A new fast-track employment permit scheme called the TRUSTED PARTNER REGISTRATION SCHEME has been introduced to enable employers who register for it to process permits for non-European Economic Area workers within 5 working days, with the new online system being fully operational by the end of next year.

At the moment, work permits take an average of 20 working days or more to be processed, and with over 6,000 work permits being processed in 2014, there is expected to be an increase in 2015 of a further 1-2,000 permits due to the improving jobs market and the difficulty in particular areas to find suitably skilled candidates.

Even before the online system goes live, there will be at least one week’s reduction in the current processing time for work permits.

Employers interested in becoming a trusted partner should apply through the website: http://www.djei.ie/labour/workpermits/trustedpartner.htm