Moving to Ireland from the UK in 2026: No Visa Needed

Q: Do I need a visa to move to Ireland from the UK?

No. British citizens do not need a visa, work permit, or residence permit to move to Ireland. The Common Travel Area (CTA) — a bilateral arrangement that predates the EU and was reaffirmed by the UK and Ireland in a 2019 memorandum — gives UK and Irish citizens the right to live, work, study, and access healthcare and public services in each other's country. Brexit did not change this, because CTA rights are not dependent on EU membership. You can arrive on your British passport and start work the same day.

Q: Can a UK citizen work in Ireland without a work permit?

Yes, from day one. Under the Common Travel Area, British citizens have an automatic right to work in Ireland as an employee or self-employed person, with no work permit, sponsorship, or salary threshold. Your British passport serves as proof during a right-to-work check. The only practical requirement is a PPS (Personal Public Service) number so your employer can operate payroll and you are not put on emergency tax — you cannot be paid correctly through PAYE until your PPS number issues, which takes about 2–4 weeks after your appointment.

Q: How much money do you need to move to Ireland from the UK?

There is no income or savings threshold to move to Ireland — the Common Travel Area imposes none. The real budget is the cost of landing softly. Dublin rents are among the highest in Europe (a one-bed averages around €1,750–€2,150/month) and most landlords want a deposit plus first month upfront, so plan for €4,000–€6,000 to secure a place. Add 4–6 weeks of temporary accommodation while you flat-hunt (€40–€100/night in Dublin) and a buffer of 2–4 weeks of living costs before your first Irish pay clears, because you cannot be paid until your PPS number arrives.

Q: How do I get a PPS number in Ireland?

Apply on MyWelfare.ie using a verified MyGovID account. You complete an online form, upload supporting documents, and book an in-person appointment — which is mandatory in 2026. You need photo ID (your passport), proof of an Irish address (a tenancy agreement, utility bill, or bank statement), and evidence of why you need the number (usually a signed employment contract). There is no fee. The number is typically issued by post 2–4 weeks after your appointment, though it can take up to 6 weeks at busy times. You cannot start being paid through PAYE until it arrives.

Q: Is Dublin more expensive than London?

For housing, Dublin is broadly comparable to London and in some categories more expensive relative to local salaries — moving to Ireland is not a cost-saving exercise. A Dublin one-bed averages around €1,750–€2,150/month against £1,500–£2,200+ in London, and supply is severely constrained: fewer than 1,800 homes were listed for rent nationwide in early 2026. Regional cities such as Cork, Galway, and Limerick are roughly 25–35% cheaper than Dublin. The genuine draws of Ireland are day-one CTA rights, a one-hour flight home, a shared language, and lifestyle — not lower costs.

Q: Can I use the NHS in Ireland, and how does Irish healthcare work?

You cannot use the NHS as an Irish resident — you register with the Irish health system (the HSE) instead. Once you are 'ordinarily resident' (living in Ireland and intending to stay at least a year) you are entitled to public health services, but Ireland's public system is not free at the point of use like the NHS: a GP visit costs about €50–€70, A&E is €100 without a referral, and prescriptions are capped at €80 per month for a household under the Drugs Payment Scheme. Means-tested medical cards and GP visit cards remove these charges. UK State Pensioners can use an S1 form so the UK funds their HSE care.

Q: Can I exchange my UK driving licence, and should I bring my car?

Once you live in Ireland you can no longer drive on your UK licence and must exchange it for an Irish one within 12 months. Thanks to a post-Brexit bilateral agreement, UK licences are directly exchangeable at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) centre with no test — the fee is €55 (free if you are 70 or over) and you surrender your UK licence. Importing your car is usually a false economy: a GB-registered vehicle is treated as a non-EU import, so Vehicle Registration Tax (7–41%) plus 10% customs and 23% VAT can total €8,000–€12,000 on a £25,000 car. Most movers sell in the UK and buy in Ireland.

Q: Do I still pay UK tax, and what happens to my ISA?

Once you become Irish tax-resident (183 days in a calendar year, or 280 days across two years), your worldwide income is generally taxable in Ireland, and the UK–Ireland Double Taxation Convention prevents you being taxed twice. File HMRC's Form P85 when you leave the UK. The key trap is ISAs: Ireland does not recognise the ISA wrapper, so your ISA loses its tax-free status the day you become Irish-resident — interest, dividends, and gains become taxable (33% CGT, and fund-type ISAs face Ireland's punitive 41% deemed-disposal rule). Take advice on closing or restructuring ISAs before you go. As a UK-domiciled newcomer you may also be able to use the 'remittance basis' on non-Irish income.

Q: Can I bring my pet from the UK to Ireland?

Yes, with the right paperwork and no quarantine. From Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland — treated as 'non-EU' post-Brexit) your cat or dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel; dogs also need tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival. No rabies blood test is required. From Northern Ireland (still inside the EU pet-travel scheme) an EU pet passport is sufficient. There is no quarantine for compliant pets travelling from the UK.

Your Right to Live & Work in Ireland (Common Travel Area)

The single most important thing to understand about moving from the UK to Ireland is that it is unlike every other relocation: there is no visa. British and Irish citizens have lived and worked freely in each other’s countries since 1922 under the Common Travel Area (CTA). Because the CTA predates — and is independent of — EU membership, Brexit did not change it. The UK and Irish governments reaffirmed it in a 2019 memorandum of understanding. You arrive on your British passport, with no entry stamp, no permit, and no minimum income to prove.

✅ No visa. No work permit. No income threshold.

As a British citizen you can live in Ireland indefinitely, work as an employee or be self-employed, study at the resident fee rate, and — uniquely among non-Irish nationals — even vote in Irish general elections. None of this requires an application. Your passport is your right-to-work proof.

What the CTA Gives You — Day One

Right	Under the CTA	Notes
Live in Ireland	Day one, indefinitely	No visa, residence permit, or registration with immigration
Work (employed or self-employed)	Day one	No work permit or sponsorship; no salary threshold; passport = right-to-work proof
Public healthcare (HSE)	Once ordinarily resident	Living here + intending to stay ≥1 year. Not free at point of use — see Healthcare
Social welfare	After Habitual Residence	Habitual Residence Condition applies; UK time doesn’t count — typically ~2 years
Study at resident fees	Yes	CTA residents access EU/resident fee rates (subject to the 3-year ordinary-residence rule)
Vote	Dáil + local elections	British citizens uniquely may vote in Irish general elections, not just local

⚠️ Day-one legal rights are not day-one practical access

This is the mistake that catches most UK movers. You have the legal right to work immediately — but you cannot actually be paid correctly until you have a PPS number (2–4 weeks), you cannot easily open a traditional bank account or sign a lease without an Irish address, and you cannot get a PPS number or address without each other. Budget 2–4 weeks and a cash buffer to switch everything on. The rest of this guide is the order of operations to do it cleanly.

There’s no income test to move — but Dublin rents make take-home pay the number that matters. Enter your gross salary to see what you’d actually keep after Irish income tax, USC and PRSI, then compare it to the rents in the next section.

Your gross annual salary (€):

Tax status: Single Married, one income

Estimate for a standard PAYE employee on 2026 rates (PRSI 4.2%, rising to 4.35% from October 2026). Excludes pension contributions, benefit-in-kind, and reduced USC rates for medical-card holders and over-70s. Not tax advice — check with Revenue or an accountant.

Who This Move Suits

Workers and remote employees: No permit, no sponsorship. Dublin is a European hub for tech, pharma, and financial services. Remote work for a UK employer is allowed — but note you become Irish tax-resident and your employer may need to operate Irish payroll.
Retirees: Your UK State Pension is paid and uprated in Ireland (it is not frozen as in Australia or Canada), and an S1 form gives you UK-funded public healthcare. See Healthcare and Taxes.
Returning Irish-connected families and the Irish diaspora: The CTA plus close cultural and family ties make this the simplest of all relocations on paper — the housing market is the only real barrier.

Cost of Living in Ireland for UK Movers (2026)

Be honest with yourself before you move: Ireland is not a cost-saving relocation. Dublin housing is broadly on a par with London, and on some measures the squeeze is worse because supply is so tight. The genuine value is elsewhere — in regional cities like Cork, Galway, and Limerick, which run roughly 25–35% cheaper than Dublin. The pound buys a little less than it once did (about £1 ≈ €1.18 in June 2026), so UK savings convert reasonably but not generously.

Expense (monthly)	London	Dublin	Cork	Galway
1-bed flat — city centre	£2,200+	€1,900–2,300	€1,400–1,700	€1,400–1,650
1-bed flat — outside centre	£1,500+	€1,650–1,900	€1,150–1,400	€1,200–1,450
Monthly groceries (1 person)	£350	€300–350	€280	€280
Meal, inexpensive restaurant	£18–25	€18–22	€16–20	€16–20
Monthly transport pass	£180+	€96 (Leap/TFI)	€70–80	€60–70
Utilities (85m² flat)	£200+	€230–250	€220	€220
Total (1 person, outside centre)	£2,500+	~€2,450 (~£2,075)	~€1,850 (~£1,570)	~€1,900 (~£1,610)

Exchange rate used: £1 ≈ €1.18 (June 2026, approximate). Dublin rent figures reflect the early-2026 market, where the average one-bed sits around €1,750–€2,150. Limerick, Waterford, and smaller towns are typically cheaper again than Cork and Galway.

Budget by Lifestyle

Tight — €2,200–2,800/mo

Single person in Dublin sharing a house or in “digs” to cut rent, cooking at home, using the Leap card. Even on a good salary, Dublin rent dominates the budget.

Comfortable — €2,800–3,800/mo

Your own one-bed in Dublin, or a couple renting in Cork or Galway. Eating out occasionally, a gym, weekends away within Ireland.

Family / City — €4,500–6,000/mo

A family renting a 2–3 bed in Dublin with a car and childcare. Childcare is the hidden cost — see the note below.

👶 Childcare is Ireland’s hidden cost

Full-time creche in Dublin runs roughly €1,000–€1,400 per child per month before subsidies — among the highest in Europe. The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides a universal and an income-assessed subsidy that reduces this, and was expanded again in Budget 2026, but families relocating with young children should price childcare into the decision from the start.

Banking in Ireland as a UK Mover

Irish banking has a classic chicken-and-egg problem: a traditional bank wants an Irish proof of address to open an account, but you need an address (a lease), and most landlords want to see a bank account and references first. The fix is to build your banking in stages — start with an app-based account that doesn’t need proof of address, then add a high-street account once you’ve settled.

Recommended Banking Sequence

Before you leave — open Wise (multi-currency): Holds GBP and EUR, gives you a real exchange rate, and lets you move your deposit money across before you have an Irish IBAN. Open it as a UK resident.
On arrival — open Revolut (the everyday bridge): App-based, opens with your passport and a new Irish mobile number — no proof of address needed initially. It issues an Irish IBAN you can give to a landlord and an employer. Revolut is used by around 2.8 million people in Ireland and is a genuine primary account for many.
Once you have an address — open a high-street account:
- AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB — the three main retail banks. Bring your passport, PPS number, and Irish proof of address. Useful for mortgages later and for services that still expect a domestic bank.
- Bank of Ireland “Coming to Ireland” portal lets you start your application up to 45 days before arrival; you must update it to an Irish address within 60 days.
Keep a UK account open: You’ll still receive a UK pension, dividends, or rent in GBP. Some banks close accounts once they detect a foreign address — Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, and NatWest are known to. Monzo, Starling, and Nationwide are generally more tolerant of customers who’ve moved to Ireland. Sort this before you go.

⚠️ The proof-of-address vicious cycle

You need an address for a bank account; you need money moving and references for a lease; you need a PPS number to be paid — and the PPS number itself needs an address. Break the loop with a Revolut or Wise account first (no address required), use short-term accommodation that will issue a letter, and keep digital copies of every document ready to upload.

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Tax in Ireland for New Residents from the UK

Two things surprise UK movers: the Irish tax year runs January to December (not April to April), and your pay is reduced by three separate deductions — income tax (PAYE), the Universal Social Charge (USC), and PRSI. The UK–Ireland Double Taxation Convention makes sure you are never taxed twice on the same income.

When You Become Irish Tax-Resident

You are Irish tax-resident if you spend 183 days in Ireland in a calendar year, or 280 days across the current and previous year (with at least 30 days in the current year). In your year of arrival you can usually claim split-year treatment so your UK employment income before the move isn’t taxed in Ireland.

Income Tax, USC & PRSI — 2026 Rates

Deduction	2026 Rate / Band
Income tax — standard rate	20% on the first €44,000 (single) / €53,000 (married, one income) / up to €88,000 (married, two incomes)
Income tax — higher rate	40% on income above the standard-rate band
Tax credits (reduce tax due)	Personal credit €2,000 (single) / €4,000 (married) + Employee (PAYE) credit €2,000
USC	0.5% to €12,012 · 2% to €28,700 · 3% to €70,044 · 8% above. No USC if income ≤ €13,000.
PRSI (employee)	4.2% until 30 Sep 2026, then 4.35% from 1 Oct 2026

Use the take-home pay calculator above to see these applied to your salary. Married couples can transfer part of the standard-rate band between them, up to a combined €88,000.

⚠️ Your ISA loses its tax-free status in Ireland

Ireland does not recognise the UK ISA wrapper. The day you become Irish tax-resident, your ISA is treated like any other investment: interest and dividends are taxable, capital gains attract 33% CGT, and fund-based ISAs are hit by Ireland’s punitive 41% “deemed disposal” rule (you’re taxed on gains every 8 years even without selling). Take advice on closing or restructuring ISAs before you leave the UK, while gains are still UK-tax-free.

ℹ️ The remittance basis — a possible advantage

If you are not Irish-domiciled (most UK movers aren’t, at least initially), you can elect the remittance basis: foreign income and gains are taxed in Ireland only to the extent you bring (“remit”) them into Ireland. For someone with UK investments or rental income they don’t need to transfer over, this can be valuable. It’s a specialist area — worth one consultation before you move.

📝 File HMRC Form P85 when you leave the UK

Form P85 tells HMRC you’ve left so you’re taxed correctly and can reclaim any UK tax overpaid in your departure year. If you keep UK rental income, you’ll also file under the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme. The UK–Ireland treaty then allocates taxing rights between the two countries.

Healthcare in Ireland for UK Movers

This is where expectations need resetting most: you cannot use the NHS once you live in Ireland, and the Irish public system — run by the HSE — is not free at the point of use the way the NHS is. The CTA guarantees you access on the same terms as Irish citizens, but “the same terms” includes the standard charges below.

What You Actually Pay

Service	Standard charge	Free if you have…
GP (family doctor) visit	€50–€70 per visit	Medical Card or GP Visit Card; all under-8s & over-70s
A&E / Emergency Department	€100 without a GP referral	GP referral, Medical Card, or if admitted
Prescriptions	Capped at €80/month per household	Drugs Payment Scheme (register at any pharmacy); Medical Card
Public hospital (inpatient)	Generally free for ordinarily-resident patients	Public patients; Medical Card removes remaining charges

ℹ️ “Ordinarily resident” unlocks public healthcare

You qualify for HSE services once you are ordinarily resident — living in Ireland and intending to stay for at least a year. Keep evidence (tenancy agreement, employment, PPS registration). Medical Cards (free GP, prescriptions, and public hospital care) and GP Visit Cards (free GP visits) are means-tested — apply through the HSE if your income is modest.

🇬🇧 UK State Pensioners: use an S1 form

If you receive the UK State Pension, request an S1 form from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (+44 191 218 1999). Registered with the HSE, it entitles you to Irish public healthcare funded by the UK, on the same terms as Irish residents. Allow 2–4 weeks for it to issue, and apply before you move.

Private Health Insurance

Because public waiting lists can be long, around half of Irish residents also hold private cover for faster access to consultants and elective procedures. The main insurers are VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health; cover is community-rated (the same base price regardless of age, though a loading applies if you first take out cover after age 35). Expect roughly €1,000–€2,000 per adult per year for a mid-tier plan.

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SafetyWing Nomad Insurance covers you globally from £40/month — useful for the weeks between leaving the NHS and becoming ordinarily resident, or while you wait out an HSE list.

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Finding Housing in Ireland — The Real Challenge

If the move itself is easy, housing is hard. Ireland is in an acute supply crunch: on 1 February 2026 there were fewer than 1,800 homes listed to rent in the entire country — down about 22% year-on-year, and Dublin listings fell by roughly a third. Rents have risen in 13 of the last 14 years and stand around 34% above pre-Covid levels. Treat the housing search as the main project of your move, not an afterthought.

🔄 New from 1 March 2026: national rent control replaces Rent Pressure Zones

The old Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) system was abolished on 28 February 2026 and replaced by a single national rent-control system covering every private and student tenancy in Ireland — not just designated zones.
Rent increases are capped at the lower of inflation (CPI) or 2% a year, nationwide.
All new tenancies are now “Tenancies of Minimum Duration” — a 6-year minimum, giving renters far more security than before.
Newly built apartments and student accommodation (commencement notice after 9 June 2025) are capped at CPI only (no 2% ceiling) — a deliberate incentive to build more supply.

⚠️ The renter’s catch-22 — and how to beat it

Landlords in a tight market want a bank account, references, and often proof of Irish employment — which you don’t have on day one. Beat it by arriving prepared:

Book 4–6 weeks of temporary accommodation (Airbnb or a serviced let, €40–€100/night in Dublin) so you can view in person and move fast.
Set instant email alerts on Daft.ie and Rent.ie — good properties are gone within hours, so reply within minutes.
Have a reference pack ready: previous-landlord reference, employer letter, and 3 months of bank statements (a Revolut/Wise statement works).
Be open to house-shares and “digs” (a room in a family home) for the first few months — cheaper and far easier to land than a whole flat.
Look beyond Dublin: commuter towns (Drogheda, Maynooth, Bray, Naas) and cities like Cork, Galway, and Limerick are cheaper and a little less frantic.

Where to Search

Daft.ie — by far the dominant rental and sales portal; set up saved searches with instant alerts.
Rent.ie — second-largest rental site; worth running alongside Daft.
MyHome.ie — stronger for buying, but lists rentals too.
Facebook groups (e.g. “Rent/Share Dublin”) and college noticeboards — useful for rooms and house-shares.

🏠 Thinking of buying?

UK citizens can buy property in Ireland with no restrictions. Budget for stamp duty of 1% (on homes up to €1m; 2% above), plus legal and surveyor fees. Mortgages generally require Irish residency and a track record of Irish income, so most movers rent first. The Help to Buy incentive and the First Home Scheme exist but are aimed at established residents buying new builds.

Your Ireland Relocation Timeline

With no visa to wait for, the timeline is short — the work is front-loaded UK admin and back-loaded Irish setup. Set your target arrival month to see when to start the time-sensitive prep tasks.

Your planned arrival: ← Set your target to see preparation deadlines

1

Month −3: Decide, Budget & Start the Housing Hunt
Confirm there’s no visa to arrange. Set Daft.ie and Rent.ie alerts now — learn the market before you arrive. Check whether your UK bank will keep your account open with a foreign address; if not, open a Monzo, Starling, or Nationwide account.

Month −3
2

Month −2: UK Money & Pension Admin
Take advice on your ISAs and act before becoming Irish-resident.
Request a written no-claims letter from your car insurer.
If you receive the UK State Pension, apply for your S1 form (NHS BSA: +44 191 218 1999).

Month −2
3

Month −1: Book Travel, Temp Accommodation & Pets
Book your ferry (Holyhead, Liverpool, Pembroke, Cairnryan; 2–4 hrs) or flight (London–Dublin ~1 hr). Reserve 4–6 weeks of temporary accommodation. Bringing a pet from Great Britain? Book the Animal Health Certificate with an Official Vet (issued within 10 days of travel).

Month −1
4

Week 0: Arrive & Switch On the Basics
Enter Ireland on your UK passport — no stamp, no questions about length of stay. Buy an Irish SIM (Tesco Mobile, ID Mobile, Lyca; €5–10/mo). Open Revolut for an Irish IBAN. Move into your temporary base and start viewings.

Week 0
5

Week 1: Address & PPS Appointment
Get a proof-of-address document (tenancy letter, utility bill, or bank statement). Apply for your PPS number on MyWelfare.ie with a MyGovID account and book the mandatory in-person appointment — do this as early as possible, it’s the gate to getting paid.

Week 1
6

Weeks 2–4: PPS Issues & Payroll Starts
Attend the PPS appointment; the number arrives by post in 2–4 weeks. Register on Revenue’s myAccount and give your employer your PPS so they can pull your Revenue Payroll Notification (RPN) — this stops you being taxed on emergency tax.

Weeks 2–4
7

Month +1: Permanent Home, Bank & GP
Sign a permanent lease (now a 6-year minimum tenancy). Open an AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB account with your PPS and address. Register with a local GP — do this early, as Dublin practices often have waitlists.

Month +1
8

Months +1–3: Driving Licence & Healthcare Cards
Exchange your UK driving licence at an NDLS centre within 12 months (€55, no test). Register for the Drugs Payment Scheme at your pharmacy, and apply for a Medical Card or GP Visit Card if your income qualifies. S1 holders: register the S1 with the HSE.

Months +1–3

Your Ireland Setup Checklist

There’s no visa document pack — instead, here are the 12 things that actually make your move work, grouped by when to do them. Tick items off as you go; your progress is saved in your browser, and the PDF download captures exactly where you are.

Set your arrival date in the Timeline section above to include deadline dates in the PDF.

Verified June 2026. Processes change — confirm current steps on MyWelfare.ie, Revenue.ie, and NDLS.ie.

After You Arrive: First Steps & Long-Term Status

There’s no immigration registration to complete — but a tight sequence of practical steps turns your day-one legal rights into working everyday life.

⚠️ Book your PPS appointment in week one

The PPS number is the bottleneck for everything financial: you can’t be paid correctly through PAYE, claim tax credits, or open a high-street bank account without it, and it takes 2–4 weeks after your appointment. Apply on MyWelfare.ie the moment you have an Irish address.

First 3 Months — Step by Step

PPS number: Apply on MyWelfare.ie (MyGovID), attend the in-person appointment, receive the number by post.
Register for tax: Set up Revenue myAccount and give your employer your PPS so they request your RPN — this avoids emergency tax on your first payslips.
Open an Irish bank account: AIB, Bank of Ireland, or PTSB, with passport + PPS + proof of address.
Register with a GP; register for the Drugs Payment Scheme; apply for a Medical/GP Visit Card if eligible. S1 holders: register the S1 with the HSE.
Exchange your UK driving licence within 12 months at an NDLS centre (ndls.ie). No test; €55.

🚗 Don’t ship your UK car without doing the maths first

Post-Brexit, a GB-registered car is a non-EU import: Vehicle Registration Tax (7–41% by CO₂) + 10% customs + 23% VAT can total €8,000–€12,000 on a £25,000 car. Most movers sell up in the UK and buy in Ireland. (A Northern Ireland car proven to have been in NI before 1 January 2021 pays VRT only.) Use Revenue’s VRT calculator before you commit to shipping.

Long-Term Status: PR, Citizenship & Voting

Stage	Requirement	Notes
Right to remain	Automatic — CTA	No permit, no renewals, no minimum residence to stay. You simply live here.
Voting	Once resident	British citizens may vote in Dáil (general) and local elections — a right unique to UK nationals.
Irish citizenship (optional)	5 years’ reckonable residence	1,825 days incl. 365 continuous before applying. Most UK citizens never bother — the CTA already grants full rights. Dual UK–Irish citizenship is permitted.

ℹ️ Pets, and welfare timing

Pets: from Great Britain, your cat or dog needs a microchip, rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate from an Official Vet within 10 days of travel (dogs also need tapeworm treatment 24–120 hrs before). No quarantine. From Northern Ireland an EU pet passport suffices.
Welfare: means-tested benefits (Child Benefit, Jobseeker’s) require passing the Habitual Residence Condition — your UK time doesn’t count, so plan as if benefits aren’t available for roughly the first two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to move to Ireland from the UK? ▼

No. British citizens need no visa, work permit, or residence permit. The Common Travel Area — which predates the EU and was reaffirmed by the UK and Ireland in a 2019 memorandum — gives UK and Irish citizens the right to live, work, study, and access healthcare in each other’s country. Brexit didn’t change it, because CTA rights don’t depend on EU membership. You arrive on your British passport and can start work the same day.

Can a UK citizen work in Ireland without a work permit? ▼

Yes, from day one — no permit, sponsorship, or salary threshold. Your British passport is your right-to-work proof. The only practical step is getting a PPS number so your employer can run payroll and avoid putting you on emergency tax. You can’t be paid correctly through PAYE until the PPS number issues, about 2–4 weeks after your appointment.

How much money do you need to move to Ireland from the UK? ▼

There’s no income or savings threshold — the CTA imposes none. The real budget is landing softly: Dublin rents average around €1,750–€2,150 for a one-bed, and most landlords want a deposit plus first month upfront, so plan €4,000–€6,000 to secure a place. Add 4–6 weeks of temporary accommodation while you flat-hunt and a 2–4 week buffer before your first Irish pay clears (you can’t be paid until your PPS number arrives).

How do I get a PPS number in Ireland? ▼

Apply on MyWelfare.ie with a verified MyGovID account, then attend a mandatory in-person appointment. Bring photo ID (passport), proof of an Irish address (tenancy agreement, utility bill, or bank statement), and evidence of why you need it (usually a signed employment contract). It’s free, and the number arrives by post 2–4 weeks later (up to 6 at busy times). You can’t start being paid through PAYE until it arrives.

Is Dublin more expensive than London? ▼

For housing, Dublin is broadly comparable to London — this is not a cost-saving move. A Dublin one-bed averages around €1,750–€2,150/month against £1,500–£2,200+ in London, and supply is severely tight (fewer than 1,800 homes were listed to rent nationwide in early 2026). Regional cities — Cork, Galway, Limerick — run roughly 25–35% cheaper than Dublin. The real draws are day-one CTA rights, a one-hour flight home, and a shared language, not lower costs.

Can I use the NHS in Ireland, and how does Irish healthcare work? ▼

You can’t use the NHS as an Irish resident — you register with the Irish system (the HSE). Once ordinarily resident (living here, intending to stay ≥1 year) you’re entitled to public services, but they aren’t free at the point of use like the NHS: a GP visit is €50–€70, A&E is €100 without a referral, and prescriptions are capped at €80/month per household. Means-tested Medical Cards and GP Visit Cards remove these charges, and UK State Pensioners can use an S1 form so the UK funds their care.

Will my UK State Pension be paid and increased in Ireland? ▼

Yes. Ireland is on the list of countries where the UK pays the annual pension increase, so — unlike Australia or Canada — your State Pension is uprated each year, not frozen, and can be paid into an Irish bank account. Under the bilateral UK–Ireland social security agreement (protected after Brexit), your UK National Insurance contributions can also count toward an Irish State Pension. Request an S1 form so the UK funds your Irish public healthcare.

Can I exchange my UK driving licence, and should I bring my car? ▼

Once you live in Ireland you must exchange your UK licence for an Irish one within 12 months — you can no longer drive on the UK one as a resident. Thanks to a post-Brexit bilateral agreement it’s a direct exchange with no test at an NDLS centre (€55, free if 70+); you surrender the UK licence. Importing your car is usually a false economy: VRT (7–41%) plus 10% customs and 23% VAT can total €8,000–€12,000 on a £25,000 car, so most movers sell in the UK and buy in Ireland.

Do I still pay UK tax, and what happens to my ISA? ▼

Once you’re Irish tax-resident (183 days in a calendar year, or 280 across two years) your worldwide income is generally taxable in Ireland, with the UK–Ireland Double Taxation Convention preventing double taxation. File HMRC’s Form P85 when you leave. The key trap is ISAs: Ireland doesn’t recognise the wrapper, so they lose tax-free status on the day you become resident (33% CGT, and 41% deemed disposal on fund-type ISAs). Get advice on closing or restructuring before you go. As a UK-domiciled newcomer you may also use the remittance basis on non-Irish income.

Can I bring my pet from the UK to Ireland? ▼

Yes, with no quarantine for compliant pets. From Great Britain (treated as “non-EU” post-Brexit) your cat or dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate from an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel; dogs also need tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival. No rabies blood test is required. From Northern Ireland (inside the EU pet scheme) an EU pet passport is enough.