Moving to Ireland can be for any of myriad reasons. Statistics show that a move to Ireland is most common amongst UK experts and this is largely due to the reduced requirements they need to facilitate the migration, alongside minute geographical and cultural differences.

Irish people are amongst the friendliest in the world and apart from these, they have some incredibly beautiful scenery. These are some of the top reasons while the country continuously records a high number of expats moving in every year.

However, there are certain things you need to bear in mind once you make that decision to move to Ireland. As with every other country, there are requirements that are needed to be met before you are allowed to legally stay in a country. And like every other country, the requirements needed varies depending on the country you will be moving from.

If you are a UK citizen, then you do not need any visa as they share a common travel area. This just translates to the fact that citizens of both countries can easily travel between both places with little documentation required. And if you were wondering what the Brexit means for this ease of movement, then you have nothing to worry about. After Brexit, citizens still won’t need a visa to move between the countries.

However, if you are a citizen of other countries, you need to research about the traveling requirements for your country as it differs. For example, Americans do not need a visa to visit Ireland. But, they need to apply for one if they are planning to stay for a long period and work.

Australians and EU citizens also do not need a visa. However, unlike EU citizens, Australians need a work permit if they plan on staying to work. They may also be required to provide proof of funds just to show that they are capable of sustaining themselves comfortably during their stay.

Once the visa and other documentation have been sorted, then you need to start working on the other details of your move. To make it easier, I have made it into a list for you to check off. 

• Prepare Yourself For The Change In The Cost Of Living

The chance that the cost of living in Ireland is different from where you are moving from is very high. You will be moving to an entirely different place so you need to acquaint yourself with the change. To give you an idea of what you will be facing, here are some examples of the prices of things in Ireland;

1. 1 bedroom apartment in central Dublin: €1400
2. 1 bedroom apartment in Cork County (outside the city): €550
3. 3 bedroom house in central Dublin: €2100
4. Bus fare in the city centre: €2.75
5. Petrol (per litre): €1.36
6. Coffee from the shop: €3.00
7. Pint of beer: €5.00
8. Movie ticket: €8.00
9. Burger: €6.00
10. Milk (per litre): €1.05

Having this in mind, you can go ahead to plan your relocation without running the risk of getting bankrupt or stranded.

• Find places to eat and socialise

When moving to a new country, one of the challenges is also to meet new people and find places to eat or go for a coffee. It can feel lonely at first, but once you move in and explore the area you can find great restaurants with famous chefs at Square Meal IE. You can explore great Irish cuisine and meet new people whilst settling down in your new home. Especially, during the moving process if you still looking to purchase cooking equipment or still furnishing your house, you can just dine stress-free and also enjoy great Irish food.

• Open A Bank Account In Ireland

You will need a bank account in Ireland to ease your payments. To open an account in Ireland, you need to be a legal adult (18 years old), provide an ID and also proof of residence.

You do not necessarily have to be a resident of Ireland before you can open a bank account. Some of the banks allow the use of your address back in your home country but you need to research the particular bank you have chosen to be sure.

• Get A Job

As mentioned earlier, non-EU/EEA citizens who want to relocate and work in Ireland need to get a permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation. You can do more research on their website to know more about how to get the necessary documentation.

Not everyone would need to get the permit. For example, if you are relocating as a refugee or a postgraduate student. People on student visas generally have about 20 hours per week to work if they do not have a work permit.

Having a local Irish Bank account comes in handy now as some jobs will require it. Also, do not forget to apply for your Personal Public Service (PPS) number from the Department of Social Protection before you begin work.

With the economy having improved over the years, it is much easier for foreigners to get jobs in the country. Many companies have opened up shop in Ireland and you can easily get an English-speaking job by searching online.

• Get A Place To Call Home In Ireland

Accommodation is quite surplus both in and around the big cities. You also have the option of getting either a furnished place or unfurnished. With Dublin being the capital city, it has a good public transport system and thus, it is the popular destination for immigrants. This however also makes the price of houses to be on the high side.

Once you get a place, you must not forget to get insurance. This is quite important regardless of whether you are buying or renting a place. There are two major types of home insurance you can get; Homeowners Insurance and Rental Insurance.

The homeowner insurance covers the actual building and other associated buildings while the rental insurance only covers the tenants’ personal properties. The landlord is expected to have insured the building.

Having home insurance comes in pretty handy in the event of an accident. It also offers benefits like liability coverage, flood/damage insurance, general security, monetary value, and so much more. Check out this Irish Insurance Website to find out more information about the different house insurance policies.

• Make Arrangements For Your Healthcare

Although all residents of Ireland are entitled to free public healthcare, which between the two categories (full or limited eligibility for medical cards) depends on your access to means. There is also access to private medical care.

If you will prefer to have a regular doctor’s appointment, then you would need to get a general practitioner. You are free to pick out who you want as your GP. As a private patient, you will be charged a fee between €25 and 35 per visit.

You can always research online to get more information on the health services and local GPs around you.

Apart from the steps listed above, it will be to your advantage to also pick up the language if you haven’t already. Although not a lot of people understand or speak the language, it can always come in handy in some situations.

Also, do not forget to make friends so you do not get lonely and you need to make sure you have important contacts in Ireland in case of an emergency. To get the fire, ambulance, or police services in Ireland, you only need to dial 112 from a mobile or 999 from either a landline or a mobile.

Enjoy your stay!