The Employment Permit Section has confirmed that there will be no increases in the Minimum Annual Remuneration (MAR) for employment permits in January 2025.

The MAR is the lowest annual salary for which an employment permit can issue. This was increased in January 2024 in conjunction with a roadmap that outlined further increases up to 2026. Further details on this can be found in the Outcome of the Review of the Employment Permits Occupations Lists: https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/outcome-of-review-of-employment-permits-occupations-lists-december-2023.html.

An increase in January 2025 was proposed in the December 2023 Review. However, due to concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the increased costs of doing business, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment have commenced a fresh review of proposed increases for the coming year and are currently accepting submissions until 10 January 2025.

The exception to this deferral is the scheduled increase to €30,000 for the minimum salary threshold of health care assistants, home carers and care workers. Regulations to increase the minimum remuneration for these positions from €27,000 to €30,000 have now been prepared to take effect from 17 January 2025. All employment permit applications received prior to 17 January will be processed under the current remuneration thresholds. Previously issued valid employment permits will not be impacted.

For more information on the above please see the following:

https://enterprise.gov.ie/en/publications/deferral-of-increases-to-mar.html#:~:text=Deferral%20of%20increases%20to%20Minimum%20Annual%20Remuneration%20for%20employment%20permits,-9th%20December%202024&text=Proposed%20increases%20to%20Minimum%20Annual,an%20employment%20permit%20can%20issue.