Working in Ireland as an EU citizen

ThomasSch

Hello everyone, I have a question regarding working in Ireland as a German citizen. I got a job proposal from a software company which has an office in Ireland. As I've never worked or lived outside Germany and I am not really aware what the process is. All the information I can find online is concerning non-EU citizens. However very little is said about EU citizens and what they need to do. All I could find was that EU citizens do not need a working permit. But I am sure that there are some steps that need to be done - proof of residence, the equivalent of social security number(or whatever it is called over there). So what do I need and how long does that take?

redout

You need to get yourself a PPS Number for starters.

Link: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/personal_public_service_number.html

Manach

First, welcome to Ireland. Apart from following up on the above advice, check with your potential employer on the type of health insurance (if any) is part of the job as well as asking the Human resources department on what is needed for tax.

blindsider

Thomas - I would insist that you are provided with a good Health Insurance policy as part of the package. The Irish Health system is very different from that in Germany.

Start with this: http://www.hia.ie/

Your employer should provide a relocation assistance package which would include help with the formalities.

Some things you'll need help with:

Bank Account
Accommodation - do you have a family? Kids?



This has more info re your rights and status etc

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/rights_of_residence_in_ireland/residence_rights_eu_national.html

If your employer is a large multi-national e.g Google, Microsoft, Apple Paypal etc etc then they will be used to assisting employees in moving to Ireland - if it's a smaller company, it may be worth asking them re their processes. Ask if they have any German employees in Ireland you could talk to.

From your 1st post, you seem to have good English, which will help. It will take a little time to get used to the Irish accent(s) but this is normal. You could always watch some Irish TV e.g. http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/live/7/

Finally, having lived in Germany for a while, I can say that one of the differences you will find here is our more laid-back attitude to 'officialdom' in everyday life. Rules can be bent, and sometimes broken. As a small country, knowing who to talk to is important. Taking time to talk to people in the shop, the bank etc can be useful - but like all cultural issues, there are no exact rules.

Viel glueck!

ThomasSch

Wow thanks a lot everyone!
PPS - OK, got it. Again very little to no details are given online, other than I need some proof of identity/passport. Does it take a lot of time to make yours? Here you get a temporary document in a few hours that you can use everywhere while the official gets prepared and you get told when and where you can get your so called official PPS papers. And you have to have them renewed every once in a while(I think).

Bank account - opening one online is out of the question I assume?

Accommodation - TODO, No family, no kids, not too concerned about that.

Presumably the company offers assistance for relocation but you've heard how pedantic German people can get - well I'm one of the worst cases. If I can backup the backup of the backup of the backup, I just MIGHT feel safe.

gibbon75

As far as I remember you will need two photo IDs and your German tax number/ID for the PPS.
To open a bank account you will need a proof of address:phone/electricity/etc. bill on your name.

When I moved to Ireland (about 10 years ago) I used this crowd for accommodation for the first month:

http://www.celtichalls.com/home.htm

Back than they were able to provide me an official letter as a proof of address for the bank account.
I don't know if the banks would still accept this,but regulations have changed since...

Stheno

ThomasSch wrote: »

Wow thanks a lot everyone!
PPS - OK, got it. Again very little to no details are given online, other than I need some proof of identity/passport. Does it take a lot of time to make yours? Here you get a temporary document in a few hours that you can use everywhere while the official gets prepared and you get told when and where you can get your so called official PPS papers. And you have to have them renewed every once in a while(I think).

Bank account - opening one online is out of the question I assume?

Accommodation - TODO, No family, no kids, not too concerned about that.

Presumably the company offers assistance for relocation but you've heard how pedantic German people can get - well I'm one of the worst cases. If I can backup the backup of the backup of the backup, I just MIGHT feel safe.

Thomas, are you coming here to work for a multinational?

If you are they will have an entire process in place for this but the assistance you will receive will depend on the seniority of your role.

If it's a basic entry level role, you should get an allowance, and some assistance.

If it's a senior role they will do everything to accomodate you.

You cannot open an account online here.

To get a PPS (social security number) you need an address, so you have to arrange accomodation which your employer may help you with.

Have you talked to your employer about relocation assistance? That's really your first step

redout

ThomasSch wrote: »

Wow thanks a lot everyone!
PPS - OK, got it. Again very little to no details are given online, other than I need some proof of identity/passport. Does it take a lot of time to make yours? Here you get a temporary document in a few hours that you can use everywhere while the official gets prepared and you get told when and where you can get your so called official PPS papers. And you have to have them renewed every once in a while(I think).

Bank account - opening one online is out of the question I assume?

Accommodation - TODO, No family, no kids, not too concerned about that.

Presumably the company offers assistance for relocation but you've heard how pedantic German people can get - well I'm one of the worst cases. If I can backup the backup of the backup of the backup, I just MIGHT feel safe.

For a PPS Number to be issued you will need:

EU Nationals and Other EEA Citizens (Includes EU Nationals and Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway plus Switzerland. Current Valid Passport or National Identity Card and Evidence of Address in Ireland.

Once you get issued this number it will more or less be for life i.e. won't change.

Accommodation look @ http://www.daft.ie

Mrs OBumble

ThomasSch wrote: »

PPS - OK, got it. Again very little to no details are given online, other than I need some proof of identity/passport. Does it take a lot of time to make yours? Here you get a temporary document in a few hours that you can use everywhere while the official gets prepared

Haaaaa .. you didn't read the bit about things here being a bit more laid back here, did you! Laid back is shorthand for disorganiised!

No, you won't get temporary papers. Your PPS number will be posted to you once it's ready. This is why you need proof of address when you apply.

So you do need to start worrying about accommodation first. Even if it's just tempoary accommodation, you need to find out what it will take for them to issue you a letter saying that you live there. If you're a junior level employee, this may need to be a backpacker hostel or similar - most require I think three weeks paid up before they issue a proof of address letter. If you're more senior, the company should help.

Warning: accommodation in Dublin is very scarce at the moment. this will not be as easy as you think.

The good news is - you can start working before your PPS number arrives.

The bad news is that you will be taxed at emergency tax rates until your number arriives and until you use it to tell Revenue where you are working and what day you started there. Because you are new to the Irish tax system, you will also have to fill out a form telling Revenue about yourself - a hint for non-Irish nationals is to say on this form that you're staying for 12 months.. Based on this, Revenue will issue a tax-credits certificate and once this is processed by your employer's payroll system you will get the emergency tax back.

Also, once you have a PPS number, you can open a bank account, so you can get paid for your work. And sometime after you have opened the account, you will get an ATM card, so you can actually start withdrawing money.

Enjoy!

Jim2007

ThomasSch wrote: »

Bank account - opening one online is out of the question I assume?

You do not need to open a bank account, you can continue to use your German one. You are paid in Euros and since SEPA is now active in Ireland too, you can simply continue to use your current bank account - just give the IBAN and BIC as you would in Germany, when asked.

ThomasSch wrote: »

Accommodation - TODO, No family, no kids, not too concerned about that.

There is no system of registration in Ireland as there is in Middle Europe, so proof of residence means being able to show that you have some where to live in the country. You will need to be able to show this when dealing with many aspects of Irish administration.

Here are a few useful links:

Introduction To The Irish System

Residence Rights Of EU/EEA Nationals In Ireland

Support Services For Foreign Nationals In Ireland

Also be sure to register with the German Embassy in Ireland.

Enjoy your time in Ireland.