Career advice · Updated November 2026

Health Care Assistant Jobs in Ireland for Kenyans: Permit, Pay and Fees

Health care assistant jobs in Ireland for Kenyans are open through Ireland’s General Employment Permit, which has a lower minimum salary for health care assistants and home support workers: €32,691 a year and at least €16.12 an hour. You need a job offer from a genuine Irish employer, and in most cases the employer must first advertise the job in Ireland and the EU (the labour market needs test). The permit is issued for up to two years at first and can be renewed for three more. After five years you can apply for long-term residence. This guide explains the rules, fees and red flags for Kenyan caregivers.

Checked on 9 November 2026 against the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment’s General Employment Permit page. Thresholds and fees change from time to time, so confirm them before you accept any offer.

Why health care assistant jobs in Ireland are different

Unlike the Critical Skills permit, the General Employment Permit treats every occupation as eligible unless it is on Ireland’s Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits. Health care assistants (HCAs) and home support workers (occupation code SOC 6145) can qualify. They have their own lower minimum salary. Other jobs generally need at least €36,605 a year.

Item	General Employment Permit rule
Minimum pay for HCAs and home support workers	€32,691 a year and at least €16.12 an hour
Minimum pay for most other jobs	€36,605 a year
Labour market needs test	Required in most cases
First permit	Up to 2 years, renewable for up to 3 more
Long-term residence	Can apply after 5 years
Fee (new permit)	€500 for up to 6 months; €1,000 for 6 to 24 months
Fee (renewal)	€750 for up to 6 months; €1,500 for 6 to 36 months

The labour market needs test

Before offering you the job, the employer usually has to advertise it on the Department of Social Protection’s employment services and the EURES network, plus one more online platform. Only if no suitable Irish or EU candidate is found can it apply for a permit for you. This is why genuine offers can take time, and why an “instant permit” is a warning sign.

Employer rules that protect you

• The employer must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners and, where relevant, the Companies Registration Office, and must be trading in Ireland.
• You must be employed, salaried and paid directly by that employer, not by an agency abroad.
• At least 50% of the employer’s staff must be EEA nationals (the 50:50 rule), with a few exceptions.
• Where the employer applies, section 55 of the Employment Permits Act 2024 bars it, or an agent acting for it, from deducting the permit fee or other recruitment costs from your pay or recovering them from you.

Family and changing jobs

This is the biggest drawback compared with the Critical Skills permit. Spouses, partners and dependants of General Employment Permit holders cannot get a dependant employment permit. They must qualify for their own permit to work. Plan for this before you move as a family.

You are expected to stay with your first employer for nine months. Under section 18 of the Employment Permits Regulations 2024, a new permit for a different employer cannot normally be considered earlier, except in cases such as redundancy. After nine months you can move if the new employer makes a fresh application.

How to apply step by step

1. Find a job offer from an Irish nursing home, home care provider or hospital, and ask in writing for the occupation, salary, hours and location.
2. Check the pay meets €32,691 a year and €16.12 an hour.
3. Ask whether the employer has completed the labour market needs test.
4. The employer or you apply on Employment Permits Online. Allow processing time. If the department asks for more information, it must be returned within 28 days.
5. If refused, you can ask for a review within 28 days on the official form. If still refused, 90% of the fee is refunded to the applicant.
6. Once the permit is granted, apply for your entry visa and register with immigration after arrival.

After five years on a General Employment Permit

The department says non-EEA nationals who have held valid General Employment Permits for five years or more in a row, and worked lawfully during that time, may no longer need an employment permit to work in Ireland. They apply to the Department of Justice’s Immigration Service Delivery for long-term residence. If you do not meet those criteria, you still need a permit, and someone who has worked for the same employer for five years or more can apply for a renewal permit. Keep every payslip, contract and permit copy from your first day, because you will need them to prove continuous lawful work.

Preparing as a Kenyan caregiver

• Gather certificates for any caregiving, first aid or nursing assistant training, and letters from previous employers showing hours and duties.
• Prepare a police clearance certificate and medical report, as most care employers ask for them.
• Write a two-page CV focused on care tasks, shifts and patient numbers. Our CV guide can help.
• If you hold a nursing qualification, consider registering with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, which can open the better-paid Critical Skills route. See our Ireland Critical Skills permit guide.

Red flags

Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for a “work permit”, promises a job without an interview, or says the permit will be ready in a few days. Only the Irish department grants permits, and fees are paid through the official system. Before dealing with any agent, read our recruitment agency vs direct hiring guide and our fake job adverts guide. If you were looking at the UK, note that our UK care worker visa guide explains why that route is now closed to new applicants abroad.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum salary for a health care assistant permit in Ireland?

€32,691 a year and at least €16.12 an hour under the General Employment Permit.

Do health care assistants in Ireland need a labour market needs test?

In most cases yes. The employer must advertise the job with Irish and EU employment services before applying for a permit.

Can my spouse work in Ireland on my General Employment Permit?

No. Spouses and partners of General Employment Permit holders must apply for their own employment permit.

How long does the General Employment Permit last?

Up to two years at first, renewable for up to three more years, after which you can apply for long-term residence.