Pakistani chartered accountants with professional experience may have a new opportunity to build their careers in Ireland under the country’s employment permit system.
The opportunity is particularly relevant for accountants with strong audit and financial services backgrounds. Information shared by Pakistan’s Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment highlights Ireland as a potential destination for qualified professionals who meet the required conditions.
Who Can Apply?
The opportunity is mainly aimed at professionals who hold membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP).
Applicants are expected to have at least three years of relevant audit experience. Knowledge of international accounting and auditing practices can also support their applications. Experience with US GAAP, global audit procedures, financial services, and related areas may be an added advantage.
A Job Offer Is Required
Professionals cannot apply without securing employment first. They need a job offer from an employer registered in Ireland, with the employment contract covering at least two years.
For eligible Critical Skills occupations, the stated minimum annual salary is €40,904. Recent graduates who obtained the relevant qualification within the previous 12 months may qualify under a lower salary threshold of €36,848.
Employer Conditions
The Irish employer generally needs to meet a workforce requirement under which at least half of its employees are citizens of the European Economic Area.
There are exceptions, however. Certain start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland may not be subject to this requirement.
Another benefit is that applicants for this permit do not need to complete a Labor Market Needs Test.
Application Timeline and Fee
Applicants are required to submit their employment permit applications online at least 12 weeks before the planned employment start date.
The application processing fee is €1,000.
This means professionals planning to move to Ireland need to secure their employment and begin the permit process well in advance of their intended joining date.
What Happens After Moving to Ireland?
The opportunity can offer more than just employment. Eligible workers may have routes to bring family members to Ireland, with family members potentially gaining the right to live and work there depending on their status.
Workers may also have the option to change employers after completing nine months, subject to the applicable rules.
Over the longer term, qualifying workers may be able to move to Stamp 4 status. They may also work towards long-term residence and, if all legal requirements are eventually satisfied, Irish citizenship.
For Pakistani chartered accountants with international audit exposure and several years of professional experience, Ireland could provide an opportunity to gain overseas work experience while developing a longer-term career path.
However, meeting the qualification, salary, employment, and permit requirements remains essential before an application can move forward.
