EEA National / Non-EEA National
The distinction determining who needs an employment permit to work in Ireland: EEA (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Swiss nationals do not; everyone else generally does.
This is the foundational sorting question in every hire. Note the special case: UK citizens are not EEA nationals post-Brexit, but under the Common Travel Area they retain the right to live and work in Ireland without a permit. Right-to-work checks should establish nationality and, for non-EEA candidates, the specific permission they hold — assumptions here are where illegal working prosecutions begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Through your right-to-work check: inspect their passport or national identity card and retain a dated copy. Do not rely on accents, names, or verbal assurances — the check exists precisely because assumptions fail. For non-EEA candidates, the check extends to their IRP card or permit documentation.
All EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway; Swiss nationals enjoy equivalent free movement rights. Nationals of these countries need no employment permit. Everyone else is non-EEA and generally requires a permit unless they hold an immigration permission (like Stamp 4) that grants work rights.
No. Although the UK left the EU, the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK predates EU membership and survives it — British citizens retain the right to live and work in Ireland without any permit or visa. Treat them like EEA nationals for hiring purposes, with a standard right-to-work check.