Reactivation Employment Permit
A permit allowing a non-EEA national who previously held a permit but fell out of the system through no fault of their own to re-enter lawful employment.
Workers sometimes end up undocumented because an employer failed to renew a permit or the business closed. The Reactivation permit exists precisely for these cases. For employers, it means a capable candidate with Irish experience who is currently between permissions may still be hireable — but the application route is specific and the candidate must first obtain temporary permission from immigration authorities, so take advice before making promises.
Frequently Asked Questions
To stop workers being permanently punished for employer failures. Without it, a chef whose employer forgot a renewal would face removal despite years of lawful work. For employers it means candidates with genuine Irish experience who hit an administrative wall may still be recoverable hires — with proper advice and sequencing.
Potentially, if their history fits the scheme — the person must have previously held a permit and become undocumented through no fault of their own. Do not employ them before the permission and permit are in place; the route legalises future employment, it does not retrospectively cover work done while undocumented.
A non-EEA national who previously held a valid employment permit but fell out of the system through no fault of their own — commonly because an employer failed to renew a permit, mistreated them, or the business closed. They must first obtain temporary immigration permission before the reactivation application can proceed.