Moving from India to Ireland
Moving from India to Ireland: India passport holders get visa required for short stays and need a residence permit to settle. Ireland costs about $3,300/month for one person. Citizenship takes about 5 years of residence.
Last updated August 2026 · How we calculate this
Visa & entry
Visa required for short visits. To settle you'll need a residence route:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit — A job offer in an occupation on the critical-skills list, above a salary floor.
- Citizenship by descent — An Irish parent or grandparent (via the Foreign Births Register) grants citizenship.
Documents & apostille
Single apostille each end. Both countries are in the Hague Apostille Convention — one apostille from India makes your documents valid in Ireland.
Where in India: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) — apostilles issued via Branch Secretariats / outsourced authorised agencies — official source
↳ Ireland: Since March 2024 Ireland issues e-Apostilles; most applications are online/postal (limited in-person). Documents must be signed by a recognised public official or Irish notary/solicitor first
Check each document →Cost, tax & salary
Cost of living in Ireland: around $3,300/mo for one person.
Citizenship & residency
5 yrs reckonable residence within last 9, incl. 1 continuous yr before applying; no language or civics test.
Your path to a passport →Arrival checklist
- Register your address: None (no mandatory address registry; Irish proof of address <3 months needed for PPS & IRP)
- Get a tax number: PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number)
- Residence permit: IRP (Irish Residence Permit; ex-GNIB card) for non-EU/EEA/Swiss
- Healthcare: Public HSE system via ordinary residence (medical card / GP visit card); many take private insurance
Chicken-and-egg on address: PPS and IRP both need Irish proof of address, but you often need PPS to work. PPS is in-person at an Intreo centre (book via MyWelfare); non-EU must register IRP within 90 days.
Your move, step by step →Driving
All EU/EEA exchange directly. Recognised states (no test): UK, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, South Africa, Taiwan, Georgia, Gibraltar, Isle of Man, some Canadian provinces. US and all others: no exchange, full retest.
Non-recognised countries (incl. US, India, China) cannot exchange at all — must start as a learner and pass full theory + practical test. IDP is only valid for short-term/visitor driving, not for residents long-term. Exchange fee €65.
Exchange your licence →Pets
- Microchip: Required; ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before rabies vaccination.
- Rabies: Required; pet min 12 weeks old at vaccination, then wait 21+ days before entry.
- Quarantine: None if fully compliant; non-compliant pets may be quarantined, re-exported or detained.
Ireland — quick facts
Start your move from India to Ireland
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