Moving to Ireland

After 8 years away, I finally returned home! Is this my final destination? I don’t know – I doubt it! Is it the right place for the next stage of my life - 100%! Ireland has always been home and always will be for me and many others. The great thing about Ireland is that you do not have to be born here to call it home. As I haven’t put any of my thoughts down on paper recently I thought I would share some reasons you may want to consider moving to Ireland and some things to be aware of before moving over.  

Reasons to consider moving to Ireland:

1)     Céad Mile Fáilte 

The official motto of Ireland is “Céad Mile Fáilte” or “a hundred thousand welcomes”. A history of travelling the world and not getting the best reception on occasions has really made the Irish people welcoming. Known for our friendly and helpful nature as well as our wit, the majority of Irish people will go out of their way to make you feel at home. 

2)     Booming Technology Industry 

As this info from the IDA will show, it is not exactly a secret that you can work for the leading technology businesses in the world without having to move to Silicon Valley. Ireland has remained extremely competitive in the tech sector, making it easier for you to work with the best industry minds from around the world. 

3)     English Speaking Country (high demand for additional EMEA languages)

Ireland is an English speaking country with an extremely high demand for EMEA based languages like German, French, Italian, Spanish, Nordic Languages and many more. If you speak one of these languages and are fluent in English you are in high demand in many sectors, really putting you in the driving seat of your career. 

4)     Outdoor Lifestyle – easily accessible country side, city breaks

Even if you are living in one of the busiest cities of Ireland you are usually less than 30 minutes from some of the most iconic and breath-taking scenery the country has to offer. From scenes made famous from movies and tv shows like the Cliffs of Moher (Harry Potter) and Skellig Michael (Star Wars) to great hikes and stunning views along the Kerry Way to the Burren, you really do have to go out of your way to miss it. 

5)     Something for everyone (music, nightlife, culture, rich history, sport, surfing)

Want to go for a day or night out? Easy. Ireland literally has something for everyone: a massive sporting culture with people following every type of sport, including our very own sports. (Warning: you may quickly become very loyal to your local county team!) Some of the best musicians and actors perform year-round in amazing venues. With such a rich history you can spend your days in museums or on tours of medieval or modern buildings. So if you want go surfing or just read a book in one of Europe’s largest in-city parks, we have a place for you to enjoy. 

6)     St Patrick’s Day and the ‘Craic’

No list would be complete without mentioning the day and term that is paramount to Ireland! Our patron saint day is so big it is celebrated across the world by millions and millions of people. The ‘Craic’ on the other hand is something you may glimpse in other places, but it has been brewed, refined and perfected in Ireland. A sense of goodwill, fun, humour and ability not to take ourselves, and indeed the rest of the world, too seriously!

I ran out of time to talk about our:

·        World class education

·        Neutrality

·         Police (Gardaí) do not carry firearms

·        The amazing literary greats from Stoker to Wilde

·        Evolving food scene

Things to know:

1)     PPS (Personal Public Service Number):

To work in Ireland you will need a PPS Number, which is a unique reference number. This number helps you access social welfare benefits, public services and other key government amenities in Ireland. Once you have this you will need to register your work with the Revenue office, quoting your new company’s number too. One thing to note is that it is not unusual for people, especially those struggling to get their PPS number, to be subject to emergency tax in the first few weeks. To prepare for this you may need to ensure you have money aside as a safety blanket. For more information go here: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/personal_public_service_number.html

To register for an appointment, go to www.mywelfare.ie. 

2)     Right to work in the Republic of Ireland:

The absolutely amazing thing about being in the EU means that it is easy for any citizen the EEA and Switzerland to come and work in Ireland. No work permit/visa needed! Unfortunately, in my opinion, it is not as easy for every person from around the world to come to Ireland. If you are from outside the EEA, Switzerland or not a citizen of this area you will generally need a work permit or/and visa sponsorship from a business to work in Ireland. This comes with the added cost to the business and a processing wait time that can sometimes hinder your search. On the plus side in the technology industry it can be easier to be eligible for a Critical Skills Work Permit as most of the skills and abilities that you possess are in demand. This Critical Skills Work Permit will entitle you, after 22 months with an employer, to a stamp 4 visa, making it much easier for you to move companies without restriction.

A common misconception is that if you are a student you will not need sponsorship to work in Ireland. Students are entitled to stay and will have no wait time for visa application (which is a plus) but will still require sponsorship, which again, in a very competitive graduate market, can sometimes be a hinder to your search. 

Breakdown of Stamp Information. For weekly immigration updates on Ireland check out Fragomen. For more information on this subject check this very helpful website.

3)     Bank Accounts

After you have your PPS Number you will hopefully be very keen to be paid. In Ireland there are a lot of options when it comes to bank accounts. The main thing to note when moving is that there are some key things that the bank will need to actually open up an account. The general things that I see on a day to day are:

·        Proof of Employment (easily provided by your HR team or employment contract)

·        Proof of Address (can be trickier if you have no permanent address)

·        ID (Passport would be my suggestion. Most banks won’t take your PPSN Card)

·        PPS Number or PPSN Card 

4)     Accommodation:

Finding accommodation right now in Ireland can be extremely tricky with the news updating regularly that we are having a “housing crisis”. But on the bright side, there are numerous apps, websites and listings to help you find a place to rent around the country. For information on renting, buying and your rights in Ireland you may find this helpful.

Depending on where you rent in Ireland, the prices can be particularly high, especially when compared with prices in other EEA countries but our minimum wage and average wage are also extremely competitive. P.S. You will most likely not live in a cottage!

5)     Health Care:

The main thing to know about the Irish Health Care system, the HSE, is that it is not a free service. To visit a GP, a hospital, dentist or any health service will cost you. You can alleviate the cost with things like health insurance, GP Visit Cards or the Drugs Payment Scheme (as someone who is long-term dependant on hormone replacement therapy, every 8-12 weeks this scheme really helps me save money). At the end of the tax year you can claim for some of your medical expenses back so make sure to keep those receipts. Great companies, like Dell, do usually offer Health Insurance as part of their overall package but be mindful of Benefit in Kind, which exists in Ireland.

So in summary, a lot of preparation and research is necessary before you make the move to Ireland, but once you do there is a lot waiting for you!

As always, the thoughts and ideas in this piece are my own (unfortunately!) and the information, images and content has been sourced from as reputable sources as I could find. I hope it is of some help!