With the new academic year ahead and the re-opening of the Irish economy from COVID restriction, many are seeking to travel to Ireland in the coming months. If you thinking about moving to study or work in reland, there are some things you should consider:
Employment Permit and Visa
Accommodation and Rent
Banking
Taxation
Transport
Cost of Living
Healthcare, Transport, Weather, Education etc.
Employment Permit and Visa
If you want to work in Ireland, the first step is to obtain a job offer in a company in Ireland. The employer needs to agree to support you in the application. For details of the list of employment, permits see here.
Many candidates who are travelling for employment or study, will require to apply for an entry visa to enter Ireland. You can check if you need an Irish visa here. The entry visa application is made at your nearest Irish embassy or consulate. Once you enter Ireland, you will need to visit the local immigration office to obtain your residence permit or IRP card.
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Ireland can be competitive. It is best to give yourself as much time as possible when searching for suitable housing. Generally, the procedure involves
Finding a suitable place online (recommended website is Daft.ie)
Arrange a viewing with the landlord or the property agent
Provide work references and ID.
Sign the contract and pay the deposit.
Settle up payment plans and utilities.
For anyone who wants to relocate to Dublin, we provide direct assistance in sourcing accommodation from beginning to end, so you can have a home when you arrive. As accommodation is very competitive in Dublin, there are rising cases of tenancy frauds and scams. These cases involve fake property advertisements scam potential tenants for deposit money. Please be aware.
Rental Price:
There are significant differences in prices depending on location. Generally, more central locations with comprehensive transport facilities (bus/Luas/train) are more expensive.
Shared House (Central Dublin) = €500 – €700
Shared House (Outside Central Dublin) = €350 – €600
One Bed Apartment (Central) = €1,300 – €1,800
One Bed Apartment (Outside Central Dublin) = €1,200 – €1,500
Two Bed Apartment (Central) = €1,700 – €2,200
Two Bed Apartment (Outside Central Dublin) = €1,400 – €1,800
Utilities
In most cases, your utility bills are separate from your rent. Here is a list of utility bills you will generally have to pay. Prices may vary depending on your usage and the supplier. Your landlord/agent may be able to give you a rough idea of the average bills.
Electricity / Gas
Water
Bins (usually covered in apartment complexes)
Internet
Mobile Phone Plan
Bank Accounts
Setting up a bank account is one of the first things you should set up when you arrive in Ireland. You will need it in order to be paid by your employer and to pay rent/bills etc.
The most popular banks in Ireland are:
In order to open a bank account, you will generally need the following documents:
Photographic ID (Passport / Irish or UK Driver’s Licence)
Proof of address (Utility bill from past 6 months, letter from Revenue or letter from a government body)
The proof of address is an official letter that is addressed to your name and has your address on it. Generally, the proof of address could cause a problem for some people who don't yet have any official letters. This is why we would recommend first apply for your PPS Number. When you receive your PPSN in the post, this will be a valid proof of address. Alternative, when you register your Revenue online account, you will receive a temporary passcode in a letter. This is also a valid proof of address. See below for details.
Tax Number (PPS Number)
When you move to Ireland you will be required to apply for a Tax Number (PPS Number). You may be able to start working without this number however it is not recommended as you will be taxed at a higher rate (Up to 50%) without it. You can however claim this tax back once you have obtained your PPS Number.
To apply for your PPSN, you will need the following:
Valid passport (Irish citizens must also produce a birth certificate)
Proof of address (Utility bill, bank statement, official government letter, lease or tenancy agreement, verifiable employer letter)
The reason why you need a PPSN.
To apply for a PPSN, follow instructions hehttps://www.gov.ie/en/service/12e6de-get-a-personal-public-service-pps-number/re.
Once your PPSN is approved, it will be posted to you in a letter. It is recommended that you use it to register your Revenue online account, so you can manage your tax affairs online. When you register for your Revenue online account, you will receive a temporary passcode in a letter to log in for the first time. When you receive this, you can use it to set your own password, for future login.
Tax Rates Calculation Based on 2017:
Tax rates can vary year on year and it is possible to review an in-depth tax guide for 2017 by following the below link – https://www2.deloitte.com/ie/en/pages/tax/articles/moving-to-ireland-tax-guide.html
Take-Home Pay 2017: (based on a single employee, no children, under age 65
Source: http://services.deloitte.ie/tc/
Annual Gross Income Net Monthly Income Annual Net Salary
€40,000 €2,598 €31,170
€50,000 €3,022 €36,017
€60,000 €3,448 €41,370
€70,000 €3,872 €46,470
€80,000 €4,273 €51,271
Cost of Living
Some details below regarding the cost of living in Dublin / Ireland. Again, important to note that these values are based on averages and it is good to research the different amenities in the area you choose to live in to gauge a more accurate representation of cost for different things.
You can also use the below cost comparison website as a guide to give you a ballpark estimation of differences in cost of living between different EU cities.
Item Average CostRange
Meal (Inexpensive) €15.00 €10.00 – €20.00
Meal For 2 (Mid Range) €60.00 €40.00 – €70.00
Draft Beer €5.00 €4.50 – €5.50
Imported Beer €5.00 €4.00 – €5.50
Americano €2.30 €2.00 – €3.20
Milk (1L) €1.00 €0.75 – €1.50
Bread €1.50 €0.99 – €2.00
Rice €1.49 €1.00 – €2.50
Chicken Breast (1kg) €8.59 €6.30 – €10.50
Transport:
Dublin has some good transport links within the city and connecting to other locations around Ireland. You can purchase a Leap Card for 5 euro in most newsagents or online for use on all public transport systems (listed below) at a reduced fare. If you choose not to buy a leap card you will be required to pay your fare in coins (buses will not accept banknotes).
For more information on fares and monthly / weekly/yearly tickets, please see below sites –
Dublin Bus: https://www.dublinbus.ie/
Trains / DARTs: http://www.irishrail.ie/
Luas: http://www.luas.ie/
Public Healthcare:
EU/EEA citizens or Swiss nationals, along with Irish residents are entitled to the same level of healthcare as Irish citizens. Depending on income, you may be eligible for medical care, which entitles you to a full range of medical treatments and services at no cost.
If you are not an EU/EEA citizen or Swiss national you will be entitled to a listed number of treatments and services and will be required to pay the remainder.
Private Healthcare:
In addition to the public healthcare system, you can avail of private healthcare services from different healthcare providers (some of the most popular ones are listed below). There are different packages at a range of different costs available to you so make sure to shop around in order to get the best package to suit your needs. Some employers may cover all / a proportion of your private healthcare as an added benefit.
Popular Health Insurance Providers:
Laya Healthcare
Aviva
VHI
Irish Life Health
At Future Direct, we specialise in all Irish immigration matters and provide a suite of services to help our clients who wish to relocate to Ireland for employment or study. If you are interested in our service, do not hesitate to call us today at +353 872400433 or email info@futuredirect.ie.