Moving to Ireland from USA in about two years...?

Question

and I need some help getting started. What do I need to do? Who do I need to talk to? What paperwork needs to be filled out? Requirements for entry? Never moved internationally so I want to get ahed of the game and I definitely need all the help, suggestions, advice possible!

Answer 1

Start with your nearest Irish embassy! They'll put you on the right track. Things aren't too difficult here but you must have a work permit if you want to work, and it is expensive to live, so you should have a good reserve - probably about 3-4000Euro per month if you're not earning.

Answer 2

If you are serious about the move then it's probably worth buying this guy's "move advice". I think he charges $45 for it, but it is a lot of good info and $45 will be a tiny drop in the bucket of what you need to spend for an international move. I'd say start saving some serious money and read his advice. http://www.movetoireland.com/

Answer 3

i moved to ireland from california in 1999 to live for five years and recently moved back. it's cheap to move stuff to ireland, but expensive to move it back. so, think carefully about what you need. my advice- take very little and get it all over there. i would buy all new clothes there, the fashions are different, but sizing is an issue, the people there don't fit into the same clothes as in the usa. you need a visa if you are not american. if you are american, you have to register, and you need a work permit unless you have some special setup like an irish passport or you are a student (can work part time).

be careful of the tax system over there, you need to figure out when you work there how to avoid paying emergency tax, you have to give your employer a letter from the tax office to tell the employer how much to take out of your pay, if you don't do that, the employer will take out 49 percent until you get the letter, you get it back eventually but it's a huge hassle till then.

you don't need a car in dublin but if you go anywhere else you do, insurance is a problem, and you do need an irish license if you plan on doing anything other than driving a rental car, for which an american license will suffice. getting one (an irish license)takes a long time so plan on doing that soon after you arrive.  

check out daft.ie for places to live, there are great listings for property and rentals.

also, buyandsell.ie has things for sale.

ryan air has great cheap tickets to europe. also, when flying to dublin, aerlingus is the only airline which flies direct to the us I believe from dublin, most others either go through the uk or shannon. it is a pain going through the uk. dublin is a tiny airport so it can be difficult to get in and out of ireland, but if you use aer lingus there are cheap flights from new york, los angeles, chicago, and one or two other us cities which serve as hubs to get into dublin.

as for the mail service an post, it is expensive but open on saturday and even sunday.

email me if you need any other help. .cheers and good luck.

Answer 4

My sister is just starting that process.

Why not start by really familiarising yourself with these guidelines?

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cultures/irish-...

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/cultures/irish-...

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=267

Good luck!