Living
Before You Arrive
Before you arrive in Dublin, be sure to have all your documents, such as your passports, letters from employers or educational institutions and entry visas, if you need them, ready. There are different requirements for EU and non-EU citizens, and various options are open to non-EU citizens, so do some research and find out exactly which category you fall under and which documents you need.
If you do not have a job lined up, check with the relevant professional bodies to see whether any specific qualifications (in law or accountancy, for example) are recognised here. Because living in Dublin is so expensive, it might not be a bad idea to rent out your house in your home country, if you own one, or have some savings, to tide you over while you adjust to Dublin’s hefty prices.
Dublin banks, particularly the bigger branches, are well equipped to handle international banking transactions so you don’t necessarily have to close your bank account in your home country. However, it is a good idea to set up an Irish bank account as soon as you start work.
You can easily manage without a car in Dublin. Traffic is bad, parking and petrol are expensive and the public transport system is simply far less hassle, despite its shortcomings. If you are keen to have your own wheels though, make sure you have parking with your accomodation (and factor it into your rent calculations) as it is fairly sparse in the city.
If you have children, be sure to research the schools well in advance. The school year starts in the Autumn (usually in early September), so it makes sense to move in time for that, if feasible. Contact a few schools to check for availability and get your kids on the waiting lists as early as possible. Be aware that the waiting list for schools in ‘nicer’ areas might be long. Another thing to consider is that most non-private schools are Catholic – there are some Protestant and non-denominational schools available, but these usually have the longest waiting lists.
When looking for somewhere to live, you will probably want to rent somewhere first while you feel out the property market. The city is divided in two by the River Liffey, which runs through the city centre. General opinion is that the south side (Dublin 2) is nicer, but the north side has a certain character and offers some more reasonable housing areas. Buying a house is always an option, although most people are advising against it in the current market, in which prices are extremely high. It may be worth waiting a while to see if there is any significant or permanent decrease in the average house prices.
If you do not have a job lined up, check with the relevant professional bodies to see whether any specific qualifications (in law or accountancy, for example) are recognised here. Because living in Dublin is so expensive, it might not be a bad idea to rent out your house in your home country, if you own one, or have some savings, to tide you over while you adjust to Dublin’s hefty prices.
Dublin banks, particularly the bigger branches, are well equipped to handle international banking transactions so you don’t necessarily have to close your bank account in your home country. However, it is a good idea to set up an Irish bank account as soon as you start work.
You can easily manage without a car in Dublin. Traffic is bad, parking and petrol are expensive and the public transport system is simply far less hassle, despite its shortcomings. If you are keen to have your own wheels though, make sure you have parking with your accomodation (and factor it into your rent calculations) as it is fairly sparse in the city.
If you have children, be sure to research the schools well in advance. The school year starts in the Autumn (usually in early September), so it makes sense to move in time for that, if feasible. Contact a few schools to check for availability and get your kids on the waiting lists as early as possible. Be aware that the waiting list for schools in ‘nicer’ areas might be long. Another thing to consider is that most non-private schools are Catholic – there are some Protestant and non-denominational schools available, but these usually have the longest waiting lists.
When looking for somewhere to live, you will probably want to rent somewhere first while you feel out the property market. The city is divided in two by the River Liffey, which runs through the city centre. General opinion is that the south side (Dublin 2) is nicer, but the north side has a certain character and offers some more reasonable housing areas. Buying a house is always an option, although most people are advising against it in the current market, in which prices are extremely high. It may be worth waiting a while to see if there is any significant or permanent decrease in the average house prices.
