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Disclaimer: Official policy and legislation regarding immigration continually changes. This information is meant to be used as a guide only. Please refer to the Irish Immigration and Naturalisation website for the latest and most up to date information.
Please be aware that this is only meant to be used as a guide. You can access free immigration legal advice through the voluntary service Free Legal Advice Centres (FLAC). The FLAC website provides details of their telephone and referral services, Legal Advice Centres, and online legal information.
Tips- Could you have the right to be an Irish citizen? You may be an Irish citizen, or entitled to citizenship, based on when and where you, your parents or your grandparents/great-grandparents were born – or for how long your parents lived in Ireland before your birth. Check whether you could be an Irish citizen by birth or descent.
- Helpful guide to migrant rights: The Crosscare Migrant Project has put together a guide to the rights of migrants in Ireland. This helpful summary guide provides guidance based on your category of residence stamp.
Irish Citizens
Irish citizens returning to Ireland have an automatic right to reside here.
UK Citizens
The UK and Ireland have an additional agreement called the Common Travel Area (CTA) which is separate from EU law. Both governments have agreed that this will continue after the UK leaves the EU. If you are a British citizen living in Ireland, you have many of the same rights and entitlements as an Irish citizen. British citizens can:
- Enter Ireland without a visa
- Travel between the UK and Ireland
- Work without an employment permit
- Access the public healthcare system
- Vote in general elections
The rules for non-EEA family members of UK nationals who want to live in Ireland are different depending on whether they were living in Ireland before the transition period, 31 December 2020. Please see the Citizens Information website on the Residence Rules for UK Citizens for more details. There is no automatic entitlement to family reunification. If a non-EEA national wishes to join a UK national family member in Ireland, then UK nationals are permitted to act as a sponsor of such applications if they meet the eligibility criteria. However, meeting the eligibility criteria to apply for this scheme does not guarantee the application will be granted. To apply under this scheme, the non-EEA family member must apply for a Visa or preclearance before travelling to Ireland. Full details of this scheme can be found on the Irish Immigration webpage Joining your UK national family member.
EEA and Swiss Nationals
EEA and Swiss Nationals can remain in Ireland with your family for up to 3 months without restriction. But if you are retired and plan to stay more than 3 months, you need sufficient resources and sickness insurance to ensure that you don’t become a burden on the State.
Other Countries
If you are not from a visa exempt country then you will need to obtain a visa to get into Ireland. Check if you need an Irish visa here. Once you arrive in Ireland, you must obtain permission to remain by registering with your local Garda National Immigration Bureau and prove that you have sufficient resources and health insurance to support yourself to ensure that you do not become a burden on the State.
Since March 2015, the Ireland Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) changed the standards by which non-EU retirees are determined to be financially suitable for residency. The new rule requires that retirees have an annual income of no less than €50,000 per person, (€100,000 for a married couple) for the remainder of their lives in Ireland, regardless of their existing cash on hand or lack of debt. You also need to have access to a lump sum up to €200,000 to cover any sudden major expenses. It’s a good idea to talk to a financial advisor before you move to Ireland.
Retirees have also had their immigration status changed from Stamp 3 to Stamp 0, which, according to the INIS website is “a low level immigration status which is not intended to be reckonable for Long Term Residence or Citizenship. It is granted to persons who have been approved by INIS for a limited and specific stay in Ireland.”
Under a Stamp 0 you will not be able to work or operate a business. You also won’t be eligible to receive any state benefits or have rights to family reunification. Any family who wishes to join you will need to be eligible to live in Ireland in their own right.
Arriving in Ireland
All non-EU/EEA citizens, whether visa-required or not, are subject to ordinary immigration controls when they arrive in the country. Although you may have successfully obtained a visa (or not even need one), you can still be refused entry by Irish immigration officials when you arrive.
Please note:
- The Immigration Officer makes the decision on who is actually allowed to enter Ireland.
- They will stamp your passport for either one or three months. This means you must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau within the time limit stamped on the passport if you plan to stay longer than three months.
To ensure you have no difficulties, it’s recommended that you have your documents ready to show to the officer.
Registering with the Garda National Immigration Bureau
In order to register, you need to visit your local immigration registration office and ask for the registration officer as soon as possible following your arrival in Ireland. Refer to the Garda website to find your closest GNIB.
You will need to provide the following information:
- Your passport
- Your nationality, how and when you acquired it and your previous nationality (if any)
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate if applicable
- Documentation supporting your residence permission, e.g. visa if required.
- Evidence of your income and savings verified by an Irish based accountant listing yearly income and any financial liabilities.
- Proof of your private health insurance with full cover in private hospitals
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Health Declaration
- Your Irish address
- The address where you last lived outside the State
- A credit/debit card to pay the fee.
The registration officer will also take your fingerprints, signature, and photo and may ask for further details.
On successful completion of your GNIB registration you will be issued with an Irish Residence Permit (IRP), a credit card sized plastic card. These cards are evidence that you are legally a resident in Ireland. It includes:
- Your name, photo, date of birth and registration number
- A brief description of your immigration permission (including your stamp number)
- A microchip with a copy of your photo, fingerprints and personal details
Tips
- Learn more about the factors to consider when retiring in Ireland on the Citizens Information website.
Mani
I am 58 and soon get migrated from India to Ireland. i want also to settle in Ireland.
swami Greg
We applied for IE citizenship via grandparents line from Limerick in Sep 2020.
Given the pandemic we are told expect a resolution by 12/2022, meanwhile they want to be payed!
A good sign!
Angela Alberti Neu
I am strongly considering to relocate to Eire .I will be 66 j soon .Widowed .I left Ireland 1977 as a nurse and always felt a bit home sick for the beauty of the countryside.But I am wourried that I might fit in after living abroud for so long. I would like to schare expierence with others that have moved home again.
Jan Rigg
HI,
I would like to migrate to Ireland with my wife. I’m 65, a pensioner with British and German citizenship. My wife is German with an income in excess of 50K€. My German state pension is roughly 24K€. I have financial assets in excess of 1M€ and am willing to transfer all my funds to Ireland and buy a small house some where in the country side. Are problems to be expected?
Best regards
Colleen
Hi Jan Rigg,
I am not a financial advisor, so am unable to advise. I would suggest discussing this with a solicitor.
Scott
what did you find out?
Sheila Arestad
I am not quite ready to retire yet but am seriously looking at moving to Ireland when I do. I have close friends there and I visit Ireland often. I am a dual US/UK citizen (born in the UK) and carry both passports. From what I am reading, I can just “move in” with the UK passport…correct?
Colleen
Broadly speaking, yes at this time you can move to Ireland on your UK passport under the Common Travel Area agreement. However, there are still changes being introduced following Brexit, so make sure you keep up to date with the residence rights of UK citizens on the government websites.
James McBride
I have an Irish grandparent, and may qualify for residency under the existing laws.
I only have 36,000 Annual Income, but am married and our combined is 150,000 USD. Our cash assets are nearly 2 million USD. Assuming we buy comprehensive health insurance, and can prove financials is my personal income still a problem for permanent residency?
Colleen
If you are eligible for Irish citizenship then you can apply to become a citizen and gain access to live in Ireland that way.
Patrick Hegarty
Hello,
As a dual US/Irish citizen (first generation born in the USA) both parents and their parents etc. were born and raised in Ireland. I obtained my Irish passport in 2008. I’ve travelled numerous times to Ireland (30 trips so far) and am considering moving there to live.
I have a small pension but would need to work in order to live. Any suggestions on my options as to finding a job? I have a graduate degree in business (MBA) and am in my mid 50’s at this point. Most of my family (cousins aunts uncles etc.) still live in Ireland and I’ve been there plenty of times.
Any advice would be helpful.
Amy Hellman
I’m 14 months into my application for citizenship by descent. My initial letter from immigration said that it would take 3 – 6 months for a decision to be made. Later I was told by someone at the consulate that because of Brexit it would be more like 12 -14 months and then CoVid hit. Do you know if there is somewhere that I can check on the status? I’d really just like to know that I haven’t been turned down. We’d like to retire to Ireland in 2 -3 years but, like the gentleman above, my husband is not eligible for citizenship and we are a bit shy of the qualifying income for retirement. Thank you for your newsletter!!
Colleen
Hi Amy Hellman,
Have you seen the INIS website for the latest processing times?
Amy Hellman
Thank you for the help… I actually found https://www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/ since I’m trying to determine my status on citizenship. And I’ve learned a great deal about visas that I didn’t know I needed to know!
Kevin P. O’Shea
If I have Irish citizenship but my wife doesn’t. I assume we would have to prove that she makes $50,000+per year non-investment income, correct? That’s a close shave. Is there any talk of easing those requirements a bit?
Colleen
Have you considered applying for a stamp 4 as spouse of civil partnership with an Irish National. The full policy document can be found here – see ref 17 for finances.