Ireland Will Pay You to Move There, Here’s How

Are you thinking about moving to the stunning Emerald Isle? Well, you’ll be pleased to know that there are actually ways to get paid to move to Ireland, and some of them are more straightforward than you might think.

So, what are the best ways to get paid to move to Ireland? Let’s dive in and find out more.

House Renovation Grants and Schemes

One of the most famous ways to get paid to move to Ireland is through house renovation grants and schemes. These kinds of schemes are all over the internet, from one euro houses in Sicily to councils paying you to move to remote islands in Greece.

Ireland’s schemes are similar and come in two main forms: 

• Vacant houses
• Derelict houses

Essentially, if you want to move to one of Ireland’s 30 remote islands, you can get grants from the government of up to €70,000 to transform and renovate the house. You can get up to €70,000 for a derelict house and up to €50,000 for a vacant house.

You have to make it either your primary residence to live in or make it available for long-term rentals (vacation homes are not allowed). There are also guidelines around the fact that the property has to be vacant for at least two years and has to be built before 2007. 

If you’re planning to do up a derelict house, you get the standard €50,000 fee with an additional €20,000 top-up. In order to officially be derelict, you need an independent surveyor to report that the “property is structurally unsound and dangerous.”

So, if you want to flip your own home on a remote Irish island, you can get paid to move to Ireland. Of course, it’s not super easy to get supplies and tradespeople out onto some of the islands, so remember this before committing to the project.

Visas and Permits

One of the easier ways to get paid to move to Ireland is by using your job to negotiate a relocation package. This can include accommodation support, visa help, or a stipend to get you settled in your new home.

There are a few ways to work legally in Ireland if you’re not an EU, EEA, or UK citizen. If that’s the case, you don’t need a visa to work in Ireland.

Employment Permits

If you’re going to work in Ireland, you need an employment permit. There are a few different types of employment permits, and these are issued when you have a job offer from an Irish-based company. 

The types of employment permits include:

• Critical Skills Employment Permit
• General Employment Permit
• Dependant, Partner, Spouse Employment Permit
• Contract for Service Employment Permit
• Sport and Cultural Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permits
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
• Internship Employment Permit
• Reactivation Employment Permit
• Seasonal Employment Permit
• Hosting Agreement for academic researchers

As you can see, this covers most forms of employment that you might find in Ireland. Most people end up getting the General Employment Permit or Critical Skills Employment Permit. The latter works in the same way as the Highly Skilled Visas in the UK and elsewhere around the world.

Unlike other countries that have a list of “eligible occupations”, Ireland has a list of “ineligible occupations”. So, if your role is on this list, you’re not going to be able to get an employment permit in Ireland. Usually, this is because they have no issue filling these roles with Irish residents. 

For categories like Critical Skills, there is also the Critical Skills Occupation List. So, if you’re on this list and you’re earning at least €38,000 per year, you can move to Ireland.

Long Stay D Visas

Once you have your employment permit, you can apply for your Long Stay D Visa. This includes the employment visa. You need to apply up to three months before you travel to Ireland, and you have to apply from your home country. 

If you’re planning on staying over 90 days, you also need to register and get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) locally. 

I‘ve lived abroad for many years and love helping others find work abroad and figure out their “Move Abroad Plan.” Check out my class below to get you started ASAP!

Short-Stay C Visas

If you’re a remote worker or digital nomad, you can live and work in Ireland for up to 90 days on a Short-Stay C Visa. Ireland doesn’t have a specific digital nomad visa, so this is the closest thing. It allows you to work in Ireland for three months, as you’re not legally allowed to work on the Schengen tourist visa.

Working Holiday Visas

Ireland is one of the few nations that still offer working holiday visas for young people. Depending on which country you’re from, the widest age range is 18-35, and there can be extra conditions around education level.

The countries that have working holiday visa allowances with Ireland are:

• Argentina
• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• USA

So, if you want to combine exploring Ireland and the surrounding European region with some work experience, this is a great shout. It keeps you going financially while you’re there, so the working holiday visa is a great way to get paid to move to Ireland.

Common Work Abroad Roles to Get Paid to Move to Ireland

If you’re looking for specific work abroad roles that’ll help you get paid to move to Ireland, there are a few classics that you should check out.

Most of these roles will help you with your visa and accommodations, with a few helping with flights as well. It all depends on the job role and the recruitment agency you’re working with. 

Tourism

Ireland is undoubtedly a hotspot for tourists from all around the world. That means that there’s a huge tourism industry, and tour leaders are nearly always in demand, especially if you can speak multiple languages. 

There are also active guides with specialisms in kayaking, canyoning, mountain biking, and more, who can leverage their skills for certain resorts or tour companies. If you work in tourism, you can get help with your visa, and many resorts and hotels will have staff lodging options available.

It’s worth noting that a lot of this work can be seasonal. The Atlantic storms on the West Coast in winter mean that there aren’t a lot of visitors out this way, with the exception of Big Wave surfers.

Many people visit during the summer months, and of course, around St. Patrick’s Day in March. These are the two main tourist times of year, so you can expect extra roles cropping up a couple of months beforehand.

Au Pair

A classic work abroad job is the au pair. Although not super popular in Ireland, there are plenty of overseas families living in the major towns and cities that use live-in nannies. If you have experience with childcare or even babysitting, then you may be able to apply.

Au pairs don’t get paid a lot. On average, it’s around $800 per month. However, you also live with the family, eat with them, and often have access to family cars to help cart the kids around.

So, you basically have no outgoings. You can save up or use your days off to explore Ireland and nearby European countries. 

Language Teachers

As Ireland is predominantly English-speaking (Irish Gaelic is having a resurgence, though), the need for English teachers isn’t there, like it is in a lot of countries. However, if you can speak another language, there is always a need for more language teachers. 

Ireland is in the EU, so plenty of companies trade with European partners. As a result, there’s a need for language skills in a corporate setting and from an educational standpoint.

Whether you work in a traditional Irish school, a private language school in one of the cities, or for a corporate training company, you can negotiate accommodation support and visa help in return for your skills, on top of a decent salary.