American and foreign tech talent looking for a way escape Trump 2.0 should look no further than Ireland, local experts say, thanks to its relative easy entry requirements.

Following a series of executive orders that tighten US immigration rules, some businesses are exploring moving necessary talent abroad, with Canada and the UK obvious destinations, thanks to cultural similarities and a shared language. 

But with recent changes to its work permit rules and reputation as a fast-growing technology hub, Ireland is also in a strong position to pick up any increase in US outbound talent. 

Often dubbed the “Silicon Valley of Europe”, the capital of Dublin hosts several tech titans, including Google, Meta, Oracle, Salesforce, and Amazon. Nationwide, Ireland hosts 16 of the top 20 global tech firms, as well as big names from across the financial services, pharma, and energy sectors.

Tech workers who may have been unsuccessful in H1-B lotteries, or who find themselves ineligible to work in the US due to immigration changes, may be able to take up roles in Ireland quickly

“Ireland is very well positioned as a tech hub and European headquarters for many global multinationals. It also has a thriving tech start-up industry so there is plenty of opportunities here for tech talent who may need to leave the US for a period of time,” McCann Fitzgerald’s Donal Hamilton and Sorcha Cusack tell GML. 

“Our employment permit and immigration system has become quite streamlined in recent years, and further streamlining is expected,” they add.

“So tech workers who may have been unsuccessful in H1-B lotteries, or who find themselves ineligible to work in the US due to immigration changes, may be able to take up roles in Ireland quickly and with administrative ease.”

EEA nationals have an automatic right to reside and work in Ireland, but for non-EEA nationals the most common route to obtaining working permission is to apply to the Irish Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an employment permit.

“In some cases, depending on the individual’s nationality, they may also require a visa before travelling to Ireland to take up employment,” explain Matheson’s Alice Duffy and Patrick O’Neill. 

“If a visa is required, the process can only be commenced once the employment permit is issued. Importantly, as part of the employment permit application, the employee’s employment must be connected with an Irish company who is registered with the Irish Revenue Commissioners and the Companies Registration Office.”

There are a variety of permits which can be applied for but, as Duffy and O’Neill explain, the most common are the critical skills employment permit (CSEP), the general employment permit (GEP), and the intra-company transfer permit (ICT).

To be eligible for a CSEP, applicants must hold relevant qualifications, their job must be two years or more in duration, and they must have an Irish employment contract.

CSEPs are generally reserved for roles with an annual basic salary of over €64,000 (£54,000). But, in certain circumstances, they may be issued for positions on Ireland’s critical skills occupations list and with a minimum pay of at least €38,000 (£32,100).

GEPs are generally reserved for positions with a minimum annual pay (salary plus health insurance payments) of over €34,000 (£28,700). Applicants must demonstrate relevant qualifications, skills, and experience during the application process.

The maximum initial duration of a GEP is two years. However, in contrast to a CSEP, a GEP may be granted for a period less than two years.

For an ICT, there must be a direct link between the employee and the employer; they must have worked for the employer at least six months before transfer; and the position must pay least €46,000 (£38,850). ICTs last for two years with the possibility of a three-year renewal.

The application process can take four-to-six weeks, though applications from employers deemed “trusted partners” – a formal designation given by Irish authorities – can be processed in as little as two weeks, explain Hamilton and Cusack. 

Duffy and O’Neill add: “Once the applicant has successfully obtained an employment permit and has been working in Ireland for two or five years, depending on the type of permit received, they become eligible to live and work in Ireland without the requirement to hold a permit and instead only require an Irish immigration stamp.  

“In addition, individuals residing in Ireland for five years within an eight-year period generally are eligible to apply for Irish citizenship through naturalisation based on their residence in the country.”