Six-Month Commencement Rule
A requirement under the Employment Permits Act 2024 that a permit holder must start their employment within six months of the permit being granted.
Previously, granted permits could sit unused while visa processing, notice periods, or relocation dragged on. Now the clock is running: if the employee has not commenced within six months, the permit lapses. Build realistic timelines for embassy visa processing (which varies enormously by country) into your recruitment plan, and keep evidence of the actual start date on file in case of a Department audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep the standard employment records: the signed contract with the start date, payroll records showing first payment, and Revenue registration. In a Department audit these documents evidence commencement within the six-month window, so file them with the permit paperwork rather than leaving them scattered across systems.
To stop granted permits sitting unused while critical roles stayed vacant. The State wants permits to translate into actual workers in actual jobs promptly. For employers the practical effect is discipline: do not apply speculatively for a candidate who has not committed to a realistic start window.
The 2024 Act requires the foreign national to commence employment within six months of the grant. If they cannot start in time — usually because of visa processing or personal delays — the permit lapses and you are back to a fresh application. Build embassy visa timelines into your planning before the permit is even submitted.