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Recruitment fees in Ireland: what the law says

An employer in Ireland can't make an employment permit holder pay for their recruitment or their permit, and can't keep their passport. An employment agency needs a licence and can't charge you just for agreeing to look for work.

This is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; the linked official text is the authority. Sources checked 25 October 2026.

The law

“An employer shall not make any deductions from the remuneration of, or seek to recover from, the holder of the employment permit concerned any charge, fee or expense arising out of or concerning one or more of the following: …”

Employment Permits Act 2024, section 55(1), Law Reform Commission, Revised Acts (opens in new tab)

The list that follows covers the permit application and renewal, your recruitment for the job, and clawing back travel expenses the employer paid you for taking up the job. Breaking it is an offence (section 55(4)).

“Neither a person referred to in subsection (1) nor a person acting on his or her behalf shall keep any personal document belonging to a holder referred to in that subsection.”

Employment Permits Act 2024, section 55(2) and (5), Law Reform Commission, Revised Acts (opens in new tab)

“Personal document” includes your passport, identity card, driving licence, bank documents, travel documents and documents about your qualifications or experience.

“A person shall not carry on the business of an employment agency except under and in accordance with a licence under this Act.”

Employment Agency Act 1971, section 2, Law Reform Commission, Revised Acts (opens in new tab)

A recruitment agency placing people in jobs in Ireland needs a licence.

“A person carrying on the business of an employment agency shall not charge any fee solely for agreeing to seek employment for another person …”

Employment Agency Act 1971, section 7(2), Law Reform Commission, Revised Acts (opens in new tab)

An agency can't charge you for putting you on its books or for agreeing to look for a job for you.

What the law does and doesn't cover

  • Section 55 binds the employer that holds or applies for your employment permit (and anyone acting for it). It is about recovering costs from you, including through deductions from your pay.
  • Section 7(1) of the Act caps an agency's fees and expenses at a scale approved by the Minister; it doesn't say who pays them.
  • Separately from the Act, the WRC's licence application asks every agency for “A copy of your ‘Statement of Fees’ – stating that you will never charge a candidate a fee.” WRC: employment agency licence FAQ (opens in new tab)
  • Some costs are yours and are paid to official bodies, not to a recruiter: for example your visa application, your professional registration (such as with the NMBI or the Medical Council) and an English test. Check the amount on the official website and pay there.

6 red flags of a recruitment scam

  1. A “processing” or “placement” fee to secure the job

    Paying a recruiter or employer for a job offer or for sponsorship is the classic scam. The employer's own recruitment, permit or sponsorship costs can't be passed on to you. Some visa costs are yours, such as a visa application charge; pay those only to the government, on its official website.

    The law: Employment Permits Act 2024, s.55(1); Employment Agency Act 1971, s.7(2)

  2. Payment to a personal account, a money-transfer app or crypto

    Government fees are paid to the government, on its own website or office. A request to send money to a person, or by gift card or crypto, is a scam.

  3. A job offer without an interview

    Real employers check who they hire: an interview, your registration and references. An offer that arrives straight after you send a CV, or in a group chat, is a warning sign.

  4. Pressure to decide or pay today

    “Only two places left”, “the visa quota closes tonight”. Pressure is there to stop you checking. A real offer survives a day for you to verify the employer.

  5. A recruiter on Gmail, WhatsApp or Telegram only

    Check that the email domain matches the employer's own website and look the employer up yourself. Where the country licenses recruiters, ask for the licence and check it with the regulator.

    The law: Employment Agency Act 1971, s.2

  6. A request for your original passport or certificates

    Nobody needs your original passport to offer you a job. Share a copy only after you have verified the employer, and keep the originals.

    The law: Employment Permits Act 2024, s.55(2)

How to report

If you are outside the country, you can also tell the job board or site where you found the offer, and the police where you live.