Deciding Whether to Move to Ireland

Moving to another country sounds rather exciting doesn’t it? But the reality is, moving can be stressful, challenging, and expensive. This article seeks to assist you through the decision making process by outlining the considerations that need to be made and providing an overview of what moving to Ireland entails.

Ask Yourself These Questions

To help you think through your decision to move to Ireland, go and get a piece of paper and pen. Find a quiet space to sit down and honestly answer these questions. If you are planning on moving to Ireland as a family, then schedule a family meeting to discuss these questions as a group. Make sure that everyone gets the time to air their concerns.

• What am I hoping to get out of my move to Ireland? It might be the opportunity to study and gain a qualification, to work in your dream job, or to enjoy your retirement in a beautiful country.
• What will I miss? It might be friends, family, the weather. Moving from Australia to Ireland, I knew I was going to miss the sunshine!
• How will I cope with missing these things? It’s important to consider what coping strategies you can put in place to help you get by. For example, if family is at the top of your list, strategies such as regular messaging, video calls, and scheduling time to visit them (the standard annual leave entitlement in Ireland is 4 weeks), particularly during the holiday season, can make the separation more manageable.
• What steps do I need to take in order to move to Ireland and how can I achieve them? For example, one step may be to save up enough money to fund your move. In order to achieve this you first need to establish how much you are going to need (see below for more advice on this). Then you need to work out how much money you need to save each week and month in order to achieve this. Your next steps may be opening a savings account, setting up a regular funds transfer from your salary to your savings account, and a review of your expenditure. For example, you may need to cancel TV subscriptions, stop buying coffees, and reduce your dining out. If you need to secure an Irish job offer, then check out my post on How to Find a Job in Ireland and Irish Employment Permits to help you to establish what your next steps are and how you can achieve this.

Visit Ireland

Before committing to the move, consider renting a holiday home in your preferred location and stay for as long as possible. Use the opportunity to connect with people in your job industry to see whether there are any employment opportunities that would be available to you. Take note of the cost of living and go to the local pub and talk to the locals to find out more about the community. Particularly in smaller Irish communities, the locals can be very friendly and enjoy chatting to visitors.

But remember, holidaying in Ireland is a lot different than actually living here. Even if you decide to relocate to Ireland, it may not be feasible for you to do so with the strict immigration laws. Unless you have been offered a job with a company that will assist you to obtain an employment permit, then you may find it difficult to gain the necessary permission to relocate and work in Ireland.

Consider the Costs of Moving to Ireland

You also need to consider the actual cost of moving to Ireland. Don’t underestimate the cost of relocating to another country. Even if you have a job lined up, unless your new employer is willing to cover your moving expenses, then you are going to need a significant sum of money just to cover the initial moving costs.

For example:

• Immigration costs: If you require an employment permit to live in Ireland, they are not cheap. You may also need to renew your passport if it does not have enough time left on it.
• Moving costs: The cost of relocating all your belongings can easily run into thousands of dollars. To reduce costs, try to bring as little as possible. Many homes in Ireland are rented furnished. Learn more about what you can expect from Irish housing here.
• Airfares: Costs for flights vary depending on time of year, how far you book ahead, and the distance you are travelling.
• Moving with pets: If you are planning on bringing pets with you, then this will incur a significant additional cost.
• Health Insurance: If you are not eligible for Irish public health care, then you will need to purchase Irish private health insurance before you arrive.
• Initial short term accommodation when you arrive: Depending on which part of Ireland you are planning on relocating to, short term accommodation can be very expensive, especially in Dublin.
• Rental deposit and advance: If you are planning on living in rented property, then you will need to pay an upfront rental deposit as well as a months rent in advance.
• Setting up home: All those little things that you will need to purchase when you get to Ireland, like linens and food stores, really add up.
• Furnishing your new home: Consider the cost of furnishing your new home versus the cost of bringing your furniture with you.
• Purchasing a new car: Owning and running a car in Ireland can be expensive. Depending on where you live, you may be able to rely on public transport and postpone this cost until later, or you may even decide that you don’t need one at all.
• The cost of selling your home: If you currently own a home, then consider the costs associated with selling it. How strong is your real estate market? Alternately, consider renting it out. Then, if it doesn’t work out in Ireland at least you will have avoided these additional costs and still have somewhere to live when you return.

Moving to Ireland Checklist

If you do eventually decide to make the move to Ireland, then you need to plan well in advance. To assist you, use my detailed Moving Checklist.