A Guide On moving to Ireland in 2025
Leaving your country of birth and relocating to another country to begin a new life is both exciting and anxiety inducing at the same time. The bureaucratic red tape feels endless and the sheer magnitude of things to remember is daunting.
I remember the uncertainty involved in moving from South Africa to Dublin, Ireland. I knew that I wanted to come to Ireland, but I had no clue which steps to take first. Fortunately, for you, I will provide a comprehensive description of what needs to be done in the hopes of making this transition a little less nerve-racking for you.
Step 1: Obtaining an Appropriate Visa
Before you can legally step foot on Irish soil, one needs to apply for, and obtain, the correct Visa.
If you have managed to land a job offer in Ireland, then you can apply for a General Employment Permit. This requires you to find employment in Ireland that offers a minimum salary of €34,000 based on a 39-hour week.
Exceptions are made for certain vocations. Say you are a horticulture worker or a meat processing operative, the minimum annual remuneration is €30,000 or a minimum hourly rate of remuneration €14.79 based on a 39-hour week.
To protect job opportunities of Irish and EEA nationals first, employers must satisfy a Labour Market Needs Test before a General Employment Permit or Contract for Services Employment Permit can be issued to a non-EEA national.
If you are a highly sought after professional in your respective field and there happens to be a shortage of the professionals in Ireland, you will apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. This Visa covers vocations in fields such as IT, engineering, and healthcare.
If your skills have been identified as being in short supply in Ireland, you are not required to take the Labour Market Needs Test.
If your spouse receives a Critical Skills Employment Permit, you may apply for a Dependant/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit permission to reside in this State on Stamp 1 Conditions. This allows direct access to the labor market without the need to obtain an employment permit.
A dependent of a Critical Skills Employment Permit Holder will be issued a Stamp 3 immigration permission. A Stamp 3 permission does not automatically allow a foreign national to work. However, if a Stamp 3 holder that is accompanying the Critical Skills Permit Holder as a dependant can apply for an Employment Permit, which allows them to work.
If you wish to further your education in Ireland, you may apply for a Long Term Study Visa for a course that is longer than 3 months.
To check for your eligibility for the long term study visa, please click here.
Once you have identified which Visa you need to apply for, the next step is to gather up the relevant documentation for your application. This can be done on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website. This documentation normally includes proof of employment or acceptance to study at an educational institution, finances, travel insurance, etc.
Cost of Living
If you settle in a new country, an essential consideration to take in is the cost of living.
Statistics from Eurostat show that cost of living prices in Ireland are 42% higher than the average for the EU, making it the second most expensive. Denmark is the most expensive, with cost of living being 43% higher than the EU average.
Probably the biggest expense you will encounter in Ireland is housing, especially in Dublin.
Ireland itself is in the midst of a housing crisis. It stems from a continual underinvestment in the housing sector. Among the EU 14 countries, Ireland’s investment in housing has been the lowest. This has resulted in a substantial housing deficit, which the Housing Commission estimates that the underlying shortage ranges from 212,500 to 256,000 homes based on the 2022 census figures.
Securing an apartment can be expensive. A single bedroom apartment can easily cost you anywhere from €1,500 to €2,500, depending on the area you are renting in.
If you plan to live in other cities, such as Galway or Cork, the rent will be slightly lower. An apartment in Galway or Cork will cost you €1,200 to €1,800.
The further you move away from the lights of the big cities, the less your housing is going to cost you. In some rural areas, you can find a single room apartment from about €800.
Don’t forget utilities, such as electricity, heating, and water. This can add an additional cost of about €150 – €300. This varies depending on your lifestyle. If you are frugal you may cut the cost slightly.
For Internet, there are a number of providers you can sign up to. Sky is currently offering 1gb broadband for €30 p/m. Other providers offer packages starting at similar rates.
The average person will pay €150 – €350 per month for groceries. Dining out can be pricey. A main course in restaurants can cost anywhere between €15-€40. Again, this price can vary depending on the establishment you eat at.
Health care is a very important consideration to make. While Ireland does have a public health care infrastructure in place, waiting times can be long. If you can afford it, private health insurance might be the best option to ensure that you get the best health care available. The price is dependent on the policy you choose. A comprehensive policy could cost up to €2500 annually.
Babylon Radio has additional information regarding housing:
Finding Employment
Certain sectors of Ireland’s job market are teeming with employment opportunities. Information technology, finance, and pharmaceuticals are booming. Ireland also offers a low corporate tax rate, which has resulted in many multinational corporations setting up headquarters here. This has created many fruitful job opportunities for immigrants.
Before coming to Ireland, you may have to verify if your qualifications are recognized by Irish authorities, especially if your profession is regulated. The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) will help you verify if your qualifications are within the Irish standard.
I came to Ireland to further my education. After completing my degree, I saw that there were multiple avenues for job seekers to find employment.
There are numerous job portal sites, such as Indeed, Jobs.ie, and LinkedIn. If you require some professional help to find your dream job, there are a number of recruitment agencies, such as Hays, Sigmar Recruitment, TalentHub etc.
The Irish Education System
The education system in Ireland is The Irish education system is divided into 3 levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
If your child is aged 4 to 12, they will fall into the Primary level. From ages 12 to 18, they will probably be at the secondary level. This involves getting a Junior Certificate and sitting the Leaving Certificate Exams.
The tertiary level is essentially college or university. There are several prestigious institutions, such as the world renowned Trinity College and University College Dublin. There are also private tertiary level institutions to choose from, such as Griffith College.
Assimilating Into Irish Society
The Irish have a reputation for being warm, welcoming, and sharp witted. However, their weather is less hospitable.
I come from Johannesburg, South Africa, a country that is famous for its pleasant climate. Arriving in Dublin in September was a jarring experience. It was cold, wet, and windy. Ireland’s weather is generally mild, but the prolonged periods of overcast skies and drizzle can dampen even the biggest optimist’s mood.
The temperatures are not extreme. In winter, the temperature varies from 0°C to 8°C, while summers are pleasant with temperatures sitting between 15°C and 20°C.
If you are feeling homesick, there are various community and support networks. Most of these communities can be found on social media. They can help you assimilate faster. Members that have been in Ireland for a while can be valuable sources of information to newcomers.
Those coming to Ireland with limited English may find the transition a bit more challenging. There are a number of English language schools available to cater to beginners and more advanced individuals. Dublin has ULearn, Everest Language School, and Castleforbes College English School.
While English is the most spoken language in Ireland, Irish (Gaeilge) is also an official language. Ireland is very proud of its roots and much effort is put into the preservation of its history and culture. While it is not essential to learn Gaeilge, it may stand you in good stead to learn a few words and phrases.
Access to Health Services
As mentioned earlier, public healthcare is available for all the residents of Ireland, but due to long waiting periods, people with enough money tend to pay for medical insurance to access private health care.
The same applies for mental health services. The Health Service Executive (HSE) offers public mental health services and support. Again, long waiting periods tend to encourage people to pay for private services.
Babylon Radio published an article which documented immigrants’ experiences in public Irish A&E:
Babylon Radio also has detailed information regarding:
- Ambulance and Transport Services
- Emergency Health Services
- GP: Visit Card-Medical Card
- Health Insurance
- Health Services
- Health System
- Hospitals
Banking and Tax
One of the first things you will most likely do when arriving in Ireland is opening an Irish bank account. There are a number of banks for you to choose from. Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Banks (AIB), and Permanent TSB, are the largest and most utilized banks in Ireland.
If you are working and earning money in Ireland, it is crucial that you understand your tax obligations. Nearly all income is taxable, also known as being liable to tax. Tax is charged as a percentage of your income (the rate of tax).
Babylon Radio has numerous pages related to tax in Ireland:
- Capital Gains Tax
- Tax on Savings and Investments
- Value Added Tax
- Income Tax
- Moving Country and Taxation
- Pension
- Personal Finance
- Loans
- Debts
Understanding Your Rights
When you enter Ireland as an immigrant, you have rights under Irish law. As discussed earlier, you have the right to access health care services and support. You also have employment protections and anti-discrimination laws.
Babylon Radio has a number of pages relating to legal matters and rights:
Citizenship
Permanency, or long-term residency, means you have permission to stay in Ireland for an extended period with the right to work, study and live. However, this does not grant you all the rights and support systems Irish citizens enjoy.
To enjoy all the rights, entitlements, and supports that all Irish people enjoy, you must obtain citizenship. Once you are granted citizenship, you can apply for an Irish passport, enjoy the right to vote in Irish elections, and have access to all State support services.
There are a number of ways to obtain Irish citizenship:
Citizenship through Birth – People born in Ireland before 1st January 2005 are automatically entitled to citizenship. After this date, one or more of the child’s parents must have citizenship at the time of the birth of the child, or have a legal right of residence in the State for three of the four years prior to the birth of the child. A child may also automatically get Irish citizenship if one of the parents is a British citizen or one of the parents is a declared refugee in the State.
Citizenship Through Family – if you were born outside Ireland and your parents or grandparents are Irish citizens, provided your grandparents were born in Ireland, you may apply for Irish citizenship.
Since this article is written for those born outside of Ireland and the EU, you will be interested in obtaining citizenship through time spent in Ireland.
To apply for citizenship one must fulfil the residency requirements for time spent legally living in Ireland can apply for citizenship. To obtain citizenship, you must have five years of legal residence in the State to qualify.
If you marry an Irish citizen or you obtain refugee status you can apply after three years. For an adult to apply for naturalisation by completing the Form 8 available on the INIS website. The application fee is €175 and if successful a further €950 must be paid to get your Certificate of Naturalisation. The €950 fee could be scrapped if you achieve refugee status. Applications can take 6 to 12 months to process.
Parents that are naturalised can apply for their children by completing Form 9 on the INIS website. Applications cost €175 and if successful a €200 fee is required to obtain the Certificate of Naturalisation.
If you are granted citizenship, you will receive an invite to a Citizenship Ceremony, where you will swear an oath of fidelity to the State. Once you obtain your Certificate of Naturalisation, you will be able to apply for an Irish passport.
If citizenship doesn’t interest you, you may qualify for long term residence. This grants permission to reside in Ireland for five years, if for example you have been on a Stamp 1 employment permit or a dependent of the permit holder for a period of five consecutive years. If you have legally resided in Ireland for eight years or more years, you may qualify for stamp 5, permission to remain without condition as to time.
Enjoy Your Stay
While it seems like a lot, once you begin the process of settling into Ireland it all comes together like pieces of a puzzle. It is remarkable how quickly you will feel at home. I remember the first few months were daunting. Even simple exercises, like catching a bus, induced feelings of anxiety. After a few months, It felt like second nature.
If you are struggling to settle in, reach out to support communities on social media. The people in these groups can relate to what you are experiencing and will be happy to help.
There are so many opportunities here in Ireland which offer both tangible and intangible rewards. Coming here may just be the start to a whole new life.
If you feel that this article has omitted information that may prove valuable to those that are immigrating to Ireland, please leave a comment so that we can make this guide as comprehensive as possible.
