Ireland
IRLIreland offers the rare combination of an English-speaking EU member state with the world's only EU/UK Common Travel Area (CTA) — Irish citizens move freely between the UK, Ireland, and the EU. Generous citizenship by descent extends to anyone born to an Irish-born grandparent via the Foreign Births Register, making it one of Europe's most accessible descent routes.
Standard naturalisation requires 5 years of reckonable residence in the prior 9 years plus 12 months continuous; dual citizenship is fully permitted. Personal income tax is high — the marginal rate (income tax + USC + PRSI) reaches roughly 52% on income above €70,044 — but the Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP) provides a 30% exemption on qualifying inbound-assignee income above €100,000.
Ireland is in the EU but not Schengen (it remains in the CTA with the UK). Healthcare is a mixed public/private model with HSE entitlement for ordinary residents; many residents supplement with VHI, Laya, or Irish Life cover. Banking for non-residents is more restrictive than in mainland EU — PPSN and Irish proof of address are typically required; Revolut and N26 are popular interim options.
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Capital
- Dublin
- Region
- europe
- Population
- 5,110,000
- Cost-of-living
- 82 /100
Passport Rank
#5
Visa-Free
157
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Ireland passport has visa-free access to 157 destinations. See the full Ireland passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Ireland without a prior visa (76)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Ireland
Current IRCC processing times for Ireland nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 21 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 3 weeks |
| Work permit | No processing time available |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-10-07 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Dublin
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- English, Irish
- Population
- 5,110,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Naturalisation
- 5 years
- Schengen / EU
- No / EU
- Climate
- Oceanic
- English Proficiency Rank
- #3
- GDP per capita
- $131,592
- Life expectancy
- 83.01 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.63%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
82
Safety
75
Healthcare
72
Quality of Life
185
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 5 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dublin | $2,200 | $1,700 | $360 | $200 | $140 |
| Cork | $1,400 | $1,100 | $340 | $180 | $90 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Dublin
Rainfall range: 47–77 mm/month · Daylight 7h (winter) to 17h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Visitor
- Student
- Critical Skills Employment Permit
- General Employment Permit
- Stamp 0
- Stamp 1
- Stamp 2
- Stamp 4
- IIP (closed)
- Start-up Entrepreneur
- Family
- Authority
- Immigration Service Delivery
- Official Portal
- irishimmigration.ie
- Phone
- +353 1 616 7700
- immigrationsupport@justice.ie
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- 5
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- Yes
- Dual Allowed
- Yes
- Fee
- $1,100
- Processing
- ~30 months
Real Estate
- Avg price/sqm (capital)
- $7,000
- Transaction taxes
- 2%
Foreign buyers: No restrictions on foreign ownership. Dublin €6,000-€8,000/sqm typical. Stamp duty 1% to €1M, 2% above. 10% higher rate introduced 2023 for bulk-purchased residential (10+ units).
International Schools
← scroll the table →
| School | City | Curriculum | Tuition (USD/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Andrew's College Dublin | Dublin | IB + Irish Leaving Cert | $8,000–$15,000 |
Daily Life Logistics
Internet
150 Mbps median
55% fibre coverage
eSIM: Three Ireland, Vodafone IE, Eir
Driving
IDP not required
Local licence required after 12 months
Exchange eligible: EU/EEA, UK, Canada +7 more
Pet Relocation
Quarantine: none
Rabies titre not required
EU pet passport: accepted
Safety
GPI Rank
#3
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠pickpocketing on Dublin Luas and Temple Bar
- ⚠fake charity collectors
- ⚠accommodation-rental deposit scams targeting foreign workers
Examples of areas to avoid: certain Dublin northside flats late night
LGBTQ+ Legal Status
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Legal
- Civil Partnerships
- Recognised
- Anti-Discrimination Law
- Yes
- ILGA Rank
- #22
Religious Life
- Halal Food
- Widely available
- Kosher Food
- Limited
- Prayer Facilities
- Common
Sample Citizenship Test Questions
Q1. In what year did Ireland gain independence from the United Kingdom?
Answer: 1922
Source: INIS
Q2. What is the Irish word for Ireland?
Answer: Éire
Source: INIS
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Ireland, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Law Society of Ireland
Law SocietyRegulates solicitors in Ireland who may provide immigration advice.
Related Guides
Fastest paths to an EU passport in 2025
A sourced comparison of the shortest EU naturalisation timelines, from 2-year descent fast-tracks to 5-year residency routes — plus the hidden requirements that extend them in practice.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa Programs
Ireland Critical Skills Employment Permit
Ireland IRL
Est. processing
~3mo
Min. Income
$3,500/mo
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Ireland Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
Ireland IRL
Est. processing
~6mo
Min. Income
—
Citizenship
5y
Verified 2026-04-20
Citizenship by Descent
Company Formation in Ireland
Sources & last verified
- Last verified