Relocating to Ireland

Living and Working in Ireland

The Emerald Isle

Ireland is an English-speaking island on the western edge of Europe blessed by beautiful landscapes and a temperate climate. Ireland is renowned for its wide expanses of lush, green fields and hills, spectacular cliffs and coastlines, and cosmopolitan, vibrant cities. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the world can be found in Ireland. 

Climb a mountain, jump in a lake (or fish in it!), swim in the sea, meditate with monks on a remote island, catch a wave on one of the world’s best surf beaches, find out about Giants at the Causeway, visit Luke Skywalker’s Island, the list goes on. For those that prefer the city, there is an abundance of shopping, theatre, music venues, lively nightlife, entertainment, great food and drink, and great ‘craic’ (fun). There is something for everyone in Ireland.

A Cosmopolitan, Fun-Loving People 

The Irish people are renowned for being warm, witty, welcoming and with more than their fair share of charm. Lonely Planet once named Ireland as the friendliest country in the world.  The hospitality of the Irish is famous…the land of 100,000 welcomes.  Naturally inquisitive, the Irish are happy to talk to strangers…and talk… and talk. Combined with a vibrant and varied culture that knows how to enjoy and appreciate life, it’s not hard to settle into communities with a little effort. Ireland is known as being one of the friendliest, happiest countries in the world.

200 different nationalities are represented in Ireland and more than 15% of the population is from overseas. Foreign nationals are considered valued contributors to the development of Ireland and its exciting new culture. 17% of the total people employed in Ireland in 2021 were non-Irish, amongst the highest in the EU.

Ireland has the youngest population in Europe and one of the most educated and diverse workforces in the world. It has higher third-level education than the EU average and has the highest level of STEM graduates per capita in the EU among 20-29 year-olds.

Unsurpassed Quality of Life

Recognised international indexes rank Ireland among the best places in the world for quality of life, satisfaction levels, household income, education standards, health, and life expectancy. According to the United Nations Human Development Index, Ireland has the 2nd highest quality of life in the world and among the highest life satisfaction in the OECD. It is also one of the safest countries in Europe. It ranked 11th in the 2011 Global Peace Index for the safest countries in the world to live in.

Ireland has a rich cultural heritage, including art, cuisine, music, sports, and literature. It is a nation of storytellers and many famed writers come from Ireland, including several winners of the Nobel Prize for literature. There is an incredible diversity of cultural activity in Ireland, from attending festivals, watching master craftsmen create incredible pieces, seeing world-famous performers take to the stage, and enjoying works of art in beautiful galleries. 

Ireland is a sports-loving nation. From amazing golf courses to competitive hurling, soccer, Gaelic football, rugby, swimming, tennis, horse-riding, cycling, running, dancing, and sailing, there are clubs and competitions for everything and everyone.

A Stabile and Secure Country

Ireland is a politically stable, modern economy with a developed constitutional democracy within the EU. The government of Ireland consists of an elected parliament, which makes the laws, and a president, who is the head of state. Beyond political stability, Ireland also enjoys good social stability and low crime. A progressive tax system reduces income inequality and enables high levels of public investment in housing, infrastructure, education, healthcare and other public services. Under its Project Ireland 2040 strategy, the Irish Government plans major public investments targeted towards vital infrastructure, together with developing well-being indices to track key metrics around the quality of life.

An Economic Powerhouse

Though its population is small (5 million people), Ireland is an economic powerhouse, among the fastest-growing and most stable in the Eurozone. In 2021, Ireland achieved 13.5% GDP growth, driven largely by exports. As a committed EU member, Ireland is among the most outward-looking and internationally engaged countries in the world. Both the Irish Government and its citizens overwhelmingly support EU membership. Irish citizens enjoy the right to live and work anywhere in the EU, and, under the Common Travel Area agreement with the UK, Irish citizens also enjoy the right to live and work in the UK. Ireland also has a longstanding, historical relationship with the US.

Ireland consistently ranks among the top countries in the world in which to do business. It is ranked as the 4^th most competitive economy in the EU and the 12^th globally. Successive governments have maintained this pro-business outlook. There is full employment in Ireland.

World-Class Connectivity and Infrastructure

Ireland is connected to the world through excellent transport links to Europe, the UK, the US and beyond. This has led to substantial foreign investment in Ireland, with many major multinationals headquartered in Ireland, serving global markets in pharmaceuticals, technology services, medical devices, food and beverages, and financial services.

Domestically, Ireland enjoys an excellent transport network, including a countrywide motorway network connecting all regions with transport hubs, and good public transport with major ongoing public investment in sea, air, rail, and road networks. The latest National Development Plan has committed €165 billion to major infrastructure projects. As a hub for the biggest names in technology, Ireland offers advanced telecoms and internet infrastructure for residential and business purposes. 

Climate, Environment and Sustainability

Ireland’s climate can be summed up as mild, moist, and changeable with abundant rainfall and a lack of temperature extremes. Because the island is hugged all year round by the warm influence of the Gulf Stream, Ireland is much warmer than other countries that share its latitude. The Gulf Stream also ensures that the Irish coastline remains ice-free throughout winter. Extreme winters are rare, with average winter temperatures of between 40°F/5°C and 46°F/8°C. Summer temperatures are generally between 60°F/15°C to 70°F/20°C.

Ireland enjoys clean air and water and is committed to sustainable development. Ireland has committed to generating up to 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to a 50% reduction in emissions within the same timeframe.

A High-Quality Healthcare System

Ireland has a high-quality public and private healthcare system and a range of private health insurance options. Everyone ordinarily resident in Ireland and certain visitors to Ireland are entitled to a range of public health services either free of charge or at reduced cost. Short-term visitors to Ireland may also be entitled to health services that are free or at a reduced cost. Some residents are eligible for medical cards which provide free access to most GP services, prescription medications, public hospital services, some dental, optical, and aural services, maternity and infant care services, and community care and personal social services. Non-medical card holders must pay for most of these services but are entitled to public hospital services either free of charge or at a reduced cost.

World-Class Education

Ireland has a world-class education system and is home to some of the best universities in the world, with many of them ranking in the top 5% of universities globally. Free education is available for pre, primary, and secondary schools as well as a range of high-quality private schools. There is also a range of adult and further education and training programmes nationwide providing technical and practical education as well as a route to higher and third-level education. Ireland also offers a programme of apprenticeships in traditional trades as well as ICT, finance, software development and hospitality.

A Progressive Tax System

Ireland has a progressive tax system and income tax is deducted by the employer in addition to Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) and a Universal Social Charge (USC). Income tax is charged as a percentage of income and there are two tax rates in Ireland. The first part of income up to a certain amount is taxed at 20% and the remainder is taxed at 40%. PRSI is used to fund social welfare benefits and pensions. Those earning less than €352 per week pay no PRSI, while those earning more pay at a rate of 4%. USC is paid by anyone earning more than €13,000 per year. There are also tax credits, which reduce the amount of tax paid, and Ireland has one of the highest rates of tax relief in Europe.