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Moving to : Ireland

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Ireland, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• Work Permit 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Ireland 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Ireland 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Irish culture has deep traditional roots, warm hospitality,beautiful landscapes and not forgetting  Guinness. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal. They are a people who love life and everything about it.

Irish Culture
Foreign Office - Culture

Each area of Ireland will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Ireland you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Italy you are investigating.

UK citizens do not need a visa to land in Ireland. You are exempt from immigration control at the port of entry. You must obtain permission to remain within one month. You will need to go to your local Garda District Headquarters and register.

British Embassy - Arrival in Ireland.

Finding a job in Ireland should be relatively easy. It is Europe's fastest growing economy.  You do not need a work permit to obtain work in Ireland.  However it is possible to register with the FAS (training & employment authority) to look for a job once you arrive.

Register with FAS.

The growth of Ireland's economy over the last number of years has been the success story of Europe. An explosion in job opportunities has accompanied this growth. An estimated 200,000 workers have moved to Ireland since 2004.

4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Euro Jobs - Finding work in Ireland
Jobs Abroad
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

As an EU citizen you do not need a work permit to live and work in Ireland.

Useful link.. Working in Ireland.

If you are planning on going to Ireland and starting your own business, these sites may be of use to you:

Business Opportunities  
FAS - Employer
Doing Business

The establishment you choose should provide you with information regarding the enrolment process. Be sure to do everything well in advance of any possible deadlines. As an EU citizen you will NOT be charged fees for full-time undergraduate courses in state-run universities and Institutes of Technology. You may however have to pay a small amount for registration, exams etc. You may be eligible for a maintenance grant. Funding is not awarded where students already hold an undergraduate degree. 

Education - Studying in Ireland
Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School in Ireland
Dublin Colleges & Universities
Third level Education in Ireland

Although children are not obliged to attend school until 6 years old, 65% of 4 year olds and most 5 year olds are enrolled in the infant classes in primary schools in Ireland. 

Primary schools operate a 8 year programme, consisting of  two kindergarden years (Junior and Senior Infants), followed by classes 1 - 6.

Types of Primary School

The Irish primary education sector consists of state-funded primary schools, special schools and private primary schools. State funded schools include religious schools, non-denominational schools, multi denominational schools and Gaelscoileanna. For list of all primary schools - Click here

Pre-school and childcare
Curriculum in National Schools

If you are considering retiring to Ireland, then the following sites should be useful:

Retirement in Ireland  
Pension information
Retirement homes - Ireland  
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Ireland can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, these links will help.

Homes in Ireland - Estate Agents 
International Property - Ireland
Right Move - Property Website 

Be prepared to pay the highest rental prices in Dublin 2,4, and 6. Prices can range from 660 euro per month for a studio/bedsit, 850 euro for one-bed apartment, 1,200 for two-bed apartment. A 3-4 bed house in Dublin 8 can be from 1300 - 1700 euro per month. Lower rents and better availability can be found in West County Dublin.

UK NET Guide
Irish Homes - Renting
Property Abroad - Renting

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Removal Companies 

Private Health Insurance is very common in Ireland. Any EU national or "ordinary resident" is entitled to the following for free:

a) All in-patient public hospital services in public wards, including consultant services, subject to certain charges. There is a daily charge of 60 euro for public hospital accommodation, up to a maximum limit of 450 euro in any consecutive 12 months.

b) All other out-patient hospital services, including consultants. A&E treatment. If your doctor refers you its free, otherwise it costs 60 euro per visit.

c) Maternity & infant care services including the services of a GP during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth.

A visit to a GP will cost around 30 to 45 euro.

Health Services in Ireland
Health Insurance - Ireland 
NHS Guide
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance

You need to go to your nearest Health Centre and register with a doctor there.

If you qualify for a medical card for people on low income or whose circumstances enable them to qualify for one, then you need to contact your Local Health Office.

If you are in receipt of Sickness Benefit in the UK, you may be able to transfer payment to Ireland. Ask at your local Jobcentre, Jobcentre Plus office or Social Security office in the UK for more information.

Children under 16 and children attending Primary School can be referrred for dental treatment, from a Child Health Service or following a routine school visit. Primary school children are screened in 2nd,4th and 6th class and are referred for treatment if necessary to the local dental clinic.

Adults can get a  full list of Dentists from their Local Health Office.

Health Centres 
Local Health Offices
Dental Services in Ireland

For prescribed medicines you will pay for the actual cost of the drugs.You will be charged for repeat prescriptions, sick notes and vaccinations etc..

There is a limit of 85 euro per month of which a family is expected to pay. 

Drug Payment Scheme
GP fees in Ireland

Private medical insurance is a personal choice. Although not compulsory, many people do choose to have a private medical plan. As you have to pay for treatments anyway it's best to weight up the pro's and con's. 

 If you have medical expenditure in Ireland and are a taxpayer - you can get tax relief on all expenses - medicine, treatment (except dental)

There are three insurance providers in Ireland listed below:

VHI
Quinn Direct
Vivas

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account is easy enough. Banking is not completely free in Ireland - you still have to pay the 15 cent government tax on each cheque you write and a 40 euro stamp duty on credit cards.

Debit Cards - in Ireland there are Laser cards - issued by all the major banks (there is an annual government tax of €20 for each card).If you are not with a "fee free" bank - use cashback in shops on your Laser (debit) card - it will save you being charged at an ATM

Some UK  Building Societies  have offices in Ireland eg: Halifax. So check with your local branch.

Opening a Bank Account
Current Accounts

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on international banking.

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.

Sky is the most popular digital TV provider in Ireland.

Sky Digital

The most popular company for both Telephone and Internet is Eircom. Their website is:

Eircom

You might want to check out the government broadband site to find the best broadband service in your area.

Government - broadband companies

To run a television in Ireland is much the same as doing so in the UK. You will need a license which you can obtain from the local post office and then it's plug and go!

TV License

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

There are four different mobile phone options in Ireland. The main two, Vodafone and 02, account for 95%,. Meteor  has about 5% share of the market and "3" is a newcomer to the market dealing in contract only.

If you already have a contract with Vodafone or 02  contact them and find out if they can switch your contract to Ireland

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

O2 -Ireland
Vodafone - Ireland
Meteor
3 - Ireland

Deciding whether to take your car or not, is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. All cars/vehicles brought into Ireland (apart from temporary visits of less than 12 months) are subject to Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and must be registered with the Revenue Commissioners. The tax rates vary depending on engine size - but are around 25 % of the expected selling price.

People who have owned their vehicles abroad for more than 6 months and who are moving permanently to Ireland are exempt from VRT. But if you sell it within 12 months of arriving - you have to pay the tax.

Officially you have to register the car within 1 day of bringing it into Ireland. But there is some discretion that can be applied - i.e. in cases where a person might not have decided to stay permanently until they had been in Ireland for several months.  You will be required to provide proof of ownership, proof of living abroad - i.e bank statements, proof of address and date of arrival in Ireland. You will need proof of insurance  going back 6 months and proof of date of purchase.

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

UK car insurance will normally cover you to drive in Ireland for up to 30 days. Dont forget to inform them of when you intend to travel and ensure you have a "Green Card".

All cars over 4 years must have an annual NCT test (MOT) These are carried out at offical government sites.

All cars must display NCT, Tax and Insurance Disc's on their windscreen. 

Car Insurance
Government Site - Car Tax   
NCT

Animals coming to Ireland from the UK (or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) are not subject to  quarantine or passport requirements. In effect, there is a common travel zone between Ireland and the UK and dogs and cats can move freely within that zone provided they do not travel outside it.

Dog Licence -Post Office 
DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)
Control of Dogs in Ireland

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Ireland:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.