Moving to Ireland From US

Are you sick of all the hustle and bustle of the US? Then, it’s time to consider moving to Ireland from US. Take the biggest step and find yourself savoring the beauty of the Emerald Isle. But what makes Ireland the right country to relocate to?

Ireland, the abode of the memorable Guinness, colcannon, tea, and Irish whiskey, is the country that most US expats consider a home away from home. Judging from Ireland’s history, pub life, the famous Dublin, and acclaimed writers like George Bernard Shaw and Oscar Wilde, there is genuinely a lot of fascination attached to this little but mighty country. No one would want to miss out on all the wonders of this historic territory.

If you are emigrating / moving to Ireland from the US, you will undoubtedly need to obtain a visa. However, as a US citizen, you are permitted to stay in Ireland for ninety days for tourism or business reasons without a visa.

But since you have plans of relocating / moving to Ireland from the USA, you will need to think about your reason for deciding to move from the US to Ireland. This will help you choose the right visa that suits all your needs. So, what are the options available in Ireland? Check out the permits that are available in Ireland.

Work Visa

You can only apply for this visa if you intend to moving to Ireland from the US for work purposes. However, you must have a job offer or contract in Ireland if you desire to get a work visa.

Study Visa

Emigrating to Ireland from the US using a study visa requires that you gain admission to a higher institution of learning in Ireland before going through the visa process.

Volunteer Visa

You can only obtain a volunteer visa if you intend to move from the US to Ireland for volunteer work purposes.

Researcher Visa

The Ireland researcher visa permits you to work as a researcher in the Emerald Isle.

Working Holiday Visa

To apply for this visa, you must be a citizen of any country with a working holiday contract with Ireland. And fortunately, the US has a working holiday agreement with Ireland.

Family Reunion Visa

As an American, you will need an Irish family before you can obtain the family reunion visa.

Internship Visa

You can opt for this visa if you plan to move to Ireland from the USA as a paid intern.

Minister Of Religion Visa

If you are relocating / moving to Ireland from the USA to work as a minister of religion with any certified religious community, this visa is suitable for you.

So, since you have known the available visas, particularly long-stay visas, you can obtain your permit to Ireland by following the guidelines in the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service’s website.

No matter how ecstatic you are about relocating / moving to Ireland from the USA, you might worry about Ireland’s healthcare system, which is entirely understandable. Here is something to relieve you from pondering; the healthcare system in the Emerald Isle is universal. But even with this, you might wonder, ‘is healthcare free in Ireland?’

Is Healthcare Free In Ireland?

Of course, like most EU countries, healthcare is free in Ireland. The healthcare system in Ireland is government-funded and universal. This is why you will enjoy staying in the country, as medical care is available to you for free immediately when you land on the Emerald Isle. How awesome is that!

However, as much as healthcare in Ireland is said to be free, you must meet some requirements to enjoy free medical care. Due to the needs, statistics show that only 30% of Ireland’s population benefits from its free healthcare system. Are you surprised? Please don’t be.

The free medical care in Ireland is available to only medical cardholders. Those who typically qualify for the medical card are people with severe illnesses, low income, and disabilities. That’s why healthcare in Ireland is mainly grouped into those who qualify for medical cards and those who do not.

The eligible people for medical cards do not have to pay for doctor visits and regular checkups. Conversely, those who do not qualify for it pay for health services and doctor visits. Nonetheless, the cost is usually subsidized. So, suppose you didn’t qualify for a medical card; how much does it cost to see a doctor in Ireland?

Cost Of Seeing A Doctor In Ireland

The average cost of visiting a doctor or GP in Ireland is €50. However, you may be asked to pay more if your doctor makes any recommendations after seeing him. But even if you have to pay for doctor visits and other health services because you don’t qualify for a medical card, you can still obtain private health insurance to get you and your family medically covered. However, to get private health insurance, you need to understand how health insurance works in Ireland.

How Much Does Health Insurance Cost In Ireland?

The average annual cost of health insurance in Ireland is €2,059, which is $2,522.43. Private health insurance coverage is the next right option for people who don’t qualify for the Medical Card. Private insurance is also compulsory for international students who intend to move from the US to Ireland to pursue their education.

Here are the four most popular private insurance companies in Ireland.

• Irish Life Health.
• Aviva Health.
• VHI (Voluntary Health Insurance).
• Laya Healthcare.

With a score of 80.9, the Emerald Isle sits as the sixth freest economy in the world according to the 2020 Index. Since Ireland is one of the flourishing economies in Europe, it indeed has a lot of employment opportunities. However, to get a job in Ireland, you need to make sure that your job falls into the most needed sectors or skills in the country as that will make things easier for you while you are moving to Ireland.

How To Get A Job In Ireland As An American?

As an American, you must get a job offer before moving to Ireland from US. So, to make this possible, you can utilize any of the following.

Irish Job Websites

There are so many websites that give updates about job opportunities in Ireland. And amazingly, this is what most employers use in searching for new staff. Finding a job on one of the job websites gives you the knowledge you need to write your cover letter and prepare your CV to meet the Irish job standards.

Irish Job Agencies

You can utilize any Irish job agency to get yourself a job in the Emerald Isle, but a disclaimer is attached. The only way you can get any of these agencies’ attention is by first moving to Ireland from US, which might negate the visa process of getting a job offer in Ireland before relocating.

Irish Newspapers

This is the traditional method which many people have used to find themselves jobs in Ireland. You can check out job advertisements in Irish newspapers like The Irish Times or The Evening Herald.

Social Media

The world has truly evolved towards the online sphere, and Ireland isn’t left out. You can find jobs on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

With these avenues listed above, you can secure a job for yourself in the Emerald Isle, provided your skill is highly-demanded and you meet the requirements.

How To Work In Ireland As An American?

Working in Ireland as an American entails that you stick to all the laws guiding the Irish job market. Follow the dress code of your workplace. Also, remember that English is the most used language, so don’t panic.

What Is The Most Common Job In Ireland?

Getting a job in Ireland entails that you know the most needed or common professions in the country. This will help you know if your skill will be appreciated or not in Ireland. That is why it is advisable to assess your skills properly to estimate the pay and appreciation before relocating to Ireland from the USA for work purposes.

So, here is a list of the most common jobs in Ireland.

• Science and pharmaceutical jobs.
• Engineering jobs.
• Content marketing jobs.
• Language jobs.
• Hotel general manager.
• Software architect.
• Sales director.

Is 30k A Good Salary In Ireland?

In Ireland, getting paid 30,000 Euros is a good start. However, your pay can increase or be slightly higher depending on the company and your skill. Most Americans who move from the US to Ireland do extensive research on their skill–which is the right thing to do– to determine their pay. If you are lucky to learn a good and useful skill or study a high demanded course in the university, your salary can be much higher than €30,000, but it is a good salary for a start.

What Jobs Pay Well In Ireland?

The highest paying job in Ireland not only promises you higher pay but, quite often, lots of employment packages that go a long way in reducing your cost of living in this rather expensive European country. Below is a list of some jobs that pay well in the country and their salaries.

• Director of operations (€130,000).
• Finance director (€139,000).
• Dentist (€91,000).
• Baker (€84,000).
• Technical architect (€103,000).
• Commercial manager (€92,000).

It is vital to think about how living in Ireland would affect you as an American. Yes, there is no doubt that the wind of culture shock will hit you, and there will always be some things you will not fancy in the Emerald Isle. However, regardless of the differences, the benefits of moving to Ireland from the US outweigh the disadvantages.

What Is The Safest City In Ireland?

If you’re moving to Ireland from US alone or with your family, it is essential to check for the safest city where you and your family can stay without fear of insecurity. In Ireland, Roscommon is the safest city as there are hardly any insecurity issues compared to Dublin and other major cities. However, it is pertinent to note that no matter how unsafe some towns are in Ireland, Ireland’s crime rate is still lower than that of the US.

Why Is Ireland A Good Place To Live?

There are so many reasons why Ireland is the right place to relocate to, and it is true that if you move to this beautiful island with admirable hills and pub life, you won’t regret it. Here are some reasons why Ireland is worth emigrating to.

Great Literature

Ireland is blessed with great literary giants who have produced works that have been read globally. Consider the works written by James Joyce and Bernard Shaw; it proves that Ireland is the abode of literary muses.

Patrick’s Day

This national holiday that has found its way into the global stage is truly something that makes Ireland enticing. You need to see the mind-blowing local parade.

Home Of Golf And Great Golfers

It is no news that Ireland is the home of the great golfer, Rory McIlory. Ireland has produced more golf courses than any other country in the world. So, what’s not to like?!

Pubs

Pubs are a part of Irish culture, and it is always an excellent little way to relieve yourself from all stress of the day’s official duties.

Headquarters Of Most Big Companies

Ireland is the European headquarter to most big companies like Google and others. You are sure to gain employment quickly and easily.

How Much Money Do You Need To Live Comfortably In Ireland?

Judging from the average monthly living expenses, which is $2,883, you can live comfortably in Ireland if you have at least $34,596 yearly. Ireland is quite expensive, but this amount would help you keep body and soul together on the island.

LGBT Rights

Ireland is the ninth most LGBT-friendly country in the world. The notion of LGBT has been decriminalized in Ireland since 1993, and same-sex marriage became acceptable in 2015. If you are homosexual, you will not experience any form of discrimination in Ireland, and you are allowed to adopt a stepchild legally under the 2017 Adoption (Amendment) Act in Ireland. So, there’s nothing to be scared about when you are in the first Nation to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote on a national level in 2015.

Ireland is accommodating and enjoyable. There’s nothing to regret about relocation / moving to Ireland from USA. Do you know that full-time workers get at least 20 days off with other additional paid vacations in Ireland? Yes, that is true! So, remember that a lot awaits you in Ireland.