How to Move to Ireland from Brazil: Visas, Costs and Tips

Brazil sends one of the largest groups of students and workers to Ireland, with a long-established community in Dublin, Cork and Gort in Galway. If you are a Brazilian citizen thinking of moving, the route you take matters more than anything else, because arrival rights and the right to work are two different things. This guide walks through the options, the money and the practical first weeks.

Visa Status and Entry Rules

Brazilian citizens have historically been able to visit Ireland for short stays without a visa. Visa-exempt status is only about entering for a short visit, though. It does not give you the right to work or to stay long term. If you plan to work or study, you need the correct permission, and you must register with immigration after arrival if you will stay beyond 90 days. Rules can change, so check the current visa-required list on the Irish Immigration Service site before booking flights.

Your Main Routes to Living in Ireland

For most non-EU nationals the strongest work route is the Critical Skills Employment Permit, which needs a job offer on the eligible occupations list at or above the salary threshold that applies at the time. Roles that do not qualify usually fall under the General Employment Permit, which has its own salary floor and, for many roles, a Labour Market Needs Test. Both need a job offer first, and the employer normally applies.

The General Employment Permit covers a wider list of jobs but comes with a minimum salary and, in most cases, a requirement that the employer first advertises the role locally. Some occupations are ineligible, so check the current lists before you plan around it.

Studying in Ireland is the other common route. A student with a place on a recognised full-time course receives Stamp 2 permission, which allows limited part-time work during term and more in holiday periods, within limits that are updated from time to time. Graduates may be eligible for the Third Level Graduate Programme (Stamp 1G), which gives a period to look for work, and can then move to an employment permit. Fees for non-EU students are far higher than for EU students, so price the whole course and your living costs before applying.

Family routes exist too. The spouse or partner of certain permit holders may be able to join them and work, and family members of Irish or EU citizens have separate rights. Immigration Stamp 4 is commonly associated with family reunification and long-term residence, but the rules depend on the sponsor's status, so apply only after checking current guidance.

Many Brazilians also hold Italian, Portuguese, Spanish or other EU passports through ancestry. If you can claim citizenship of an EU country, you may be able to live and work in Ireland under EU free movement rules without any permit. Recognition of that citizenship through the other country's consulate can take a long time, so start early if it applies to you.

Timeline and Costs

Employment permit processing typically takes some weeks, and the Irish Immigration Service registration appointment adds more time after arrival. Plan for roughly two to four months from job offer to starting work, and longer if your employer is slow to submit documents. Employment permit fees are paid by the applicant or employer and have been in the range of a few hundred to around a thousand euro depending on permit length, and the Irish Residence Permit registration fee has been about 300 euro. Student visas have a separate application fee and, importantly, proof of funds and tuition payment.

All fees and processing times change, so treat every figure here as approximate and confirm the current position at irishimmigration.ie and enterprise.gov.ie before you commit money.

Recognition of Qualifications

Brazilian degrees are not automatically recognised in a formal sense, but employers in most fields care more about the degree than any certificate. For regulated professions such as nursing, medicine, teaching or engineering titles, you must go through the relevant Irish regulator. The Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) comparison service can tell you how your degree compares to the Irish framework, which many employers find helpful. Have your diplomas and transcripts translated into English and, where requested, apostilled.

Your First Steps After Landing

Whatever your route, the first fortnight in Ireland follows a similar order. Get a PPS number first, because employers, banks and the Revenue system all ask for it. Our guide to the PPS number in Ireland explains the application through MyWelfare.ie and what proof of address you need. Then work through opening a bank account in Ireland, which can be slow for new arrivals without Irish payslips or utility bills, so start with the banks and digital providers that accept passport and tenancy documents.

Housing is the hardest part for almost everyone. Read renting in Ireland before you pay any deposit, never transfer money for a property you have not seen or had verified, and budget for short-term accommodation while you search. On healthcare, Irish public care is not automatically free for new arrivals. You may be asked to pay for GP visits, and many people take out private health insurance early. Check your eligibility for a medical card or GP visit card on the HSE website.

Cost of Living, Community and Culture

Expect rent to take a large share of your income, especially in Dublin. Many Brazilians find Cork and Galway a little more manageable, and some choose smaller towns with meat processing or hospitality jobs. The Brazilian community is large enough that Portuguese-speaking groups, churches and Facebook communities can help with housing leads and jobs, but be careful of anyone asking for payment for a job or a room before you arrive.

The weather and the social culture take some adjusting. Irish people can be reserved with strangers at first and then very warm. Small talk about the weather is a doorway, not a nuisance. Pubs, GAA and local clubs are the quickest ways to make friends.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Arriving on a tourist entry and assuming you can switch to work permission once you find a job. Most routes must be arranged before you start.
• Paying an agent or an individual for a promised job offer. Genuine employers do not charge candidates.
• Not budgeting for deposits. Landlords commonly ask for a month's deposit plus the first month's rent in advance.
• Underestimating English requirements. Some courses and jobs expect proof of English at a stated level, so check early.
• Failing to register with immigration within the time required once you arrive for a long stay.

Frequently Asked Questions