EU · Dublin

🇮🇪 Ireland

Practical relocation guide for Ireland — visas, housing, banking, healthcare, education and integration in one place.

Capital
Dublin
Currency
EUR
Language
English/Irish
Cost index
88/100
Pathways

Visa & residency options

Critical Skills Employment Permit

Salary ≥€38,000 + occupation on critical list; 2-year residency then Stamp 4.

General Employment Permit

Salary ≥€34,000; labour market test required.

Stamp 0 / Investor Programme

€1M+ enterprise investment or REIT.

Residency: Stamp 5 (long-term residence) after 5 years; naturalisation after 5.

Money

Tax & cost of living

Taxation

20%/40% with PRSI 4% + USC 0.5–8%. SARP regime: 30% deduction on income €100k–€1M for inbound execs.

Monthly essentials
  • Rent (1BR city): €1,800–€2,500
  • Meal out: €18
  • Transport pass: €100/mo Leap card
Money 2

Banking & business setup

Banking

AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, Revolut Ireland (now full banking licence). PPS + proof of address mandatory.

Business setup

Ltd company minimum capital €1, single director allowed (EEA resident or surety bond). ~€100 CRO registration. 12.5% corporate tax on trading profits — Europe's most competitive.

Lifestyle

Living in country

Housing

Dublin severely constrained — bidding wars common. Cork, Galway, Limerick more accessible. PPS number required for utilities.

Healthcare

Public HSE (free at point of use for many services) + private (VHI, Laya, Irish Life Health) for faster access.

Education

Free primary/secondary; €3,000 student contribution for EU/EEA universities incl. Trinity, UCD.

Employment

Big Tech (Meta, Google, Apple, Stripe, LinkedIn EMEA HQs in Dublin), pharma (Pfizer, J&J), finance (IFSC).

Ready to move to Ireland?