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Guidance

Living in Ireland

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Ireland – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

Getting help with living in Ireland

Help from the Irish government

For any questions about moving to or living in Ireland, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Dublin cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Ireland.

Professional help in country

You can also get help from professionals in Ireland, including:

  • lawyers

  • notaries

  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Ireland to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Ireland. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements

  • laws and cultural differences

  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Ireland before you travel.

Visas

British nationals do not need a visa to live, work or study in Ireland.

For more information, read guidance on:

  • the

Citizenship

Ireland recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become an Irish citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Irish citizenship, read guidance on .

Residency if you moved to Ireland before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Ireland before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Any non-European Economic Area (EEA) or non-Swiss family members or dependants living with you at that time should have replaced their Irish Resident’s Card with a Withdrawal Agreement card.

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad

  • travel urgently without your British passport

Although Ireland is in the EU, it is not in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residency document when . If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for . Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

Ireland will not use the EES. British nationals resident in Ireland will have to register with the EES to travel to other EU countries.

For more information about the EES, read:

Healthcare in Ireland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare

  • take medicine abroad

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Ireland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

You do not need a work permit or visa to work in Ireland.

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a:

If you live in Ireland and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Ireland, you may need to .

Driving in Ireland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally

  • take your UK vehicle abroad

  • get driving licence letters

The Irish provides information on driving in Ireland, including how to apply for an Irish driving licence.

For more information, read guidance on:

Driving in Ireland using a foreign driving licence

If you’re resident in Ireland, you cannot drive with a foreign licence.

As a visitor, and before becoming a resident, you can drive in Ireland for up to 12 months using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK

  • Gibraltar

  • Jersey

  • Guernsey

  • the Isle of Man

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Ireland.

Exchanging your driving licence

If you’re resident in Ireland, you must . You must do this to drive legally in Ireland – an international driving permit is not a substitute for exchanging your licence.

You’ll need to:

The Irish National Driver’s Licence Service has .

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for an .

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Ireland, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Ireland so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the for any questions about double taxation relief. Read .

Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Ireland. To do this, .

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension

  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK state pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming an Irish pension

Contact the Irish to find out whether you can .

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers claiming UK benefits abroad.

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Irish benefits

You may be entitled to some Irish benefits if you’re considered ‘habitually resident’ in Ireland.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim, read about:

Buying and renting property in Ireland

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.

Read Citizens Information guidance on .

Contact a if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Ireland

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers voting in UK elections and registering as an overseas voter.

Irish elections

You can if you’re old enough.

You cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Studying in Ireland

You do not need a visa to study in Ireland.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

  • your higher education provider in the UK or Ireland

  • the

  • the

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad

  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad

  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the .

All children aged 6 to 16 must attend school or home school in Ireland.

For more information, read the Irish government’s guidance on:

Childcare

The is responsible for childcare services in Ireland.

Read guidance on .

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Ireland, .

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate

  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad

  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Ireland, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

The Irish government provides information on .

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.

Citizens Information offers guidance on .

Consider taking legal advice from a .

Documents for British people in Ireland

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:

  • legalising and certifying UK documents

  • marriage and civil partnership documents

  • affirmations and affidavits

  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers and notaries

To find a lawyer or notary in Ireland, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Ireland, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Read Citizens Information guidance on .

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Irish authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 14 May 2013
Last updated 26 February 2026 show all updates
  1. This guide was reviewed for accuracy and there are no significant updates.

  2. Added new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  3. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  4. Coronavirus section deleted

  5. Extension for non-EEA family members of UK nationals residing in Ireland before 30 June 2022 to apply for a residence document under the Withdrawal Agreement (https://www.irishimmigration.ie/extension-of-date-for-non-eea-family-members-of-uk-nationals-residing-in-ireland-before-the-end-of-the-transition-period-on-31-december-2020-to-apply-for-a-residence-document-under-the-withdrawal-agre/).

  6. Guide reviewed and updated with new information, including in the sections on driving and pets.

  7. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

  8. Updated as the transition period ends

  9. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  10. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  11. Brexit update: new information about exchanging UK driving licences and motor insurance in the ´driving section.´ Updates in the ´visa and residency´ and ´working in Ireland´ section.

  12. EU Exit update: added information on travel in EU, EEA and EFTA countries in the event of a no deal exit.

  13. EU Exit update: added in new information in passports and travel and returning to the UK sections

  14. EU Exit update: updated information on EU Exit in healthcare, visas and residency, driving and working sections

  15. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  16. EU Exit update: updated the Common Travel Area guidance and advice on driving in Ireland

  17. EU Exit update: Updated information on passports. You must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip.

  18. EU Exit update: Latest message from the British Ambassador to Ireland on the Common Travel Area added to the EU Exit section

  19. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  20. EU exit update - updated information on pensions and passports

  21. EU Exit update: We have added information about the Common Travel Area under the Visas and Residency and Working in Ireland sections.

  22. EU exit update: Added in link to information about the Common Travel Area and citizens rights.

  23. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.

  24. All content has been revised to ensure it's accurate and up to date.

  25. First published.

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