Ireland

Citizens of Switzerland and EEA or EU countries don’t need a visa to enter Ireland, and there are also visa waiver programs for a number of other countries. For visits of up to 90 days, one can apply for a short-stay or multiple-entry visa.[1]

For longer stays and permanent settlement, expats will need a residence permit and a long-stay visa. They’re also required to register with immigration, after which a Certificate of Registration will be issued to indicate their legal presence in Ireland.[2]

Most expats need a work visa before earning income in Ireland. In order to get one, there needs to be an offer of employment. For this reason, many employers do much of the administration and paperwork for potential workers.[3]

[1] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/visa_requirements_for_entering_ireland.html

[2] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/rights_of_residence_in_ireland/registration_of_non_eea_nationals_in_ireland.html

[3] https://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/work-permits-ireland

In the more popular cities of Dublin and Cork, expats will find plenty of apartments and semi-detached houses. Naturally, rent gets cheaper the further out one goes from the city, with standalone housing available mostly in smaller villages and towns.[4]

Accommodation is usually furnished, with standards fairly good across the country. House hunting can be tough, with many choosing to enlist the help of a real estate agent.[5] While rent increases are listed in the lease agreement, there are certain areas, called Rent Pressure Zones, where increases are capped.[6]

Most landlords charge one month’s rent as a deposit. The tenant usually pays the water bill, while other utility costs (such as heating, electricity or gas) are subject to the agreement between the tenant and the landlord.[7]

[4] https://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/accommodation-ireland

[5] https://www.justlanded.com/english/Ireland/Ireland-Guide/Housing-Rentals/Introduction

[6] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/rent_increases.html

[7] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/tenants_rights_and_obligations.html

Children in Ireland must attend school from the age of six to 16. The public school system, which holds high standards, consists of primary education and second-level education, which is itself divided into junior and senior cycles.

There are four different types of schools in second-level education: secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools. Secondary schools exist under private ownership and vocational schools are run by the state, while both community schools and comprehensives are managed by composite management boards.[8]

Public school is free for both local and expat kids, and proves a popular choice with foreign parents. A number of international schools are on offer too, teaching curricula from all over the globe, including those of France, Germany and Japan, as well as the International Baccalaureate. Tuition fees are high, though, with a lot of competition for places.[9]

[8] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/the_irish_education_system/overview_of_the_irish_education_system.html

[9] https://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/education-and-schools-ireland

The weather in Ireland is quite temperate, meaning it’s neither too hot, nor too cold. It has an oceanic climate which is damp and generally cloudy. While Ireland does experience rain throughout the year, this doesn’t stop it from enjoying cool yet often sunny summers. Winters are colder, with temperatures occasionally dropping below freezing and accompanied by persistent rainfall. Ireland’s reputation as being a lush and green land isn’t for nothing.[10]

[10] https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/ireland

Nearly everybody in Ireland speaks English, with a small minority speaking Irish, the native language. A region with Irish being the primary language is called a Gaeltacht. While mostly used in ceremonial contexts, Irish enjoys a symbolic role in state affairs and is also the country’s first official language.[12]

[12] https://www.commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/ireland-guide

Irish food has evolved to use simple and available ingredients, partly due to the country’s history of being a poor and working class population. Rich and hearty dishes almost always make use of meat of some kind, as well as potatoes and cabbage, with stews being commonplace.[13]

Some local favorites include champ, which is mashed potato with spring onions, and boxty, an Irish potato pancake. Coddle is a broth that makes uses of leftover pork and potatoes, sometimes with an added touch of barley or Guinness.

Restaurants are expensive, so most make use of the wide prevalence of supermarkets and farmers markets. Most pubs offer lunches of typically substantial stews and carvery dishes, so that might be the best bet for expats looking for a cheap bite to eat. If price isn’t an issue, Ireland has a varied selection of eateries, from old-school hotels to trendy bistros and quaint cafes to upmarket fine dining establishments.[14]

[13] https://wikitravel.org/en/Ireland#Eatc

[14] https://www.frommers.com/destinations/ireland/tips-on-dining

As mentioned, pubs are an integral part of Irish life and society. Home to Irish whiskey (the Irish spell it with an “e”) and the dark, unmistakable Guinness stout, there’s a strong drinking culture and identity present in the country, with ales, ciders and lagers all popular choices. And, just like its neighbors across the Celtic Sea, tea is consumed en masse.[15]

[15] https://wikitravel.org/en/Ireland#Eat

Ireland’s public holidays mainly celebrate special days of national or religious significance. The religious occasions are based on the dominant Catholic faith. Bank holidays, such as those found in May, June, August and October, hold no particular significance. Schools, banks and companies are usually closed on these days.[16]

[16] https://publicholidays.ie/

For landlines, eir owns a huge majority of the market, with Vodafone next in line, and its line rental is some of the most expensive in Europe.[17] eir offers a minimum six-month contract but its coverage is excellent and clear while its service is efficient.

Both prepaid and contract packages are available when it comes to signing up with a mobile network. The three main service providers are also the fastest: eir, Three and Vodafone. Other options include iD, Lycamobile, Tesco Mobile and Virgin Mobile. All offer competitive rates and packages.[18]

[17] https://www.justlanded.com/english/Ireland/Ireland-Guide/Telephone-Internet/Getting-connected

[18] https://switcher.ie/mobiles/guides/switching-mobiles/best-mobile-phone-coverage-in-ireland/

Vodafone, Digiweb and Virgin Media Ireland provide home broadband services, with Virgin Media Ireland, Sky, Pure Telecom and Magnet, among others, all having upgraded to offer the fast speeds of fiber optic cable. Companies offering mobile broadband are eir Mobile, Vodafone and Three.[19]

[19] https://switcher.ie/broadband/guides/broadband/what-is-an-internet-provider/

While other providers operate in Ireland, An Post functions as the country’s universal postal service and is considered a reliable choice. Aside from regular mail and parcel delivery, An Post offers express post, passport express and courier post[20].

[20] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/consumer_affairs/telecommunications_and_postal_services/postal_services_in_ireland.html

Despite troubles in many European markets, Ireland’s economy has experienced healthy growth in recent years. Sectors experiencing the biggest growth include finance, digital marketing, pharmaceuticals, construction and technology.[21] The information technology industry is booming, acting as perhaps the greatest draw for job-seeking expats, with tech giants like Google, Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, Facebook and Twitter all basing their European headquarters in Dublin.[22]

[21] https://cpljobs.com/ie/

[22] https://www.prospects.ac.uk/jobs-and-work-experience/working-abroad/work-in-ireland

Income tax is charged at 20% up to a certain amount, with anything else earned then being charged at 40%.[23] Non-residents pay tax only on local income while residents pay tax on both local and international income. Expats are residents for tax purposes if they stay in Ireland for 183 days or more in a year or 280 days or more in two consecutive years.[24]

[23] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/tax/income_tax/how_your_tax_is_calculated.html

[24] http://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/banking-money-and-taxes-ireland

For those who enjoy the clouds and the rain, lush Ireland might be the perfect place to end an innings. Expats retiring to Ireland must prove that they have health insurance and sufficient resources to support themselves. This is particularly important when it comes to the housing market, as accommodation isn’t cheap, regardless whether one is renting or buying.[25] Indeed, according to Numbeo, Ireland is ranked as the 15^th most expensive country in which to live.[26]

[25] https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/retiring_to_ireland.html

[26] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/maps-and-graphics/mapped-the-cheapest-and-most-expensive-countries-to-live-in/

Business etiquette in Ireland isn’t much different from most Western countries. Informal and good-natured, the Irish usually move on quickly to first names. Using one’s own titles regularly could be interpreted as boasting.[27] Greetings in the corporate world reflect those in everyday society, with handshakes the norm across all genders and positions.

While business hierarchies retain a traditional top-down structure, most people don’t appreciate overt displays of superiority. Arrogance and bravado are looked down upon, with both maligned as rude and suspicious.

Don’t chat about religion or politics, and take particular care not to make the mistake of referring to Ireland as part of the United Kingdom. Instead, focus on building personal relationships by making small talk about sport and culture. Expect these conversations to happen in casual settings, such as on the golf course, and in cafes, coffee shops or pubs.

In general, punctuality is pretty relaxed in the business environment. But to avoid making bad impressions and to show respect, expats should always make sure to be on time. Lastly, gift giving is not part of Irish corporate culture, but a small gift is appreciated if invited over for dinner.[28]

[27] https://www.communicaid.com/country/ireland/

[28] https://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/doing-business-ireland

As a result of scattered rural communities, Ireland’s road system is large, well-developed and safe. While drivers are polite, newcomers may have to navigate very narrow roads bordered by thick hedgerows as they travel further into the countryside. A foreign driving license lasts for 12 months, after which expats must apply for an Irish one.[29]

In major cities, cars aren’t needed. The public transport systems are more than adequate, with trains and buses making commuting easy in places like Cork and Limerick. This is naturally the case for Dublin, too, although it also enjoys a functioning tram system. Taxis are quite expensive, with ride-hailing applications like Uber and MyTaxi providing more competitive rates.[30]

There is also the DART in Dublin, a rail system that runs along the city’s coast and city center. It covers an entire distance of 53km (33 miles) and serves 31 stations.[31]

[29] https://www.expatarrivals.com/europe/ireland/transport-and-driving-ireland

[30] https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/transport/getting-around/local-transport

[31] https://www.irishrail.ie/about-us/dart-commuter

The official currency is the Euro (EUR), which is divided into 100 cents.

Money is available in the following denominations:

• Notes: EUR 5, EUR 10, EUR 20, EUR 50 and EUR 100
• Coins: 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c and 50c, and EUR 1 and EUR 2

The standards and infrastructures of banking in Ireland are good, replete with efficient automated services, internet banking and fairly favorable charge rates compared to the rest of Europe.

Opening an account and managing it is simple, with customers requiring photographic identification and proof of address. The latter can be in the form of a letter from an employer confirming one’s residence in Ireland. Some of the biggest banks in Ireland include Bank of Ireland, Allied Irish Bank, KBC Bank and Ulster Bank.[32]

Banks often close on weekends, with standard opening hours during the week being 9.30am to 4pm.[33]

[32] https://techlifeireland.com/irish-society/banking-and-finance/

[33] https://www.justlanded.com/english/Ireland/Ireland-Guide/Money/Banks

As is usually the case around the world, accommodation closer to the city centers in Ireland sees rent and property prices sky rocket. Because of the high prices, most people choose to rent. Thankfully, this burden on the bank account is offset by a brilliant public school system, free for both locals and expats. Tuition fees at international schools remain very high, however.

Grocery prices fluctuate depending on one’s location. But if one is smart about where they shop, food shouldn’t be a problem. Look for local, seasonal produce instead of browsing the aisles of high-end supermarkets. Public healthcare is free or subsidized. Yet expats mostly still choose private healthcare, meaning they will need to invest in healthcare insurance to cover high fees.

Eating out is another matter, with maintaining a social life and experiencing city entertainment quite tough on the budget.