Ireland’s meat processing and packing industry is one of the country’s major manufacturing sectors, employing thousands of people in slaughterhouses, boning halls, deboning plants, and packing lines. Major companies like ABP Food Group, Kepak Group, Dunleavy Meats and others regularly hire meat processing operatives, deboners, boning hall workers, and production staff. There are employers who will consider foreign workers and support visa or work permit sponsorship in 2026, provided the job meets Irish employment permit requirements.
🥩 What Meat Packing Jobs Involve
Typical roles in meat packing factories include:
🔹 Meat Processing Operative – cutting, trimming, and preparing meat products for packaging.
🔹 Deboner / Boning Hall Worker – removing bones and preparing meat according to specifications.
🔹 Production Line Worker – packing, labeling, and boxing finished products.
🔹 Quality Control / Hygiene Operative – ensuring food safety and sanitation in production areas.
These jobs are physically active and require adherence to strict food safety standards and factory procedures.
🛂 Visa Sponsorship & Work Permit Framework
Foreigners can work in Ireland only if they have the right employment permit. Employers in meat packing factories can support visa sponsorship by applying on your behalf for an Irish Employment Permit, usually under the General Employment Permit system.
Key Points About Irish Work Permits
🔹 A General Employment Permit is for jobs where there is a labour shortage and the employer can prove they can’t find a suitable Irish/EU worker.
🔹 For roles like meat processing operative or deboner, the minimum annual salary threshold for a General Employment Permit is typically around €30,000, though exceptions exist for occupations with lower pay ranges (such as meat processing) if properly justified.
🔹 Employers must carry out a Labour Market Needs Test showing they tried to hire locally first, before sponsoring a non-EU worker.
🔹 Once the permit is approved, you apply for an Irish Employment Visa at your nearest Irish embassy or consulate.
Because of these requirements, not all meat packing jobs automatically come with visa sponsorship — but many employers will support the application if they cannot find local staff.
📍 Where Jobs Are Available
Meat packing and processing roles are usually found in regions including:
📌 County Meath — plant operations for big processors.
📌 Galway & Mayo — meat processing factories with ongoing recruitment.
📌 County Kildare & Dublin area — general operative and production positions.
📌 Other counties with food production clusters such as Cork, Waterford.
All these areas have listings for meat processor and factory worker roles — often updated daily on Irish jobs sites.
Also Check: Dairy Farm Worker Jobs in Netherlands with Work Visa Sponsorship 2026
💼 Typical Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for a meat packing job in Ireland with visa sponsorship, candidates usually need:
✔ Valid passport and clear travel history.
✔ An employment contract with an Irish employer ready to sponsor your work permit application.
✔ Relevant factory experience (helpful for skilled roles like deboning).
✔ Good health and ability to perform physical tasks in a production environment.
✔ Language communication skills (basic to intermediate English) — important for safety and coordination.
💵 Salary Expectations
Salaries for meat packing and processing roles in Ireland often fall roughly within these ranges (subject to employer and region):
💶 Meat Processing Operative: approx. €14.79+ per hour (around €28,000-€32,000 annually in full-time terms).
💶 Skilled Deboner / Knife Operator: potentially higher pay depending on skills and certifications.
💶 Hygiene & General Operative: competitive rates with benefits for shift work.
🪜 How to Apply?
1. Prepare Your CV
Highlight any prior experience in meat processing, food factory work, hygiene safety or packaging.
2. Search Jobs on Irish Portals
Click below the Apply Now button or Look for postings with terms like visa sponsorship, work permit support, meat processing on sites such as IrishJobs.ie, LinkedIn, Indeed Ireland, and others.
3. Contact Employers
Apply directly to processing companies and ask if they support employment permit applications for non-EU workers.
4. Interview & Job Offer
If selected, you’ll receive an official job offer that the employer can use to begin the permit application.
5. Work Permit Application
Your employer applies for your work permit (General Employment Permit) with evidence of labour needs.
6. Visa Processing
Once the permit is approved, you apply for a long-stay employment visa at the Irish consulate in your home country.
7. Travel & Start Work
After approval, you travel to Ireland and begin your job under the sponsored employment permit.