Moving to Kerry

nicktrst

My wife and I are looking to move to Co Kerry asap. We both live in the UK, my wife will move there with the intention of finding a job etc. My situation is I work between the UK and Norway and will be there in Ireland every weekend.
We want to rent to start off to see if we like it etc.

Forgot to mention my wifes dad in irish, will this help, does she need to become a resident to get a bank account etc???

What do we need to do, or what do we need to know with regards to bank accounts, electricity/gas etc.

As ive stated we are looking for as much feedback as we can get, as you can understand this is a big move for us.

Thank you

Nick

ABajaninCork

I'm English and made the move over. And I have to tell you it's tough!! Jobs are very hard to come by, at the moment. It'll be particularly hard in Kerry, as it's rural. What line of work is your wife looking for? She might stand a chance if it's IT as there are plenty of jobs in that field I understand. Whether she'll get one in Kerry is another matter.

I'd start here Citizens Information first.

Where in Kerry do you want to live? Will you be rural, or will you move to somewhere like Killarney, Listowel or Tralee? Have a look at Daft to give you some idea of rents in the area.

Jobs.ie, and Recruit Ireland are popular job websites, so you can have a look there.

HTH

nicktrst

Thank you for the reply,

We are looking at Killarney area. She is a solicitor in Cardiff at the moment, but a job for her is not critical to start with.

We have been looking at daft.ie with rents etc. stupid question here but do you need a Irish bank account to pay utilities and rent.

Also is there anything we need to do in particular before we move out there. I know we need to get a dog passport.

Why did you decide to make the move and was it worth it? As you can understand its a big step to make.

Nick

who the fug

Are your sure about the pet passport. look here

nicktrst

Yep we have got that issue, plus Irish ferries accept dogs to Dublin or rosslare

ABajaninCork

As Britain and Ireland are officially rabies free countries and have a common travel area, you DO NOT need a pet passport. Nor do quarantine regs apply.

I brought over my cat when I moved here. Didn't even need to provide proof of parvo shots, even though I had it.

And yes. You'll need an Irish bank account to pay utilities and rent here.

nicktrst

Ok i read that i needed a pet passport etc, but if we dont thats hood news one less thing to worry about.

Will she need to become a Irish resident to obtain a Irish bank account,

How did you find the move?

ABajaninCork

You do have to be resident in Ireland to get a bank account. I was able to get around that before I moved over as I had a joint account with my Irish husband which was registered to his address here. Once we married and had our own place, we just changed the address. I am married to an Irish national, which is why I moved here. We were hoping for a better quality of life.

Since moving here, it's been very tough financially as I have been unable to find work since moving. We married one week, and the recession literally hit us the next! That's why I suggest you think over the move very carefully. Quality of life here is better, but it's not much use if you're struggling financially...

Mrs OBumble

Firstly, I think you need to be very clear that your wife is unlikley to get a job as a solicitor in Kerry. The only possibility is that her family connections might pull some strings - but even so, I wouldn't hold my breath. Realistically, to stay in professional work, she's going need to find a jobs that allows remote work, or to start her own business.

Next: the Citizen's Information page about info moving to Ireland is here. It's very strong on visa requirements (which I'm guessing isn't an issue for you), but does link to a few useful sites (Revenue and getting qualifications recognized).


More immediately: this recent thread has advice about some of the immediate issues. (I'm pondering on whether it should be a sticky somewhere - or I might even lobby the mods of the Living Abroad forum to extend their charter a bit.)

The only thing it doesn't address is electricity etc .. and you don't need to worry about that until you've got more-permanent accommodation.


Also - look up the regional forum for the area you're interested in. In your case, the Kerry forum is here. That's where you can get up-to-date local information.

bongomad

did you look into any of the citys? there would be more chance's of employment for a solicitor in the citys and its easier to get to from the airports via a bus or train!

fasttalkerchat

A bank account can be set-up without a PPS number if you're in the process of getting one (at the banks discretion) - I did this myself.
Rent can be paid at the agency's office or in cash to the landlord. Some houses have prepay cards to pay electricity.
If you have savings you could offer a big deposit to pay the first electricity bill to allow time to set up a bank account.

Tiphareth

I'd recommend Kenmare as a nice place - you will fit in better there if you are english. It can be hard to be an outsider in parts of Kerry. I agree with earlier poster about family connections - it can be hard to get on and get a job in Ireland - even more so in Kerry if you don't know people or aren't local.

JustAThought

Tiphareth wrote: »

I'd recommend Kenmare as a nice place - you will fit in better there if you are english. It can be hard to be an outsider in parts of Kerry. I agree with earlier poster about family connections - it can be hard to get on and get a job in Ireland - even more so in Kerry if you don't know people or aren't local.

Why Kerry of all places? Are you committed to making it really difficult for yourselves? Especially with being English, trying to break into a local closed shop area like law, and poor you having to commute to there every weekend? Will you get to see your wife at all after you've commuted that slog?

To open a bank account you will need a PPS number -apply and wait -an address in Ireland and proof of same -typically two recent utility bills or one utility and one phone. I know permanent TSB refer people to the FAQs on their website so it might be if help to check & compare different banks requirements online in advance to see which one will make it easiest for you .

You will also need to hire a translator for the bogger Kerry accents !!! : ) ( joke -sort of!?) good luck! Seems a bit of a self made difficult plan to be honest . However to make it easier the big employer down Kerry way is Kerry Group -she might pick up something there.

I'd also advise to get into GAA or volunteering locally quickly & get to meet & tame the locals! There is also this national must-join institution for country folk called the ICA -she will have to join that. Look it up - it will give you a good indication if what you're getting into. ( Irish country woman's association ).

I just don't see WHY? Why make life that hard? It is rugged & can be beautiful when the sun shines but I'd be buying cheep wellies and raincoats in the sales now - not to mention no decent public transport & the price of trying to heat a house down there.

I I'm so cynical.i hope you will be happy. & that it will work out for you .dont spend your last savings doing it thou -keep some back just in case.

And whatever you do do NOT use the moving company called Two Men & A Truck -they are a nightmare ;I am still waiting to get my smashed mirrors, lamps and pictures compensated for not to mention the boxes and goods that simply disappeared after they " stored" and "minded" them for me last year. Nightmare crowd.

Galway is good ! And Dublin!!! : )
Welcome to Ireland nearly!!!

ABajaninCork

Kerry's a tough nut to crack all right, but it can be done!! I have a friend who moved from London to Listowel with her English husband and English kids. My friend is originally from the North and her husband's a Plastic Paddy (English and has Irish parents).

The kids are as Kerry as anything! And my friend and her husband seem to have settled in well.