Ireland at a Glance

Moving to Ireland

Ireland today has become more protective of its job market.

Moving to Ireland as an expat was definitely easier in the past few years than it is nowadays, as the recession has resulted in stricter visa legislations. Still, moving to Ireland remains a top choice. Our guide on moving to Ireland gives you an insight into destinations, visas and more.

Moving to Ireland: Where to Go

Obviously, expats moving to Ireland will base their decision on where to settle on the job they have landed. It is rather rare for expats to first move to Ireland and then look for employment, although these days, personal applications are preferred to online ones. For further info on job hunting, please read our article on Working in Ireland.

Large cities and centers of industry are obviously a haven for expats. We have listed three choice destinations for expats moving to Ireland below.

Move to Ireland: Dublin

Dublin, the capital and largest city in Ireland, is the cultural and economic heart of the nation. The Greater Dublin area is home to 1.8 million people, which corresponds to a whopping 40% of the total population. The number of expats moving to Ireland’s capital is, of course, substantial.

As the overwhelming majority of offers on internet job portals are in Dublin, the lure of moving to Ireland’s unrivalled focal point is immense. In fact, it is great enough it prompted us to dedicate a whole series of articles to the city, starting with our article on Moving to Dublin.

Moving to Ireland: Cork

Ireland’s second largest city and metropolitan area, Cork, is a great choice for expats moving to Ireland in order to work in the industry sector. Located in the south of the country, it is the heart of the local industry, specifically of pharmaceutical companies and IT.

Global players such as Pfizer and Apple have subsidiaries and even European headquarters here, making Cork a lucrative option for expats who contemplate moving to Ireland. Other major companies located in or around Cork include Novartis, Amazon, Johnson & Johnson and Logitech.

For people occupied in the oil industry, moving to Ireland’s only oil refinery and storage facility in County Cork might be of interest. The city is home to one of the country’s main airports, which should make moving to Ireland’s south a smooth and convenient matter.

Move to Ireland: Limerick

Limerick in Western Ireland is a major economic hub, mainly due to the importance of the Shannon Free Trade Zone. The attractive taxation terms in this business park prompted many international corporations to move to Ireland’s heartland. Over 100 companies are located within the park. Its location adjacent to the second busiest airport in the country, Shannon Airport, makes moving to Ireland’s premier Free Trade Zone a breeze.

Apart from the FTZ’s advantages for companies, a move to Ireland’s third largest metropolitan area also proved fruitful for many employees. Large employers include Vistakon and Dell, despite the recent shutdown of their production site.