How to Move to Ireland from the UK: Common Travel Area Rights Explained

Of everyone moving to Ireland, British citizens have it easiest by a wide margin — and that surprises a lot of people who assume Brexit changed things. It didn't, at least not for this. Ireland and the UK operate the Common Travel Area (CTA), a bilateral arrangement that predates the EU and survived Brexit intact. If you're a UK citizen, you can move to Ireland tomorrow, start working the day after, and never fill in a visa application.

What the Common Travel Area Actually Means

Under the CTA, UK and Irish citizens can live, work, study, vote in certain elections, and access social welfare and healthcare in each other's countries without any immigration permission at all. There's no visa, no employment permit, no Irish Residence Permit card, and no 90-day clock. You show up with a passport (or even just proof of identity for domestic flights, though a passport is strongly advised for airline check-in purposes) and you're legally entitled to stay indefinitely. This is confirmed directly by the Irish government at gov.ie and by citizensinformation.ie. It is genuinely one of the most generous bilateral mobility arrangements in the world.

What Changed After Brexit (and What Didn't)

Brexit ended free movement between the UK and the wider EU, but the CTA is a separate UK-Ireland treaty, protected explicitly in the Withdrawal Agreement, so it was never at risk. What did change is more subtle: a British citizen living in Ireland no longer carries automatic EU rights when travelling onward to, say, France or Germany — you're now a third-country national there, subject to the 90/180-day Schengen rule like any other non-EU visitor. Pet travel also got more complicated; moving a dog or cat from Britain to Ireland now typically requires an animal health certificate rather than the old EU pet passport, arranged through a vet within 10 days of travel. And UK driving licences are no longer automatically exchangeable in every EU country the way they once were, though Ireland specifically continued to allow UK licence holders to exchange for an Irish one without retesting — check current rules at the National Driver Licence Service before you travel.

The Practical Side: What You Actually Need to Do

Because there's no visa process, the entire "move" is really just logistics. You'll want a Personal Public Service (PPS) number to get paid and access services, applied for through MyWelfare.ie once you have an Irish address — this typically takes 5–10 working days. You'll need an Irish bank account, which most banks will open once you have a PPS number and proof of address, though some now allow you to start the process before you land. If you're bringing a UK-registered car, note that after 12 months of Irish residence you're required to register it in Ireland and pay Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), which can run into thousands of euros depending on the vehicle, so many people sell up in the UK and buy locally instead. NHS and HSE records don't transfer automatically, so register with a GP in Ireland early, especially if you're managing an ongoing condition or prescription.

Cost of Living: UK vs. Ireland

Dublin now runs noticeably more expensive than most UK cities outside London. A one-bedroom flat in central Dublin averages €2,000–€2,300 a month, similar to or above inner London, while rents in Cork or Galway (€1,400–€1,700) are comparable to Manchester or Bristol rather than smaller UK towns. Groceries and eating out are broadly similar in price to the UK, sometimes 10–15% higher on specific categories due to VAT and Ireland's smaller retail market. Income tax bands feel different too: Ireland's higher rate of 40% applies above roughly €44,000 for a single person, lower than the UK's £50,270 threshold for the 40% band once converted, though Ireland layers on USC (Universal Social Charge) and PRSI, so net take-home on a comparable salary can end up similar or slightly lower than in the UK. Broadband, energy and childcare in Ireland are all persistently more expensive than UK averages — childcare in particular is one of the most expensive in Europe, often €1,000–€1,600 a month for a full-time place.

Housing: The Real Obstacle

The one genuine barrier for Brits moving to Ireland isn't immigration status, it's the housing market. Dublin's rental supply is severely constrained, and it's common for 20+ applicants to view a single property, with landlords often requiring an Irish employer reference, a guarantor, or six months' rent as a deposit for newcomers without an Irish credit history. Starting the search 8–10 weeks before your move, and being willing to consider Cork, Limerick or Galway if you're not tied to Dublin for work, meaningfully improves your odds.

Timeline: How Fast Can You Actually Move?

Because there's no permit to wait on, the CTA route is genuinely the fastest way to relocate to Ireland — many people move within 4–8 weeks of deciding to, limited mainly by notice periods, shipping belongings (removal firms typically quote 1–2 weeks for a UK-Ireland move by ferry), and finding somewhere to live. The absence of visa admin is the single biggest advantage British movers have over almost every other nationality on this list.

Frequently Asked Questions