Is my employment permit application delayed because of the security incident?
The Employment Permits team continues to process applications internally. The temporary unavailability of the Portal has not prevented applications from being assessed or decisions from being made.
Applicants will continue to receive updates on their applications and will be notified of decisions in the usual way.
While some Portal services remain temporarily unavailable, including the submission of new applications and access to existing applications online, the Department is implementing alternative arrangements as part of its business continuity measures and will provide further updates as soon as possible.
The Department is committed to minimising disruption and is applying appropriate flexibility where applicants have been affected by the outage. Applicants will not be disadvantaged as a result of the temporary unavailability of the Portal, including where normal application processes or timelines have been impacted.
I have an application in progress. Will it still be processed?
Yes. Applications already submitted to the Department continue to be processed by the Employment Permits team.
The temporary unavailability of the Portal does not affect the Department's ability to assess submitted applications and make decisions. Applicants will continue to receive updates on their applications and will be notified of decisions in the usual way.
The Department is applying appropriate flexibility where the outage may affect application requirements or timelines and is working to ensure that applicants are not disadvantaged as a result of the temporary unavailability of the Portal.
I have saved an application in draft. Will I lose it?
No. Applications saved in draft on the Portal are expected to remain available when the service is restored.
The Department recognises that the temporary unavailability of the Portal may prevent some applicants from completing and submitting draft applications within normal timeframes. Appropriate flexibility will be applied where the outage has affected an applicant's ability to complete or submit an application, and applicants will not be disadvantaged as a result of the temporary unavailability of the Portal.
The Department is actively progressing alternative arrangements for applicants who are unable to submit applications due to the unavailability of the Portal. Further information will be published as soon as these arrangements are finalised.
I have completed an application but have not yet paid the application fee. What should I do?
Applications awaiting payment of the application fee are expected to remain available when the Portal is restored.
Applicants will be able to access these applications and complete the payment and submission process once the service becomes available again.
The Department recognises that some applicants may be unable to complete the payment and submission process while the Portal remains unavailable. Appropriate flexibility will be applied to ensure that applicants are not disadvantaged where the outage has prevented them from completing an application, paying the required fee or submitting their application within the normal timeframe.
Further information will be provided if any additional actions are required from applicants once the Portal is restored.
Is there an alternative way to create an application?
The Employment Permits Online System remains unavailable at this time. The Department is actively progressing alternative arrangements as part of its business continuity measures and will provide further information as soon as these arrangements are finalised. Please monitor this page for updates
What happens if my application exceeds the normal 28-day submission period because of the Portal outage?
The Department recognises that the temporary unavailability of the Portal may prevent some applicants from submitting applications within the normal 28-day period during which a draft application can be completed and submitted.
Appropriate flexibility will be applied in these circumstances. Draft applications affected by the outage are expected to remain available when the Portal is restored, and applicants will not be disadvantaged solely because they were unable to submit their application while the Portal was unavailable.
Applicants do not need to create a new application solely because the 28-day submission period has elapsed during the outage. Further information will be provided if any action is required once the Portal returns to service.
My employment permit is due for renewal. What should I do?
The Department recognises that some employment permit holders may be due to renew their permit while the Portal remains unavailable.
Applicants will not be disadvantaged where the temporary unavailability of the Portal prevents them from submitting a renewal application within the normal timeframe. Appropriate flexibility will be applied in such cases.
Applicants should retain any relevant documentation relating to their renewal application and monitor this page for further updates and guidance on submission arrangements.
Will the Portal outage automatically extend my employment permit or immigration permission?
No. The temporary unavailability of the Employment Permits Portal does not, in itself, extend the validity of an employment permit or alter any immigration permission granted by the relevant authorities.
The Department recognises that some permit holders may be unable to submit renewal applications while the Portal remains unavailable. Appropriate flexibility will be applied in respect of renewal applications affected by the outage, and applicants will not be disadvantaged where they are unable to submit an application within the normal timeframe due to the temporary unavailability of the Portal.
Applicants should continue to comply with any conditions attached to their employment permit or immigration permission and monitor this page for further updates. Additional guidance will be provided where any specific action is required.
What happens to Labour Market Needs Test advertising requirements affected by the outage?
The Department recognises that the temporary unavailability of the Portal may affect employers who are required to complete Labour Market Needs Test advertising requirements or submit evidence of compliance as part of an employment permit application.
Appropriate flexibility will be applied where the outage has affected an employer's ability to meet these requirements within the normal timeframe. Employers will not be disadvantaged solely because they were unable to submit an application or supporting documentation while the Portal was unavailable.
Employers should retain copies of all relevant advertising and supporting records, including details of publication dates and advertising periods, as these may be required when the Portal is restored or alternative submission arrangements are put in place.
Will I need to submit my application again when the Portal reopens?
Applications saved in draft, applications awaiting payment of the application fee and other information held on the system are expected to remain available when the Portal returns to service.
Applicants should not create a new application solely because the Portal is unavailable. If any action is required from applicants when the service is restored, the Department will provide further guidance.
Can I submit a new employment permit application by email while the Portal is temporarily unavailable?
At present, new employment permit applications cannot be submitted by email. The Employment Permits Online System is the Department's established channel for the submission of applications.
The Department is actively progressing alternative arrangements as part of its business continuity measures and will provide further information as soon as these arrangements are finalised.
Applicants should monitor this page for updates on the restoration of the Portal and details of any alternative submission arrangements that may become available.
How can I get a refund?
Applications that have already been submitted continue to be processed and applicants do not need to take any action at this time. Information on any circumstances in which a refund may be available will be provided where relevant.
How do I appeal my refusal?
The Department recognises that the Portal outage may affect applicants who wish to submit a review or appeal request. Appropriate flexibility will be applied where normal deadlines or processes have been affected by the temporary unavailability of the Portal. Further guidance on submitting reviews or appeals will be provided as soon as possible.
How can I provide additional documents relating to my application?
The Department recognises that some applicants may need to provide additional documentation while the Portal remains unavailable. Alternative arrangements are being developed and further guidance will be published as soon as possible. Applicants should retain all relevant documentation pending further instruction.
How can I cancel an employment permit application?
The Department is considering arrangements for requests that would normally be submitted through the Portal, including cancellation requests. Further guidance will be published as soon as possible. Applicants should monitor this page for updates.
What has happened to the Employment Permits Portal?
The Employment Permits Portal is temporarily unavailable following the identification of suspicious unauthorised activity on elements of the system. As a precautionary measure, the Department suspended access to the Portal to protect users and support a full investigation.
The Department continues to investigate the incident, undertake remediation work and carry out extensive security testing and assurance activities. The Portal will only be restored when the Department is satisfied that it is safe and secure to do so.
When will the Portal be back?
The Department is working to restore the Portal as a matter of priority. However, further investigation, security testing and independent assurance activities are required before the service can safely return to operation. The Portal will only be restored when the Department is satisfied that the necessary security and assurance measures have been completed.
What date will I be able to submit my application?
At present, the Department cannot provide a confirmed date for the resumption of application submissions. Further updates will be published as soon as information becomes available. Appropriate flexibility will be applied to ensure that applicants are not disadvantaged by the temporary unavailability of the Portal.
Has my personal information been accessed?
The Department is continuing to investigate the incident and assess the extent of any unauthorised access to information held on the Employment Permits Portal.
At this stage, it is not possible to determine definitively what information may have been accessed. The investigation remains ongoing and the Department will provide further updates as more information becomes available.
Should I be concerned about phishing emails or suspicious messages?
As a precaution, users should remain vigilant for suspicious emails, text messages or telephone calls relating to employment permits, Portal accounts, applications or payments.
Users should exercise caution when responding to unsolicited communications and should verify any requests for personal or financial information before taking action.
The Department will never ask users to disclose passwords or provide personal data by email or text message.
What should I do if I receive a suspicious email or message?
Do not click on any links, open attachments or provide personal, financial or account information in response to suspicious emails, text messages or telephone calls.
If you believe you have disclosed personal information or account credentials in response to a suspicious communication, you should take steps to secure your accounts and seek advice from your service provider.
If you have concerns that a suspicious communication may be related to this incident, you can contact the Department at dataqueries.permits@enterprise.gov.ie.