Moving to Ireland – The Complete Guide

Posted on June 26, 2024 | Last Updated on September 25, 2024

Considering a move to Ireland, but asking yourself “What do I need to know before moving to Ireland?”.

With its friendly residents and lively pubs, it’s easy to see why plenty of foreigners are drawn to the Emerald Isle every year.

Some of the pros of living in Ireland are its location and nature. From the countries in Europe, Ireland is the one closest to North America.

An hour away from the UK, Ireland is also a great launching point for exploring the rest of Europe – Barcelona is only a two-hour flight and Rome – three hours. Ireland is also a stable member of the EU.

However, no place is perfect, and that includes Ireland. Just like in any other country, there are some cons, for example – the bad weather, the high cost of living and its healthcare system which is far from perfect.

In this complete manual, we’ll cover everything you need to know before you move to Ireland, including applying for visas, work permits and much more.

What are the benefits of moving to Ireland?

There are various reasons why expats should think about moving to Ireland. The truth is it’s a great expat destination.

Ireland always ranks well in many expat surveys and according to consultants ECA International Dublin as the world’s second-best city for US expats to live in.

Some of the benefits of moving to Ireland are the Irish culture, cuisine and of course the location.

Ireland is an excellent location for those who want to explore Europe. In less than two hours, expats can be exploring another diverse European country with rich history and culture.

Weather in Ireland

If you are moving there, you should expect a mild climate with plenty of rain showers.

The temperatures in the spring typically range from 8 to 15 degrees Celsius, while in the summer they are between 16-20C.

July and August are the hottest months, while the fall is soft with a lot of rainfall and temperatures between 14-18C, rarely exceeding 23C.

Winters are chilly, with temperatures ranging from 3-8C. Sometimes, the temperature can drop below freezing – but snow isn’t a common occurrence. Clothing-wise, make sure you’re prepared for anything by bringing an umbrella, jacket, and some waterproof shoes and clothes.

It’s not unusual to experience four seasons in one day!

Cost of living in Ireland

Wondering if Ireland is an expensive place to live? Well, it definitely is not the cheapest place to settle down.

On the contrary, even compared to most European countries, Ireland is notoriously expensive. It is considered more expensive than 93% of the countries in the world and is the third most expensive country in Western Europe.

If you want to live in a major city, like Dublin, the cost of living will be higher. Rent can start at €1,700 for a one-bedroom apartment and run as high as €2,400 for three-bedroom apartments. The estimated monthly costs for a family of four is around €3,300 without the rent. The estimated monthly costs for a single person is around €920 excluding rent.

In general, the cost of living in Ireland is slightly higher than in the USA.

Of course, large cities are more expensive than small towns, and the cost of living will depend on where you live and your lifestyle choices.

Healthcare in Ireland

You will find a lot of excellent practitioners and hospitals throughout the Emerald Isle. The Irish healthcare system includes the public health system and private health system option.

Ireland’s public healthcare system is managed by the Health Service Executive and provides services to EU/EEA or Swiss nationals and residents of Ireland. Residents can also purchase a private health insurance plan.

Ireland Visa Requirements

If you are a European Union passport holder you do not need a new visa in order to live and work in Ireland. If you are a non-EU citizen you will need a working visa.

If you want to travel for tourist purposes, you need to know that some nationalities need a visa, while others don’t. However, if you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below, you will need to get a tourist visa prior to landing in Ireland.

Countries that need a visa for Ireland:

Types of Visas

There are a number of different visa options to apply for – depending on your intentions – whether you plan to work temporarily or move to Ireland permanently.

You can take a look at all the visa types and work permits that Visa First could help you with.

How do I get an Irish visa?

When you are planning to move to another country, the visa application paperwork can often be a nuisance.

There are many factors to consider and the truth is if you’ve made a mistake on your visa application, it will be refused.

If you want to avoid tricky paperwork and save time from long queues in front of the embassy, you need to look for a reliable visa assistance partner.

This is where Visa First can help you!

Why choose Visa First?

• Our service is fast, reliable and affordable
• We have more than 16 years of experience
• We process more than 10,000 visas each year
• We will answer all your questions and you will have a dedicated account manager who will offer comprehensive solutions
• You will save time and won’t wait in line at the embassy

Employment in Ireland

The Irish economy is expected to grow modestly in 2024, around 1.2% according to the European Commission. This forecast is based on a number of factors, including an improvement in global trade, falling inflation, and a strong labor market. The unemployment rate is expected to remain low, at around 4.5%

Growing sectors for 2024 in which you can search for a job in Ireland:

• Accountancy and finance
• Science and pharmaceuticals
• Technology and creative design
• Language Jobs
• Engineering
• and more

The need for workers in the IT sector is growing. Some of the most renowned technology giants are stationed in Ireland, such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Twitter and more.

The minimum wage you get when you work in Ireland is €9.55 per hour. If you are younger than 20 years and have limited experience, you won’t get €9.55 per hour.

This is just the minimum wage and it is estimated that around 10% of the working women and men in Ireland are on it.

Check your eligibility to work

In Ireland, like many countries across the world, depending on your nationality, you have to get a work permit in order to work here.

For example, the Irish General Work Permit is a permit that allows a non-EU citizen to work legally in Ireland for an employer in a particular occupation. The employment permit is initially granted for up to two years and can be extended after that if needed.

In order to qualify, you need a job offer from an Irish employer. There is a requirement for the employer to have a minimum number of EEA nationals employed with the Irish entity. Exemptions may apply for start-ups.

You can only get a Work Permit for Ireland for certain occupations or salary levels:

• Whereby your remuneration is above €30,000. Irish Work Permits will only be considered for a very limited number of occupations below an annual salary of €30,000.
• There are a number of occupations for which work permit applications will not be considered.

If you want to save time and stress and avoid waiting in lines, Visa First can help you! We will boost your chances for a successful application and will deal with all the daunting documentation on your behalf.