reals relocator guide
TRANSCRIPT
Real’s Ultimate Guide for Re - locators
FÁILTE ROMHAT!
(WELCOME)
Ireland is a small country with an enormous amount to offer; full of a rich culture, diverse
artistic talent and lively people.
Dublin's Fair city!
To start, we will give you a brief ‘Real’ Introduction to our beautiful country, Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland has a population of 4.7 million people. In Ireland, we pride ourselves
in being a very diverse, welcoming country with a multitude of different nationalities living
and working here. We are an Island surrounded by the Irish and Atlantic Oceans making our
beaches some of the most spectacular in Europe. Along with our coastline, we have
hundreds of beautifully renowned scenic and historic sites.
Cliffs of Moher in the West of Ireland
It is an ideal location if you want to branch out and view what the rest of Europe has to offer. It is a perfect launching pad for travelling. In two hours, you could be in Barcelona, Rome in three hours, and for a short weekend away, the UK is hardly 45 minutes away.
By law, if you work full time in Ireland you are entitled to 20 days holiday. Most employers will also award extra vacation days the longer you are in employment. In Ireland, we have a strong work ethic along with an excellent education system. However, it is in our culture to enjoy the sweeter things in life. We have thousands of first - class restaurants with tasty Irish cuisine along with traditional and modern bars serving the finest beers and drinks.
Visa Requirements when moving to Ireland:
People from certain countries need a valid Irish entry visa before arriving in Ireland, whether
by air, sea or land. An Irish visa is a certificate placed on your passport or travel document to
indicate that you are authorized to land here in Ireland. On Arrival at the airport, you will
still be subject to immigration control at the point of entry even if you have a visa. You may
also need to register with the immigration authorities.
You do not need a visa to come to Ireland if you are a member of E.U.
You have to apply for the General Employment Permit New Application
If you are going to pay for the permit yourself you need to pay 1000euro by postal
order or cheque and include it in the application
You will fill out the form with your personal details, education and employment information
Employee also includes:
Passport sized photo with employee name printed on the back
Clear copies of passport pages showing photo, personal details and expiry date
Immigration stamp
Visa
The Visa Process
An application must be made on the prescribed form available on the Department of Jobs,
Enterprise and Innovation website. There are up to three stages in the passage of an employment
permit application:
1. Pre-check Stage:
If an application does not include required documentation the application is
‘rejected’ as incomplete. This is not a refusal – it merely requests the applicant to
make the necessary changes to complete the application. The applicant can
resubmit the corrected application and when the associated cheques/EFT payments
are recorded it is then placed in the processing queue.
2. Processing Stage: This stage is where the application is considered by a decision
maker, an official with decision making authority. The processor may request
additional information, if required, which should be returned within 28 days. The
processor will either grant an application or refuse it for specific reasons.
3. Appeal: Where an applicant wishes to appeal a refusal decision then he/she may do
so within 28 days on the prescribed Submission of a Decision for Review Form. The
appeal will be considered by a separate and more senior official. The refusal of an
application on appeal does not preclude the submission of a new application.
If an application is unsuccessful then 90% of the fee will be refunded. While the fee may be paid by a
third party, current policy restricts refunds to applicants only (e.g. if the applicant was an employee
and the employer paid the fee, then the refund will still issue to the employee).
The Critical Skills (and Green Card) Employment Permit is issued for 2 years and you
are not required to renew it. Instead you apply to your local immigration officer for a
Stamp 4 permission to live and work in Ireland without an employment permit. - NB: if a candidate entries the country on a holiday visa they are not allowed apply for this
visa, they must have a work visa already e.g. Stamp 1
Where to apply:
Employment Permits Section
Davitt House
65a Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
Ireland
The Irish Economy In 2008, the Irish economy was heavily affected by the Global-banking crisis. Many Irish people lost their jobs especially in the construction industry and the public sector. However, over the past two years the Irish economy has been improving and growing significantly. Unemployment has dropped to 7.6% with new jobs being generated especially in the IT and pharma/medical device industries.
An Overview of the Pharmaceutical/Device Market in Ireland Ireland’s Medical Device Industry has become one of the leading clusters for medical device products globally. Exports of medical devices and diagnostic products now represent 8% of Ireland's total merchandise exports. There are over 400 med tech companies here in Ireland
at the moment. It is rapidly expanding market with constant opportunities opening to Life
science professionals.
30 million people with diabetes use Irish made injectable
devices
33% of the world’s contact lenses
2nd largest exporter of exporter of
MedTech products in Europe
€12.6 billion in MedTech exports
annually
50% of ventilators used in acute
hospitals located worldwide
The Biopharmaceutical industry has made a capital investment of approximately $8 billion in new facilities in Ireland, most of which has come in the last 10 years. This represents close to the biggest wave of investment in new BioTech facilities anywhere in the world.
Regulatory aspect: Ireland has an exemplary compliance record with regulatory agencies,
including IMB, FDA and EMA. They work closely with companies to achieve trouble-free
compliance. Certification agencies in Ireland operate in accordance with European and
global standard procedures.
Research and Design: Ireland has a significant track record of clinical and academic research
excellence. The government has also committed €8 billion to research funding to further
bolster Ireland’s reputation as a growing hub for research and development.
*Corporations around the world highly regard and value professionals with experience in a
medical device or pharmaceutical company from Ireland. This is due to the extremely high
quality standards here along with the extensive training and education systems in place. *
9 of the top 10 world's
pharmaceutical companies
7th largest exporter of medicinal and pharmaceutical products in the world in 2014
39 billion in annual exports of pharma, bio and chemistry
prodcuts
75 + Pharmaceutical
companies operate in Ireland
33 FDA approved pharma and
biopharma plants
TAX IN IRELAND
This will give you a general idea about the Irish tax system with regards to the working professional taxpayer. Initially your first step will be obtaining your individual Personal Public Service Number (PPSN)
The PPSN is a unique identification number for all dealings with Public Service agencies, including Revenue, education, welfare and health services.
If you are working in Ireland for the first time, whether you are from Ireland or from abroad, you will need to obtain a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) in order to register for tax purposes.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) issues PPSNs. In general, applications for PPSNs are made through the DSP’s network of PPS Number allocation centers, to whom application forms and proof of identity should be sent. More detailed information in relation to PPSNs, including
whether one has already been issued to you, where you might find your PPSN, how to apply for one,
is available on the DSP website.
Registering for Tax as an Employee
Once you have your PPSN and are starting work as an employee for the first time in Ireland, you must register with your Revenue office in your area. If you are starting work as an employee for the first time, you will need to complete a Form 12A and return it to your Revenue office. Revenue will then send you and your employer a Tax Credit Certificate so that correct deductions of income tax can be made from your salary.
The PAYE System
Under the PAYE system of deduction, your employer calculates and deducts the amount due for Income Tax, Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) and the Universal Social Charge (USC) from your salary/wage payments each payday. The PAYE system ensures that the yearly amount you have to pay is collected evenly throughout the year. The income tax year runs on a calendar year basis, i.e. 1 January to 31 December. You will normally pay Income Tax from your first payday. The amount of Income Tax you pay depends on your level of income and the amount of your tax credits.
Tax Rates
Your income, up to a certain threshold (single person, married/civil partnership, etc.), is taxed at the standard rate of tax. Any income above this threshold is taxed at the higher rate of tax.
Tax Credits
Tax credits are credits that you get based on your personal circumstances, e.g. single person or married or in a civil partnership, and which are set against your income for the year. A tax credit reduces the tax you pay on your income. Some credits are fixed amounts, like the single or married person's/civil partnership credit; others depend on the amount you spend, like tuition fees. Certain tax credits are granted automatically such as the basic personal tax credit but others must be claimed by completing a specific claim form.
Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)
Pay related social insurance (PRSI) contributions go to the Social Insurance Fund which helps pay for Social Welfare benefits and pensions. The amount of PRSI paid depends on your social insurance class, which in turn is determined by your earnings and the type of work you do. You can obtain full details of all PRSI rates from the Department of Social
Protection’s website.
The Universal Social Charge (USC)
USC is a tax payable on gross income, including benefits from your employer, but before deducting pension contributions.
This link below is fantastic – it will calculate your taxes due for you!
http://services.deloitte.ie/tc/
An example of the Form 12A
HOUSING IN IRELAND
You should arrange accommodation before you arrive in Ireland, even for the first few days
of your stay. Organize and book yourself into a hotel, B & B or a hostel in order to give
yourself time to look around and get to grips with the accommodation situation in the area
in which you plan to live.
Buying a House
Before you decide to buy
Find out what you can afford
It is important to evaluate all costs involved in buying a home, for example, mortgage costs, legal fees, registration of deeds and stamp duty. If you have calculated that you can afford to buy a property taking into account all of these costs, then you are ready to buy.
Get a solicitor
Conveyancing is the legal work involved in buying or selling property. Conveyancing charges can vary between solicitors, so it is worth contacting several solicitors to compare prices.
Find a property you like and can afford
Property websites, auctioneers and estate agents are the main ways of finding property for sale. There is a public register of auctioneers and estate agents on the website of the Property Services Regulatory Authority.
Sometimes individual sellers advertise their property themselves Newspapers may also have property supplements or publish advertisements for properties for
Get a survey
A seller is under no obligation to disclose defects in a property. You should get a survey of the property to find out if there are any defects before finalizing the purchase. The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) is the professional body for chartered surveyors.
Getting mortgage approval
Very few people can buy a home without getting a mortgage. A mortgage is a long-term loan secured against the property you buy. This means if you do not repay your mortgage, you may lose your home.
There are different types of mortgages and different mortgage providers. Contact a number of different mortgage providers to find out who can offer you the best deal. More information on mortgages and choosing the best one for you is available from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
You can get mortgage approval in principle before you start to look for a property; this will let you know how much you have to spend. However, when you do find a property you like, you must get formal mortgage approval before you sign the contract for sale (see below). If you sign a contract for sale and subsequently do not get mortgage approval, you will lose your deposit and there may be other penalties.
To Note!
If you rent a property from a landlord, or share a house with others, it should be noted that tax relief is not available on the rent paid. If you buy a house you may have to pay Stamp Duty which is a tax based on the value of the property.
Local Property Tax
Local Property Tax (LPT), which was introduced in 2013, is a tax payable on the market value of residential properties in the State. A residential property is any building, which is used as, or is suitable for use as, a residence. As Local Property Tax is a self-assessed tax, the liable person must complete and submit the Return, calculate the liability and pay any tax due.
RENTING IN IRELAND
Details of minimum standards
General
For each apartment, flat or house being rented as a separate unit, the landlord must ensure that the rental property is in a proper state of structural repair. The Regulations require the landlord to maintain the property in a good state, inside and out. They specify that roofs, roofing tiles, slates, windows, floors, ceilings, walls, stairs, doors, skirting boards, tiles on any floor, ceiling and wall, gutters, down pipes, fittings, furnishings, gardens and common areas must be maintained in good condition and repair. They must not be defective due to dampness or otherwise.
The landlord must ensure that electricity or gas supplies are safe and in good repair, and that every room has adequate ventilation and both natural and artificial lighting.
Laundry, food preparation and food storage
Private landlords are required to provide access to:
A washing machine A clothes-dryer if the dwelling does not have a private garden or yard
They must also provide facilities for cooking and for the hygienic storage of food, to include the following:
4-ring hob with oven and grill Cooker hood or extractor fan Fridge and freezer, or a fridge-freezer Microwave oven Kitchen cupboards that are suitable and adequate for storing food Sink with mains water supply, hot water and draining area
For dwellings rented from local authorities and approved housing bodies, landlord is required to provide facilities for:
Installation of cooking equipment with provision, where necessary, for the safe and effective removal of fumes
Hygienic storage of food
Other requirements
All landlords must provide:
A sink with hot and cold water
A separate room, for the exclusive use of each rented unit, with a toilet, a washbasin and a fixed bath or shower with hot and cold water
A fixed heating appliance in each room, which is capable of providing effective heating and which the tenant can control
A fire blanket and smoke alarms Access to vermin-proof and pest-proof refuse storage facilities
In multi-unit buildings, the landlord must provide each unit with a mains-wired smoke alarm; a fire blanket; and an emergency evacuation plan. There must also be emergency lighting in common areas.
Damage to your possessions
It is important to note that your landlord's responsibilities (to keep the water pipes, for example, in good repair) do not normally cover you for any damage to your possessions (caused by burst pipes, for example) and the landlord's insurance policy is unlikely to cover your personal belongings.
Several insurance companies provide contents insurance for private tenants.
Here is an idea of the Renting statistics in Ireland now; May 2016
Rank City
Cost of
Living Index
Rent Index
Cost of
Living Plus Rent Index
Groceries Index
Restaurant Price Index
Local Purchasing
Power Index
1 Dublin 82.74 49.96 67.18 66.88 87.45 108.76
2 Cork 76.91 35.13 57.07 66.36 81.12 135.52
3 Galway 74.26 30.68 53.57 60.37 76.69 136.85
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-
living/country_result.jsp?country=Ireland
The link above will you give you a general idea of the cost of living in Ireland ^^^
Here are a few Renting Websites where you can grab the best deals
http://www.myhome.ie/rentals/ireland/house-to-rent
http://www.daft.ie/ireland/houses-for-rent/
http://www.rent.ie/
http://www.property.ie/property-to-let/ireland/
http://www.let.ie/
MOVING YOUR PET TO IRELAND
Your pet is going to need:
· E.U. Pet Passport.
· Microchip (should comply with ISO standards 11784 or 11785).
· Current Rabies Vaccination (or at least 21 days before entry).
· Tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus) (dog’s only) to be administered by your Private
Veterinary Practitioner (PVP your local Vet) between 24 hours and 120 hours before
scheduled arrival time into Ireland. Your PVP must enter into the E.U. Pet Passport the
treatment, sign and stamp
· Registered Airline or Registered/Approved Ferry.
The following Airlines are registered for entry into Ireland:
· Air Baltic ------Riga, Latvia. · Lufthansa Airlines --------Frankfurt, Germany.
· SAS Scandinavian Airlines ------Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
· Swiss International Airlines ----- Switzerland.
· Turkish Airlines ------------Turkey.
· Aer Lingus ----------Ireland.
· Iberia Airlines-------Spain.
· Iberia Express------Spain.
· British Airways-----U.K.
The following Ferries are registered / approved for entry into Ireland from France.
· Celtic Ferries.
· Brittany Ferries.
· Irish Ferries.
If you are travelling by Air when you arrive into Dublin Airport, collect your baggage from the
reclaim hall and then once you have cleared Agriculture and Customs you can make your way to
the cargo area (Airline staff will tell you where the cargo area is) to collect your pet. You will
have been issued with an AWB (Airway Bill) number from the Airline Company prior to
departure. Present yourself and your AWB to the clearing agent and pay the appropriate fee for
Customs clearance and you will be given your pet.
TRANSPORTATION IN IRELAND
Ireland’s size makes travelling the country very easy. So when you want to get around, it is
relatively easy depending on how you want to travel. Rental cars are incredibly cheap. Buses
run all over the country, as do trains. The longest you may be travelling non-stop here would
be around five hours, and that is from one end of the country to the other! The four major transport services in Ireland are;
1. Dublin Bus
2. Bus Eireann
3. Irish Rail
4. Luas
1. Dublin Bus is the biggest public transport provider in the Greater Dublin Area operating over 136 routes. Normal services run from 5.00am until midnight. The Nite-link service operates from midnight until 4.00am on Friday and Saturday nights. For further information about prices, payment methods, discount deal visit www.dublinbus.ie
2. Bus Éireann operates regional city-to-city, commuter towns, and intercity bus services throughout Ireland.
For detailed information on Bus Éireann, services see www.buseireann.ie
3. Irish Rail operates city and commuter services in Dublin and Cork as well as intercity services throughout Ireland.
To book tickets or to find out detailed information on Irish Rail services see www.irishrail.ie
4. Luas is Dublin’s tram service, operating two lines. The Luas Red Line links Tallaght/Saggart to Connolly/The Point. The Luas Green Line links Brides Glen/Sandyford to St. Stephen’s Green. Construction has commenced on Luas Cross City – Dublin’s newest light rail link. Extending the Green line from St. Stephen’s Green through the city centre creating interchange with the Red line at O’Connell St. It will then continue on the North side to connect with the railway line in Cabra to provide greater access to Dublin city centre.
This link has all the information you need when it comes to Irish Transportation - Journey Planner.
This Real Time Ireland App lets you check when your next Bus/ Train or Luas service is due!
Our Luas line
HEALTHCARE IN IRELAND Ireland's health care system is modern and reasonably efficient. It is also free, if you do not
count the taxes that pay for it all. Everyone resident in Ireland is entitled to free public
health coverage. The level of free coverage depends on your economic health - the poorer it
is, the higher your level of coverage. There are two categories of public health coverage.
Once you are resident in Ireland, you are automatically entitled to one or the other.
Both private and public healthcare are available in Ireland. The public healthcare system is
funded by general taxes. If you need immediate attention you will probably have to pay a
subsidized fee depending on age, income, disability etc., but you will be seen to and the cost
will be minor. Otherwise, if it is something that can wait, expect to go on a waiting list.
There are numerous private healthcare providers available where you can pay for with
services such as private rooms with no waiting lists.
Our emergency dial here for the police/ambulance or fire brigade is 112 or 999.
EDUCATION
Education is very highly valued in Ireland. Education is compulsory for children in Ireland
from the ages of six to 16 or until students have completed three years of second-level
education.
The Irish education system is made up of primary, second, third level and further education. State-funded education is available at all levels, unless you choose to send your child to a private institution. Pre-school education is usually provided by privately funded childcare facilities or providers.
Primary (first-level) education
Children do not have to attend school until the age of six but it is usual for children to begin school the September following their fourth birthday. Four-year-olds and five-year-olds are
Second-level education
Secondary schools are privately owned and managed. Second-level education consists of a three-year junior cycle followed by a two-year or three-year senior cycle depending on whether an optional Transition Year is taken following the Junior Certificate examination.
Students generally commence the junior cycle at the age of 12. The Junior Certificate, the first state set of examinations is taken after three years.
Transition Year follows the Junior Certificate examination. This year is free from formal examinations and allows students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, including work experience.
During their final two years in the senior cycle, students sit The Leaving Certificate examination. This exam is the main basis upon which places in universities, institutes of technology and colleges of education are allocated.
Third-level education
Third-level education is made up of a number of sectors. The university sector, the technological sector and the colleges of education, which are substantially funded by the State. In addition, there are a number of independent private colleges.
There are seven universities, which are autonomous and self-governing. They offer degree programmes at bachelor, masters and doctorate level.
Trinity College Campus in Dublin City
SETTING UP A BANK ACCOUNT IN IRELAND
Bank of Ireland - Dublin City Branch
We advise that you should check what options the different banks offer you and choose the one that is best for you. Banks and Building Societies offer similar banking services and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Cards. Bank charges can be high – check the costs before you open an account.
Credit Unions are also a good option and their charges are less than the banks. It may take up to 3 weeks before your bank account is set up and ready for use, therefore, you should have some ‘ready cash’ to keep you going until your account is ready for you to use.
To open a bank account in Ireland you must have:
2 forms of photo identification Proof of address in Ireland (a recent household bill for example ESB or Telephone
bill)
What forms of identification can be used?
A valid passport Driver’s Licence Age Card issued by the Gardaí
Here is a few of the most popular banks: Bank of Ireland Ulster Bank Bank A.I.B Permanent TSB
If you have any other questions regarding your relocation, the Real team here in Dublin would be more than happy to assist any of your queries. Do not hesitate to give us a call and we will help in any we can!