The permit is granted, the visa is in your passport, the flight is booked. The last stage of moving to Ireland for work is a short obstacle course of registrations — and doing them in the right order is the difference between a smooth first month and one spent in queues. This is the checklist we walk every relocating candidate through.
Before you fly
- Passport valid well beyond your intended stay, with your employment permit (and D visa, if you needed one) matching it exactly
- Originals or certified copies of qualifications, references and your signed contract in your hand luggage
- At least the first month’s accommodation confirmed in writing — you will need an address for almost everything below
- Some accessible funds for the arrival weeks: registration fee, transport, deposits
- Screenshots or printouts of key documents in case of phone or connectivity trouble on arrival
Your first weeks: the order that works
Step 1 — Immigration registration (IRP)
Register your residence to receive your Irish Residence Permit card — book the appointment early, bring your passport, permit and evidence of your address, and pay the €300 fee. This is the foundation every other step builds on.
Step 2 — PPS number
Your Personal Public Service number is free and unlocks tax, payroll and public services. Apply with your passport, evidence of your address and the reason you need it (your job). Give it to your employer the day it arrives.
Step 3 — Revenue registration
Register with Revenue’s myAccount and link your job so your employer can apply the correct tax credits — skipping this means emergency tax, which takes a painful bite of your first payslips until corrected (you do get it back).
Step 4 — Bank account
Irish banks and licensed fintechs will open accounts with your passport and proof of address; some accept your employment contract while utility bills catch up. Your salary needs somewhere to land — do this in week one.
Step 5 — Employer onboarding and any role-specific cards
Safe Pass for construction sites, Garda vetting for care and school transport work, licence exchange for professional drivers — your employer should have these sequenced, but know which apply to you.
Settling in properly
- Healthcare: understand what your employment gives you access to and whether your employer provides health insurance — many international hires arrange cover from day one
- Transport: a Leap card for public transport in the cities; outside them, plan the driving-licence question early, especially for care and trades work
- Community: the single biggest retention factor we see. Find your people — colleagues, sports clubs, your community’s networks — in the first month, not the sixth
If you are still at the earlier stage — looking for the offer that starts all of this — begin with our guide to getting visa sponsorship in Ireland. And once you are settled, your permit comes with rights worth knowing, covered in your rights on an Irish employment permit.
Let Recruitroo handle recruitment and immigration
Recruitroo does not stop at the visa: our relocation support covers arrival planning, registration appointments, documents and first-week logistics for every candidate we place — because a hire only succeeds when the person lands well. If your employer uses Recruitroo, this checklist comes with a human attached.
Frequently asked questions
How much does registration cost when I arrive in Ireland?
The Irish Residence Permit registration fee is €300. The PPS number is free. Budget also for transport, deposits and the weeks before your first payslip.
How long does it take to get a PPS number?
Allow a few weeks from application to the number arriving — which is why it sits second on the checklist, straight after immigration registration. Your employer can put you on payroll while it is pending, but tax runs smoother once it exists.
Can my family come with me?
It depends on your permit type. Critical Skills holders can bring immediate family from the outset; General Employment Permit holders can apply for family reunification after a qualifying period. Plan the family timeline before you accept the offer.
This guide reflects arrival and registration requirements for new employment permit holders in Ireland as of August 2026. Salary thresholds, occupation lists and processing times change regularly — check current DETE guidance or ask Recruitroo before committing to a hire.