Living abroad in Ireland for a year or longer can be one of the most memorable experiences in your life. During your time living in Ireland as an expat, whether you are studying for a degree, working abroad, or retiring, you will see Ireland is precisely the wonder you thought it would be (and more). And the great thing is, Ireland is an outstanding place to study, work, and retire (because it happens to be the perfect blend of history, culture, excitement, and the modern).
Or, as Irish dramatist Lady Gregory once said, “I feel more and more the time wasted that is not spent in Ireland.”
We feel inclined to agree.
5 FAQs about living in Ireland
1. Can I move to Ireland?
Everyone wants to know how to live abroad in Ireland. The truth is, you can move to Ireland…as long as you are equipped with the proper documentation. However, as a non-EU/EEA national, you will need a visa to enter and stay in Ireland.
Can U.S. citizens move to Ireland? Although not part of the EU/EEA, citizens of the United States are still exempt from visa requirements for up to three months. To stay beyond these 90 days, you need to request permission from Irish officials to remain in Ireland for study, work, or retirement.
2. Can I work in Ireland as a U.S. citizen?
As a U.S. citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Ireland; however, you will need an Employment Permit if you intend to work in Ireland. This is the permission you need to obtain to be allowed to work in Ireland. The first thing you need to do is find a job (meaning, secure an employment contract) and then apply for an employment permit.
Two of the most common employment permits in Ireland are:
- General Employment Permit: Generally, for occupations with a minimum annual salary of €30,000. The applicant must show they have the necessary qualifications and experience required for employment.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: Occupations with an annual minimum salary of €32,000 on several strategically important occupations as listed in the Critical Skills Occupations List. If your job is not on the list, but your salary is above €64,000 per year, you may also be eligible for this permit. Applicants must show the necessary skills and qualifications for employment.
3. How hard is it to immigrate to Ireland?
Living in Ireland as an expat won’t happen overnight.
Immigrating to Ireland is not as difficult as it might seem, as long as you are committed, plan ahead, and work hard towards your goal. You can immigrate to Ireland through different schemes, including work, marriage, and retirement, to name a few.
If the main goal is to become a citizen through naturalization, time spent on a work or study visa may not always count. Irish naturalization laws are quite intricate. If you want to earn citizenship through naturalization, you must prove you have built up enough “reckonable residence” in Ireland. Check out the permission stamps and what counts as reckonable residence.
4. What's it like to live in Ireland?
Living in Ireland as an expat is nothing short of extraordinary. The coastlines are breathtaking and the countryside is a sight for sore eyes, while its hiking trails and camping destinations are plentiful! Dublin, Ireland’s stunning capital, has plenty to offer in terms of history, music, food, and arts.
Ireland’s location is ideal for exploring the rest of Europe, its healthcare is accessible, and crime is low. However, if you find that plenty of sunshine makes your days merrier, Ireland’s climate is characterized by abundant rainfall and no temperature extremes.
5. How long can I stay in Ireland without a visa?
U.S. citizens can stay in Ireland without a visa for up to three months (90 days). The same applies to individuals traveling from countries within the EU/EEA. Some non-EU/EEA nationals (such as U.S. citizens) are exempt from Irish visa requirements.
As such, they can stay in Ireland for up to 90 days without a visa. However, they will have to register with the immigration authorities at border control, and the Immigration Officer will decide whether or not they can enter Ireland.
5 ways to move to Ireland (temporarily)
Even if it’s temporary, it’ll be worth the effort.
1. Gap Year
Living in Ireland for a year is a great way to have an excellent (and beneficial) gap year experience. As a university student or recent graduate, you might just be eligible to apply for an Ireland Working Holiday Visa and spend up to one year working and living in Ireland as an expat.
Pretty awesome, huh? Ireland has agreements with ten countries when it comes to Working Holidays. To be eligible for this type of visa, you should be aged 18-35 and a national of one of the following countries:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Chile
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Republic of Korea
- United States of America
If you are a national of an EU/EEA member state or Switzerland, you do not need a Working Holiday Visa to work in Ireland. Living in Ireland as an expat (although temporarily) is pretty straightforward through the Working Holiday Visa.
READ MORE: Working Holiday Visas for U.S. Citizens: Are You Qualified?
2. Study Abroad
Studying abroad in Ireland would prove to be an invaluable experience. Ireland is home to outstanding universities and high-quality education. Throughout the years, it has built a great leading reputation for innovation, research, and development.
While EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a visa to study in Ireland, non-EU/EEA and Swiss nationals will have to be granted a visa before entering Ireland.
You will have the chance to be living in Ireland (until you finish your studies) if you decide to study abroad here. Imagine pursuing your education in a country where literary figures like James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, William Butler Yeats, and Samuel Beckett took their first steps!
3. Intern Abroad
Dublin is an excellent place to get some work experience!
Doing an internship in Ireland will allow you to live here for the duration of your internship. If you are a national of the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you will not need a visa nor any sort of permission to undertake an internship in Ireland.
U.S. citizens will also not need a visa to undertake an internship in Ireland. However, they will need to receive immigration permission to work as paid interns in Ireland. Such is also the case with citizens of Australia or New Zealand. Check if you need a visa or employment permit to intern in Ireland.
4. Volunteer Abroad
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and help make the world a little better. Living in Ireland for a year or longer can also be done through volunteering. You can find volunteer opportunities in various sectors, including arts, culture, education, youth services, health support services, and sport/physical recreation, to name a few.
EU/EEA and Swiss nationals and nationals of visa-exempt countries like the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, etc., will be able to undertake volunteer opportunities in Ireland without a visa. However, all non-EU/EEA and Swiss nationals will have to apply for permission to volunteer in Ireland for up to two years.
5. TEFL Certification
If ESL teaching is a career you would like to pursue, you can always obtain your TEFL certification in Ireland. Apart from dramatic cliffs, majestic mountains, calming coastlines, lush greenery, and enchanting castles, Ireland also offers its fair share of TEFL courses.
TEFL courses in Ireland can either be online, in-person, or offered in a blended teaching method. It will take approximately 120 to 140 hours of coursework to obtain a TEFL certificate. The duration in days, weeks, or months depends on how the coursework is distributed.
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Living in Ireland as an expat may be in the cards for you
We hope your path leads you to an expat life in Ireland.
Whether you want to be living in Ireland for a year or move permanently as an expat, well, living in the Emerald Isle might just be in the cards for you. The main thing you should keep in mind while you are living in Ireland as an expat is that this small country has just so much to offer.
The exploration opportunities are endless, the cliffs and castles are majestic, and the people are friendly. There is always something you can see and do while living in Ireland. So, take your chance!