How to Move to Ireland from Germany and the EU: Free Movement

If you are a citizen of Germany or another EU or EEA country, moving to Ireland is far simpler than for most nationalities. You do not need a visa or an employment permit, and you can look for work or start a job as soon as you arrive. This guide explains your rights, the practical paperwork and the common stumbling blocks.

Visa Status and Entry Rules

EU and EEA citizens, and Swiss citizens under separate arrangements, have free movement rights in Ireland. You can enter with a valid passport or national identity card. You do not need to apply for a residence permit in the way non-EU nationals do, though you may need to show you meet conditions such as being employed, self-employed, a student with health cover, or self-sufficient if you stay beyond three months. Check the Department of Justice guidance for the exact conditions that apply to your situation.

Your Main Routes to Living in Ireland

Because you have free movement rights, the Critical Skills Employment Permit and General Employment Permit do not apply to you. The same goes for Stamp 2 and most visa categories. Instead, your options are practical rather than bureaucratic: find a job, start a business, study, or move as a family member of someone who already lives here.

If you have a non-EU spouse, partner or other family members, they may have their own rights as family members of an EU citizen, which can differ from the permit system that applies to other migrants. Apply for the right documents early and check guidance for your family situation. Our guide to the Critical Skills Employment Permit is mainly relevant if you are bringing someone who is not an EU citizen and want to understand how their route differs.

After five years of continuous residence, EU citizens can apply for permanent residence recognition. Irish citizenship by naturalisation is a separate process and has its own residence and good-character conditions, so check the current rules before relying on timing.

Timeline and Costs

You can move almost immediately. The practical steps are renting a home, getting a PPS number, opening a bank account and registering with a GP. Allow a few weeks for the PPS number and housing, and longer if you need to find a rental in a tight market. There is no permit fee for EU citizens, so costs are mostly flights, moving, deposit and first month's rent.

Be cautious about mixing up the rules for EU citizens with those for non-EU nationals. If a recruiter or friend mentions permits and visas, those generally apply to people from outside the EU.

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

The EU has a system for recognition of professional qualifications for regulated professions such as doctors, nurses, architects and teachers. You must apply to the relevant Irish regulator, which will assess your German or other EU qualification. For non-regulated jobs, employers will generally accept EU degrees, and QQI can provide a comparison if needed. Language is rarely a barrier in English-speaking workplaces, but check whether your role requires a specific level.

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

Dublin attracts the most EU newcomers, and German-speaking communities exist there and in Cork and Galway. Rent is high in all cities, so budget carefully and avoid transferring a deposit before viewing. Healthcare differs from systems in Germany and other EU states, so research public and private access and consider private cover. Your European Health Insurance Card is not a substitute for residency-based health entitlements, so check what applies once you are living here.

Irish working culture is relaxed but still professional. Meetings often start with small talk, and indirect feedback is common. Public transport outside Dublin is more limited than in many parts of Germany, so a car is often needed in smaller towns, which affects your monthly budget.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming that your home-country health insurance continues to cover you indefinitely.
• Not registering for a PPS number soon after arrival.
• Paying a deposit online without verifying the landlord and property.
• Not checking tax residency and social insurance consequences when you move.
• Expecting public transport outside Dublin to match what you are used to.

Frequently Asked Questions