As 2026 begins, Ireland's immigration system is entering a period of significant recalibration, with new remuneration thresholds for employment permits, tougher family reunification rules...
As 2026 begins, Ireland's immigration system is entering a period of significant recalibration, with new remuneration thresholds for employment permits, tougher family reunification rules, evolving citizenship requirements, and a continued pivot to digital systems and compliance-first operations. These domestic shifts sit within a broader context of global tightening, technology‑led controls, and processing pressures that will shape strategy for employers.
This article is part of a series on upcoming legal changes in 2026. See our other articles on UK immigration, employment law in Ireland, employment law in Great Britain and employment law in Northern Ireland.
New minimum annual remuneration thresholds from 1 March 2026
In December 2025, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) announced a roadmap to implement changes to the minimum annual remuneration (MAR) thresholds for employment permits.
From 1 March 2026, MAR thresholds for all key employment permit types will increase. These increases will be accompanied by graduate-specific bands and the introduction of an indexation model which will see further increases through to 2030 (and beyond) to keep pace with average earnings.
Effective from 1 March 2026, MAR thresholds will increase as follows for the employment...
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