Ireland has announced several important immigration and employment developments affecting foreign workers, employers, international visitors and people already living in the country.
The changes include a temporary shutdown of Ireland’s Employment Permits Online (EPO) system following a security incident, an increase in the national minimum wage from January 2027, an extension of the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme and longer processing times for Irish Residence Permit (IRP) renewals.
The latest government announcement, issued on 5 November 2026, also provides new information about the security incident affecting employment-permit applicants. Here is what foreign nationals and employers need to know.
Work Permit Portal
Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) has temporarily suspended its Employment Permits Online portal following the discovery of suspicious unauthorised activity.
The incident was publicly reported on 29 October 2026. During the investigation, officials identified a security vulnerability and decided to take the online system offline as a precaution.
The department initially expected to restore the portal on 3 November 2026. However, an announcement on 2 November confirmed that the system would not reopen as originally anticipated. As of 6 November 2026, no confirmed reopening date has been announced.
The department says the portal will only reopen after security improvements, technical testing and independent verification have been completed.
This disruption mainly affects people who need to create or submit new employment-permit applications and those who need to access existing applications through the online system.
Importantly, the shutdown does not mean Ireland has suspended its employment-permit programme or introduced a ban on recruiting foreign workers.
Latest Security Findings
The Irish government released a significant update on 5 November 2026 explaining what information had been affected by the security incident.
Its original announcement on 29 October suggested that potentially exposed information could include:
- Applicants’ names
- Email addresses
- User account roles, such as employer, employee or immigration agent
However, the latest technical investigation established that, for the general customer population, the information downloaded by an unauthorised third party was limited to first names and surnames of people registered on the portal or who had applied for employment permits.
The department specifically confirmed that email addresses and user account roles were not downloaded or extracted for this group.
Affected individuals have been contacted by the department’s Data Protection Officer, and an updated report has been submitted to Ireland’s Data Protection Commission.
The investigation is continuing, so these findings should not be interpreted as a final conclusion about every aspect of the security incident.
Existing Applications
There is reassuring news for people who submitted employment-permit applications before the portal was taken offline. The Department of Enterprise has confirmed that its internal employment-permit processing operations are continuing.
This means applications already submitted can still be reviewed, assessed and decided while the online portal remains unavailable. Applicants should continue to receive notifications about decisions.
However, new applications cannot currently be submitted through the normal online portal. The government is developing temporary arrangements for submitting new applications, supporting documents, review requests and other information. Details of those arrangements have not yet been finalised.
New employment-permit applications cannot currently be submitted simply by emailing the department. Applicants should follow the government’s official instructions rather than sending applications through unauthorised channels.
Draft Applications
Many applicants had started employment-permit applications but had not completed them when the system went offline.
The government has confirmed that saved draft applications and applications awaiting payment are expected to remain available when the portal reopens.
Normally, a draft employment-permit application must be completed and submitted within 28 days.
However, the department has announced that appropriate flexibility will apply where the portal outage prevents applicants from meeting this deadline.
For example, somebody who started an application in October but could not submit it because the portal was unavailable should not be disadvantaged solely because the normal 28-day period expired during the shutdown.
Applicants are not required to create an entirely new application simply because that period has passed.
The government will provide additional instructions if any action is required once the portal becomes operational again.
Permit Renewals
The outage also affects foreign workers whose existing employment permits are approaching their renewal dates.
DETE has announced that flexibility will be applied where applicants cannot submit renewal applications within the normal timeframe because of the portal disruption.
The department has also confirmed similar flexibility for employers whose Labour Market Needs Test advertising requirements are affected.
Employers should keep copies of their advertisements, publication dates and supporting documentation so they can demonstrate compliance when the system becomes available.
An important distinction: the portal shutdown does not automatically extend an employment permit or an immigration permission.
Workers should continue to comply with their existing immigration conditions and seek official advice where their permission is approaching expiry.
This distinction is particularly important for employees whose ability to continue working depends on maintaining valid permission.
Affected Workers
The employment-permit system is particularly important to workers from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
It supports recruitment through several employment routes, including General Employment Permits and Critical Skills Employment Permits.
Workers in healthcare, social care, technology, construction, hospitality and other sectors rely on Ireland’s employment-permit system.
A research report published by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) on 3 November 2026 demonstrates the importance of these workers to the Irish economy.
According to the research:
- Between 30,000 and 40,000 employment permits were issued or renewed annually over the preceding four years.
- 8,328 companies recruited non-EEA workers through employment permits in 2025.
- Healthcare and social work accounted for 26% of employment permits in 2025.
- Information and communication activities accounted for 12%.
- Accommodation and food services represented 11%.
These figures help explain why prolonged disruption to the application system could create difficulties for international recruitment.
However, the government has not published a verified figure showing how many applicants have been delayed specifically because of the portal outage.
Minimum Wage Increase
Separate from the portal incident, Ireland has confirmed an increase in its National Minimum Wage under Budget 2027.
From 1 January 2027, the standard national minimum wage for workers aged 20 and over will rise from €14.15 to €14.94 per hour.
This represents an increase of €0.79 per hour, or approximately 5.6%.
For a worker completing 39 paid hours each week, the new rate would produce the following gross earnings:
| Earnings | 2026 | From 2027 |
| Hourly | €14.15 | €14.94 |
| Weekly (39 hours) | €551.85 | €582.66 |
| Annual (52 weeks) | €28,696.20 | €30,298.32 |
This is approximately €1,602.12 more per year, before tax and other deductions, assuming the same working hours throughout the year.
The national minimum wage applies to most employees, including eligible foreign workers, although age-related rates and certain exceptions apply.
Employment Permit Salaries
Foreign workers should understand that the National Minimum Wage and the salary thresholds required for an Irish employment permit are two different things.
For example, a person applying for a General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit may need to meet a higher annual salary requirement depending on the permit category and occupation.
The increase to €14.94 per hour does not automatically replace those employment-permit salary thresholds.
Applicants and employers must continue checking the specific remuneration rules for their employment-permit category.
Visa Waiver Extension
Ireland has also extended its Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme until 31 December 2026. The programme had previously been scheduled to expire on 31 October 2026.
It allows certain foreign nationals who have entered the United Kingdom using an eligible UK short-stay visa to travel to Ireland without obtaining a separate Irish visa. However, the programme has specific conditions.
Travellers must generally have an eligible UK short-stay visa, have entered the UK lawfully using that visa and hold valid UK immigration permission covering their intended visit to Ireland.
The maximum stay in Ireland is generally 90 days or the remaining period of UK immigration permission, whichever is shorter. A UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) does not qualify as a UK visa for this programme.
Likewise, a UK long-term student visa, work visa or residence document does not by itself establish eligibility.
Eligible Nationalities
The government’s eligible-country list includes the following 21 countries whose nationals may benefit where the relevant conditions are met:
Eastern Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye.
Middle East: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Asia: India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, China, Philippines, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
South America: Colombia and Peru.
The official government page also displays Ukraine, but Ukrainian nationals currently benefit from a separate exemption from Irish entry-visa requirements.
Special restrictions apply to certain nationalities, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Peru, because of changes to the UK’s ETA system.
Travellers should therefore verify their individual eligibility before making travel arrangements. No further extension beyond 31 December 2026 has been confirmed.
IRP Renewal Delays
Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has also warned about significant delays in processing Irish Residence Permit renewals.
According to its notice of 29 October 2026, IRP renewal applications were taking approximately six to nine weeks to process.
After approval, applicants may need additional time to receive their new physical residence cards by post. The department’s renewal guidance indicates that card delivery may take up to a further 15 business days.
This is particularly important for foreign nationals planning to travel outside Ireland during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. An expiring IRP card may create difficulties when returning to Ireland, even if an applicant has already requested renewal.
ISD has advised eligible applicants to apply online as early as possible. People can generally apply to renew their IRP up to 12 weeks before the existing permission expires.
The department also warns that applicants should not rely on emergency re-entry visas for ordinary holiday or business travel.
Current Processing Dates
Immigration Service Delivery publishes the submission dates currently being processed for different immigration stamps.
Applicants can compare their own submission date with the relevant category to understand where their application may sit in the queue.
The processing dates differ for Stamp 1, Stamp 1G, Stamp 2, Stamp 4 and other immigration permissions.
These dates are updated regularly, and cases requiring additional documentation may take longer.
Importantly, the IRP renewal system and the Employment Permits Online portal are separate services. The employment-permit security incident should not be confused with IRP renewal delays.
What Applicants Should Do
Foreign nationals and employers affected by these developments should take practical precautions. Employment-permit applicants should monitor the official portal-service page for reopening announcements and temporary application arrangements.
Applicants with pending decisions should continue watching for notifications from the department. Permit holders approaching renewal should keep evidence of their renewal preparations and contact the department where necessary.
Employers should retain recruitment documentation, employment contracts and Labour Market Needs Test advertising records.
IRP holders planning international travel should check their immigration permission and renewal status before departure.
Visitors intending to use the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme should check their nationality, UK visa type, UK entry history and remaining permission.
Portal users should also remain alert to suspicious emails, text messages or telephone calls concerning employment permits or payments.
The government has specifically warned that it will not request passwords or personal information through unsolicited email or text messages.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Has Ireland stopped issuing work permits?
No. The online application portal is temporarily unavailable, but the department continues processing previously submitted applications and issuing decisions.
2. When will the portal reopen?
As of 6 November 2026, the government has not confirmed a reopening date. The system will return only after the required security checks and independent verification.
3. Will submitted applications be cancelled?
The government has not announced any general cancellation of existing applications. Applications submitted before the shutdown continue to be assessed.
4. What happens to unfinished applications?
Saved applications and those awaiting payment are expected to remain available. Flexibility will apply where the outage prevents applicants from meeting normal deadlines.
5. Can applicants email new applications?
Not at present. The government is developing temporary submission arrangements, but these have not yet been announced.
6. Have applicants’ personal details been stolen?
The 5 November investigation established that first names and surnames were downloaded for the general customer population. Officials confirmed that email addresses and account roles were not extracted for this group. The wider investigation continues.
7. Does the outage extend existing permissions?
No. The disruption does not automatically extend an employment permit or immigration permission, although the department has promised appropriate flexibility for affected applications.
8. What is Ireland’s new minimum wage?
The standard National Minimum Wage for employees aged 20 and over will increase to €14.94 per hour on 1 January 2027.
9. Can UK visa holders visit Ireland?
Certain nationalities with eligible UK short-stay visas may qualify under the extended visa-waiver programme. UK ETAs and long-term UK residence permissions are not sufficient on their own.
10. How long are IRP renewals taking?
The government’s latest holiday-travel warning reports processing times of approximately six to nine weeks, with additional time needed for card delivery.
Final Outlook
Ireland’s latest immigration developments create different challenges for different groups of foreign nationals.
The employment-permit portal shutdown is a temporary operational disruption rather than a change to the country’s employment-permit eligibility rules.
Existing applications continue to be processed, and the government has promised flexibility for deadlines affected by the outage. However, applicants still need to wait for official instructions on submitting new applications.
Meanwhile, the national minimum wage increase will take effect on 1 January 2027, the visa-waiver extension provides limited travel flexibility until 31 December 2026, and IRP renewal delays remain a concern for residents planning international travel.
The most important outstanding question is when the Employment Permits Online system will return to service and what temporary arrangements will be provided for new applicants.
Foreign workers and employers should continue checking official government updates before making immigration, employment or travel decisions.