materials scientists, setting-out engineers, façade designers, project engineers (2129)
Science and Pharmaceuticals
- Chemical scientists (2111)
- Biological scientists, biochemists and medical laboratory scientists (2112) — now including agronomists
- Physical scientists in named specialisms (2113)
- Quality control and planning engineers (2461)
- Quality assurance and regulatory professionals (2462)
- Environmental health professionals (2463)
Finance and Business
- Chartered and certified accountants and taxation experts in named specialisms (2421)
- Management consultants and business analysts in big data analytics (2423)
- Business and financial project management professionals in risk, credit and fraud analytics (2424)
- Actuaries, economists and statisticians in big data specialisms (2425)
Construction and Surveying
- Construction project managers and site managers (1122)
- Architects (2431)
- Town planning officers (2432)
- Quantity surveyors (2433)
- Geospatial, land and geomatics surveyors (2434) — added May 2026
- Architectural technologists (2435)
- Construction project managers, including planners and schedulers (2436) — planners/schedulers added May 2026
- Estimators (3531) and BIM coordinators and technicians (3122)
Other Professional Roles
- Social workers (2442)
- Academics in defined institutions (2311)
- Professional foresters and resource-modelling analysts (1213)
- Intellectual property professionals — added May 2026
- Riggers in the games and screen industry — added May 2026
How to Check Your Own Occupation
- Find your closest SOC category on the official DETE list. Match on duties, not job title — titles vary between companies and countries.
- Read the conditions attached to the entry. Many roles are only eligible in named specialisms, or require a specific qualification level. Being in the right SOC category is not always enough on its own.
- Confirm the salary. €40,904 for a listed role with a relevant degree. Only basic salary counts.
- If your role is not listed, check the Ineligible List. If it is not there either, a General Employment Permit at €36,605 is likely your route.
What If Your Role Is Not on the List?
Not being on the Critical Skills list is not the end. Three routes remain:
- General Employment Permit — for any role not on the Ineligible List, at €36,605, with a Labour Market Needs Test. Our General Employment Permit guide covers this.
- The high-salary route — any role paying €68,911 or more, not on the Ineligible List, can qualify for a Critical Skills permit even without being specifically listed.
- Intra-Company Transfer — if you already work for a multinational with an Irish office.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ireland’s shortage occupation list?
It is the Critical Skills Occupations List, maintained by the Department of Enterprise. Roles on it are recognised as being in short supply and qualify for the Critical Skills Employment Permit at €40,904 with a relevant degree, with no Labour Market Needs Test required.
When was the Critical Skills Occupations List last updated?
On 13 May 2026, under SI 213 of 2026, which added six occupations including agronomists, construction planners and schedulers, community eye care optometrists, and geospatial surveyors.
What is the difference between the Critical Skills list and the Ineligible list?
The Critical Skills list contains high-demand roles eligible for the premium permit. The Ineligible list contains roles that cannot be sponsored under any employment permit. Roles on neither list can usually be sponsored under a General Employment Permit.
How do I know if my job is on the Critical Skills list?
Find your closest Standard Occupational Classification category on the official DETE list and match on duties rather than job title. Many entries also carry specific qualification or specialism conditions, so read the full entry, not just the category name.
What salary do I need for a Critical Skills occupation?
€40,904 per year for a listed occupation with a relevant degree, from 1 March 2026. Only basic salary counts toward the threshold. Recent graduates may qualify at €36,848 within twelve months of graduating.
What if my occupation is not on the list?
You may still qualify for a General Employment Permit at €36,605 if the role is not on the Ineligible List, or for a Critical Skills permit if the role pays €68,911 or more. An intra-company transfer is another route if you work for a multinational with an Irish office.
How often does the shortage list change?
It changes by statutory instrument, with no fixed schedule. Recent changes took effect in March and May 2026. Because it changes without much notice, always verify against the current DETE page before making decisions.
Does being on the list guarantee a permit?
No. It means the occupation is eligible, but the salary, the employer’s compliance, your qualifications and the specific conditions attached to the occupation must all be met. Eligibility is necessary but not sufficient.
Conclusion
The Critical Skills Occupations List is the most important document in Irish labour immigration, because it decides whether you get the premium route or the standard one. If your occupation is on it and you clear €40,904, you are in the strongest position the system offers.
Two habits matter: match your role on duties and SOC code rather than job title, and always check the current DETE list, because it changes by statutory instrument and the version circulating on most websites is out of date.
Next, read our Critical Skills Employment Permit guide for the full application process, or what jobs are in demand in Ireland for the wider market picture.
