Coronavirus

YouFollow should follow the advice of the Irish Governmentgovernment and your local authority. You canshould also read ourthe Ireland travel advice for our latest guidance..

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in IrelandIreland, seeread our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Ireland
• follow British Embassy Dublin on Facebook and Twitter

You can also read the Irish government’s website for UK citizens living in Ireland.

Visas and residency

UK citizensnationals do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland. UnderWithin the Common Travel Area (CTA),), UKBritish and Irish citizens can live and work freely in each other’s countries and travel freely between them. Both the UK and Irish governments are committed to protecting the CTA. Read our guidance on the CTA.

Ireland’sIf Citizensyou Informationare serviceplanning hasto advicemove about moving to and living in Ireland.Ireland:

• Youyou must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

• Theread Irishgeneral Naturalisationguidance and Immigration Service (INIS) has advice on themoving requirementsor forretiring non-EU/EEA family membersabroad of UK citizens.

  Passports and travel

• Yourread travelIreland’s rightsCitizens forInformation Irelandservice’s continueadvice throughabout themoving Commonto Travel Area. Travel between the UK and Irelandliving hasin not changed.Ireland

  Passports

• Checkread yourthe passportIrish isNaturalisation validand forImmigration travelService before(INIS)’s youadvice bookon yourthe trip.requirements You can apply for ornon-EU/EEA renewfamily your British passportmembers fromof Ireland.UK nationals

You

If mustyou havewere atliving least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in EuropeIreland (notbefore including1 travelJanuary between the UK and Ireland).

2021

If you renewedwere yourliving currentin passportIreland before the1 previousJanuary one2021, expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

Renew your passport before travelling if you docan notapply havefor enougha timeWithdrawal leftAgreement onBenefit your passport.card.

AsYour a non-EEA national,family differentmembers bordermust checksreplace willtheir applycurrent whenvalid travellingIrish toResidence otherPermit EUwith ora SchengenWithdrawal areaAgreement countries.Benefit Youcard mayby have31 toDecember use2021.

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Coronavirus citizenstravel whenadvice queueing. You may alsoaffect needtravel to showand afrom return or onward ticket.Ireland.

Entry requirements

YouThe canCTA travelallows toyou Schengen area countries for up to 90travel daysfreely inbetween anythe 180-dayUK periodand without a visa. This is a rolling 180-day period.Ireland.

ToCheck staythe longerIreland thantravel 90advice days in any 180-day period to work or study, or for businesspassport travel,validity yourequirements. mustYou meetcan apply the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or workrenew permit.

Periodsyour ofBritish timepassport authorisedfrom by a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK will not change.Ireland.

DifferentTo rulestravel willfrom applyIreland to other EU countriescountries, thatSwitzerland, areNorway, notIceland partand ofLiechtenstein, thecheck Schengenvisiting area.the CheckEU and each country’s travel advice page for informationfurther on entry requirements.information.

Healthcare

Read our guidance on how to access healthcare in Ireland.

Under the CTA, UKif citizensyou who live in Ireland haveyou thecan right to access healthcare inthere. Ireland.If When visiting, UKyou citizens also have the right to access medically necessary healthcare.

Find a list of hospitals and doctors in Ireland.

Paying for healthcare

You may need to pay a fee to access public healthcare in Ireland on the same basis as Irish citizens. However, you may be eligible for a means tested medical card. If you do not qualify for a medical card on income grounds, you may qualify for a GP Visit card.

Read the IrishCitizens government’sInformation guidance on how to apply for medical and GP cards and what these entitle you to.

You can also take out private health insurance. Travel insurance is not intended to cover healthcare costs if you live overseas.

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Ireland and get an exportable UK pension,State Pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit. You will usually need to show some evidence of your entitlement to healthcare in Ireland, such as proof of property rental or ownership. If eligible, you’ll need a medical card that entitles you to receive certain health services free of charge.

View a list of hospitals and doctors in Ireland.

Read the guidance if you need to travel with medicines.

Working in Ireland

Under the CTA, UKyou citizens do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland.

Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check.check. You can also get a police certificate from the Gardaí.

Read the Irishguidance government’son working or providing services in Ireland and the Citizens Information guidance on employment.

Professional qualifications

If you hadwere yourliving qualificationsin recognisedIreland by the relevant regulator before 1 January 2021,2021

If thereyou willlive bein noIreland change and youwere canregularly continuecommuting to practisework in Irelandanother EU or elsewhereEuropean inFree theTrade EU.

IfArea you(EFTA) havecountry notbefore yet1 hadJanuary your2021, professionalread qualificationsour recognised,guidance youfor shouldfrontier contactworkers.

Professional thequalifications

You competentmay authorityneed forto thatget professionyour inprofessional Irelandqualification torecognised find out if you needwant to takework anyin action.a profession that is regulated in Ireland.

ForRead helpguidance with this:on:

• read the Irish government’s guidance on the recognition of professional qualifications
• contacthow theto relevantget regulatoryyour bodyqualification forrecognised yourin professionIreland

Money

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Banking

Studying in Ireland

WhetherUnder UKthe banksCTA canyou providedo servicesnot toneed customersa livingvisa inor theresidency EEApermit isto astudy matterin ofIreland.

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Tax

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You yourshould providerget orprofessional seekadvice independenton financialpaying advice.tax in Ireland.

Read the MoneyCitizens andInformation Pensiontax Service guidance onand banking,the insuranceIrish Tax and financialCustoms services changesguidance foron moretax informationin onIreland.

Read cross-borderfurther banking.guidance on:

Pensions

• Youtax mustif tellyou leave the UK governmentto officeslive thatabroad

• tax dealon with your pensionUK income if you arelive movingabroad

• paying orincome retiringtax abroadin Ireland.

• IfEU youfactsheet areon abuying goods online from UK nationalwebsites

National insurance and social security contributions

If you are living in or working in Ireland, working in both the UK and Ireland, or working across the border, you are subject to only one state’scountry’s social security legislation at a time. This means you only pay social security contributions into one country’s scheme at a time.

You can accessrequest proof from HMRC of the time you’ve worked in the UK and your pensionUK National Insurance record.

National insurance-type contributions(NIC) are called ‘social security contributions’ in Ireland.

Read guidance on:

• national insurance for workers from the UK working in the EEA or Switzerland
• social security contributions for workers coming to the UK from the EEA or Switzerland

Benefits

You can access social security benefits from whichever statecountry you are subject to the social security legislation of, regardless of where you live. You have the right to access social security benefits on the same basis as citizens of the country you are living.in.

UK benefits

SeeCheck Statewhich PensionUK ifbenefits you retirecan claim while abroad and newhow Stateto Pension.claim them.

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Lifesecurity certificatesbenefits fordiffer UKfrom Statethose Pensions

in the UK. If you aremeet gettingIreland’s a5 UKrequirements Statefor Pensiondetermining andhabitual receiveresidence, ayou ‘lifemay certificate’be fromeligible theto UKclaim Pensionsome Service,Irish yousocial needsecurity tobenefits.

Read respondthe asIrish soonDepartment asof possibleSocial –Protection’s yourguidance paymentson maydetermining behabitual suspendedresidence ifand youthe doCitizens’ not.Information guidance on Irish social welfare payments.

Pensions

The UK and Irish governments have a bilateral agreement to ensureprotect social security rights, including access to pensions.pensions. ThisYour agreementUK meansState thatPension therecan will be nopaid changein toIreland, theincluding paymentany ofupratings.

Read yourguidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Ireland.

Read State Pension guidance if you have lived in Ireland.Australia, UKCanada Stateor PensionsNew willZealand continueand you are claiming or waiting to beclaim paid,your includingUK upratings.State Pension.

Benefits

If you arelive living in or workingwork in Ireland, workingwork in both the UK and Ireland, or workingwork across the border, you are subject to only one1 state’scountry’s social security legislation at a time. This means you can access socialyour securitypension benefits from whichever statecountry you are subject to the social security legislation of, regardless of where you are living.live.

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  IrishLife benefitscertificates for UK State Pensions

  TheIf criteriayou toget claima certain‘life Irishcertificate’ socialfrom securitythe benefitsUK differPension fromService, thoseyou inmust therespond UK.as Ifsoon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you meetdo Ireland’snot.

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  UK bank cards are widely accepted for determiningtransactions habitualin residenceIreland. Whether thenUK youbanks maycan beprovide eligibleservices to claimcustomers someliving Irishin socialthe securityEEA benefits.depends on local laws and regulation.

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  Accommodation and thebuying Irishproperty

  Read government’sour guidance on Irishbuying sociala welfareproperty paymentsabroad.

  TheFor UKinformation andon Irishhousing governmentsin haveIreland, including renting and owning a bilateralhome, agreementread tothe ensureCitizens thatInformation socialon securityhousing.

  Driving rights,in includingIreland

  You accesscannot torenew socialor securityreplace benefitsyour andUK, entitlementsGibraltar, continueJersey, toGuernsey beor protected.Isle of Man licence if you live in Ireland.

  Driving

  Read the guidance on what you must do to drive legally in Ireland

  Ireland:

  • Youwhat shouldyou exchangeneed yourto UKdrive in the EU

  • driving licence forrules anin IrishIreland oneif you live there.

  • road travel in Ireland

  If you are visiting Ireland, you can drive with your existingvalid UKUK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence.

  Exchanging your UK driving licence

  If you live in Ireland and have a UK or Northern Ireland licence, you must exchange your licence for an Irish one. UK and Northern Ireland licences are not legal for driving in Ireland. You do not need to take a driving test to exchange your licence. Read the Irish government’s guidance on UK driving licences and FAQs.

  SeeYou drivingcannot abroaduse andan IrishInternational guidanceDriving onPermit British(IDP) drivinginstead licences.of exchanging your licence.

  BringingExchanging ayour UK-registeredGibraltar, vehicleJersey, toGuernsey Irelandor Isle of Man licence

  ReadThe ourUK guidanceand onIreland takingare acurrently vehiclenegotiating outlong-term ofarrangements for exchanging these licences without the UK.

  Pets

  Petneed travelto rulestake fora takingtest. yourSign petup tofor Greatemail Britain,alerts, Europeto andget Northernnotified Irelandwhen havewe notupdate changed.this page.

  Disabled drivers

  If you’reyou travellinghave witha yourUK petBlue forBadge and thelive firstin time,Ireland, you must visitreturn yourit vet to getthe original UK issuing authority. You can apply for a petnew passport.Irish disabled parking card.

  Read ourthe EU guidance on petthe travelEU toparking NIcard andfor Europepeople with disabilities.

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  Bringing youa areUK-registered travellingvehicle to GreatIreland

  Read Britainour withguidance youron pettaking anda arevehicle planningout onof re-enteringthe UK.

  Driving outside Ireland afterwards,with youan shouldIrish contactlicence

  You can use your vetIrish tolicence makewhen surevisiting yourthe animalUK. hasKeep allup-to-date with the healthUK preparationHighway it needs.Code.

  ReadIf ouryou guidancego onto bringinglive in the UK, you can exchange your petIrish tolicence Greatfor Britaina andUK theone without taking a test. To drive in another country, in addition to your Irish government’slicence guidanceyou onmay petneed travelto apply for an IDP.

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  • driving forlicence anyexchange additionaland restrictionsrecognition orin requirementsthe before you travel.EU

  Voting

  UponIf reachingyou votingare ageold enough to vote, you can register with the relevant authorities to vote in local and national parliamentary elections.

  Read the Irish government’s guidance on voting and how to register.

  You cannot vote in European parliamentary elections.

  You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

  • check if you are able to vote

  • register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

  Births, deathsdeaths, marriage and gettingcivil marriedpartnerships

  If your child is born in Ireland, you willcan register the birth with the UK authorities in addition to registering locally. If your child has British nationality, you do not need to register athe birth abroadwith the UK authorities to apply for a British passport.

  If someone dies in Ireland youread can:guidance on:

  • read our guidance on what to do after someone dies

  • findbereavement ain listIreland

  • finding ofa funeral directorsdirector in Ireland

  • readthe ourfree bereavementservice packfor publishing a death notice, which is is a legal requirement

  Find out how toyou can get married or get a civil partnership abroad.

  You may also need to find a lawyer in Ireland.

  EmergenciesPets

  YouIf you have a pet passport issued by Ireland or another EU country, you can dialuse it to travel with your pet to Great Britain, Northern Ireland or elsewhere in the EU. Ensure that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel. Vets in Great Britain cannot enter rabies vaccination details in non-UK issued pet passports.

  A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. Speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you comply with EU pet travel regulations.

  If you enter Ireland from a non-EU country, you must complete an advance notice form stating your intention to bring your pet into Ireland. You must send the form to the Irish authorities at least 1 working day before you travel. You must also arrange in advance to have a compliance check carried out on arrival. You must not leave the airport or port before compliance checks are carried out.

  Read:

  • bringing your pet to Great Britain

  • travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

  • Irish government’s guidance on pet travel

  • travelling with your pet in the EU Before you travel, check the rules for the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements.

  Emergencies

  Dial the European emergency number on112 112,in Ireland for the police, ambulance or fire brigade, and 116 000 for reporting missing children; or dial the national emergency number on 999.

  Find a list of Irish security and emergency services.

  If you need guidance on child abduction, read the guidance on international parental child abduction, the EU guidance on child abduction and EU guidance on child abduction to another EU country.

  If you are the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisiscrisis, abroad, contact yourthe nearest British embassyEmbassy or consulateDublin.

  AccommodationReturning andto buyingthe propertyUK

  ReadCheck ourthe guidanceCOVID-19 ontravel buyingguidance afor propertyentering abroadthe UK.

  ForTell informationthe onIrish housingand inUK Ireland,authorities includingif rentingyou andare owningreturning ato home,the youUK canpermanently.

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  Lookpension atto the CitizensUK, Informationcontact onthe leavingInternational IrelandPension Centre.

  Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax,bringing accessfamily tomembers, servicestax and bringingaccess familyto members.services.

  Disclaimer

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