Choose a recognised course
Compare course content, fees, entry requirements and location. If immigration permission is required, confirm that the programme meets the current eligible-programme rules.
Explore study options ↗Your complete student landing guide
Move to Ireland.
Land with a plan.
Research universities, find housing, discover part-time work, organise essential documents and learn how to get around Ireland from one practical starting point.
Official permit statisticsLegal housing gatewayStep-by-step arrival guides
Ireland arrival snapshot 2025 data
31,044permits issued
8,330employer records
6housing hubs
21store locations
6 arrival hubsExplore jobs, homes and essentials
Why Flight to Ireland?
The questions people ask before and after moving to Ireland, answered in one place.
01
Build your career
Explore official permit history and search part-time work around your studies.
Jobs and permits → 02Find a place to stay
Compare rental locations, continue to live Daft searches and use community housing tools.
Housing gateway → 03Sort your documents
Follow baby-step guides for IRP, PPSN, PSC and your student travel card.
Arrival documents → 04Feel at home sooner
Locate international groceries, understand transport and discover places worth visiting.
Everyday essentials →Choose your pathway
Start with the route that fits your move.
Shared essentials stay visible across the platform. Switch between student and worker guidance for the steps that are different.
Student pathway
Apply, arrive and settle in with fewer surprises.
Requirements depend on your nationality, course and duration. Use the official links before submitting any application.
Apply to the institution
International undergraduate and postgraduate routes vary. Follow the university’s application page and check whether your course uses CAO or a direct application.
Open CAO ↗Secure your offer and finances
Read the offer carefully, meet deposit deadlines and prepare the evidence requested for your immigration route, including study and financial documents where applicable.
Official study guidance ↗Apply for a study visa if required
A visa is permission to travel to Ireland. It is separate from your course offer and from immigration registration after arrival.
Check study visa options ↗Register after arrival
If you are required to register and will stay longer than 90 days, complete your first immigration registration and receive your IRP.
See the IRP steps ↓Understand student work limits
Eligible Stamp 2 students can work casually for up to 20 hours per week during term and up to 40 hours during permitted holiday periods. Check your own stamp conditions.
Read stamp conditions ↗QS World University Rankings 2026
Explore Ireland’s universities.
Rankings are one comparison point. Also check course fit, fees, scholarships, location and graduate outcomes.
#75Trinity College DublinDublin · QS 2026
#118University College DublinDublin · QS 2026
#246University College CorkCork · QS 2026
#284University of GalwayGalway · QS 2026
=401University of LimerickLimerick · QS 2026
=410Dublin City UniversityDublin · QS 2026
771-780Maynooth UniversityMaynooth · QS 2026
781-790TU DublinDublin · QS 2026
Ranking edition: QS World University Rankings 2026. Verify the current edition before applying. Open QS rankings ↗
Worker pathway
Find an eligible role and follow the correct immigration sequence.
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals generally do not need an employment permit. Most non-EEA nationals need one unless an exemption applies.
Define your target occupation
Check the Critical Skills Occupations List and the Ineligible List before applying widely. Your occupation, salary and qualifications affect the available route.
Check eligibility ↗Research permit-active employers
Use the company finder below to identify employers that received permits in 2025. Treat history as a research signal, not a current vacancy guarantee.
Search employers ↓Secure a genuine job offer
Tailor your CV, apply through official careers pages and confirm the employer, occupation, salary, location and proposed start date before any permit application.
Employment permit hub ↗Apply for the permit
The employer or employee can apply, depending on the route. DETE says applications must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed start date.
Employment Permits Online ↗Apply for a visa if required
An employment permit is not a visa. If your nationality requires an entry visa, apply for a long-stay employment visa after receiving the permit.
Official employment visa guide ↗Arrive and register permission
Bring your supporting documents for border control. If registration is required, register after arrival and receive your IRP. A Stamp 1 usually reflects employment-permit conditions.
See the IRP steps ↓Critical Skills Employment Permit
For strategically important high-skill roles and certain higher-paid eligible roles. A job offer of at least two years is required. DETE currently lists salary thresholds and occupation-specific criteria on its official page.
Check current Critical Skills rules ↗General Employment Permit
Supports a broader range of occupations unless excluded. Some applications require a Labour Market Needs Test. Use the official checklist for current salary, employer and documentation rules.
Check current General Permit rules ↗Seven additional permit types
DETE also lists dependant/partner/spouse, intra-company transfer, contract for services, reactivation, internship, sport and cultural, and exchange agreement permits.
Compare all permit types ↗Keep the terms separate:An employment permit allows eligible work. A visa may be required to travel to Ireland. An IRP records immigration registration after arrival.
Your first flight to Ireland
Book carefully. Pack confidently. Arrive prepared.
Compare live fares to Dublin, check student offers and understand the baggage rules before paying. Airline conditions change frequently, so confirm the final allowance shown in your booking.
Live fare comparison gateway
Search current flights to Dublin Airport.
Start with your departure country, then refine the airport, dates, stops and baggage options on Google Flights. The nationality list is based on the official 2025 permit dataset.
Middle East airline fare checks
Compare directly with each airline.
These links open the airline's own live booking service. Daily lowest-price cards can be activated after an approved fare API is connected.
Emirates
Open Emirates booking to compare live fares, route options and fare-family baggage benefits.
Check live Emirates fares ↗Qatar Airways
Search Qatar Airways directly and compare the final fare, connection and baggage rules before paying.
Check live Qatar Airways fares ↗Etihad Airways
Open Etihad's booking page to check current fares, add-ons and direct-booking benefits.
Check live Etihad fares ↗Turkish Airlines
Search Turkish Airlines directly. Flight to Ireland can automate a daily price board after its official API key is connected.
Check live Turkish Airlines fares ↗Daily price board status: API access needed.Turkish Airlines publishes an official availability-and-fares API. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad distribute fare content through approved partner routes. Flight to Ireland will show dated prices only after an authorised connection is configured.
Student airline benefits
Check these before buying a standard ticket.
Eligibility, routes, age limits, enrolment checks, booking codes and travel dates vary. Open the airline page and verify that your itinerary qualifies.
Emirates
Up to 10 kg extra or 1 extra pieceThe official student offer page advertises a fare discount and additional baggage allowance on eligible bookings using the student promotion process.
Verify the Emirates student offer ↗Qatar Airways
Extra baggage by membership tierStudent Club members can access benefits that include extra baggage allowance. Check the tier, route and fare conditions before booking.
Open Qatar Airways Student Club ↗Turkish Airlines
Student fares and baggage benefitsTurkish Airlines publishes student benefits for eligible members. Register, verify your student status and inspect the rules for international journeys.
Verify Turkish Airlines student rules ↗Air India
Extra baggage on eligible routesAir India publishes student concessions with baggage benefits for eligible bookings. Review the route, age and student-document requirements.
Verify the Air India student offer ↗Baggage rulebook
Never assume every ticket includes a checked bag.
Your exact allowance is controlled by the airline, route and fare family shown on your booking confirmation.
Aer Lingus
Check whether your fare includes a small personal item, a cabin bag, a checked bag or an add-on. The official baggage page explains current dimensions, weights and charges.
Aer Lingus baggage guide ↗Ryanair
Ryanair says all fares include one small personal bag that must fit under the seat. Larger cabin and checked bags depend on the option purchased.
Ryanair bag rules ↗Emirates
Allowance varies by route and fare. Use the official calculator, particularly when your journey is based on total weight rather than a number of pieces.
Emirates checked baggage guide ↗Qatar Airways
Use the official baggage page and your booking confirmation to check cabin and checked allowances. Codeshare flights can follow another operating airline's rules.
Qatar Airways baggage guide ↗Pack in cabin baggage
Keep the essentials with you.
- Passport, visa documents and your college offer or employment paperwork.
- Accommodation address, emergency contacts and travel insurance details.
- Phone, charger, valuables and essential medicine in original packaging.
- A change of clothes in case checked baggage is delayed.
- Check airline rules before packing batteries or power banks.
Airport security
Prepare your hand luggage.
Dublin Airport says airline carry-on policies vary. Its security guidance says liquids should be in containers of no more than 100 ml; follow the terminal instructions for screening and ask an officer about permissible medicine over 100 ml.
Read Dublin Airport hand-baggage guidance ↗Food and customs
Check before packing food.
Ireland's Department of Agriculture says restrictions apply to personal consignments from outside the EU regulatory zone. Meat, milk and their products are not allowed from many non-EU origins. Review the official guidance before packing food.
Read the official personal-luggage rules ↗Flight to Ireland does not sell tickets and does not claim a fare is the cheapest. Compare the full trip cost after cabin bags, checked bags, seats, airport transfers and connection times. Airline pages remain the source of truth. Reviewed 1 June 2026.
Employment permit intelligence
Know where the opportunities are.
Official 2025 DETE release Updated 8 Jan 2026
Permits issued31,044across Ireland in 2025
Employer records8,330searchable companies
Top countyDublin14,878 permits issued
Top sectorHealth & Social7,948 permits issued
Company permit finder
Search employers that received permits
⌕
Explore permit analytics
County and sector statistics come from official 2025 DETE tables. Company sponsorship history is shown separately because the published files do not link individual employers to county or sector.
Showing top employers
Permit history is an indicator, not a promise of a current vacancy or sponsorship. Always confirm details with the employer.
Verified full-time careers gateway
Go from permit history to official career pages.
Explore a growing set of permit-active employers with checked official career destinations. Read the overview here, then open the employer site for current roles and applications.
Career links are checked official destinations. Vacancy content remains on each employer's own website because availability changes frequently and many employers do not provide a public reuse feed. A permit record is historical evidence, not a guarantee that a current role qualifies for sponsorship.
Part-time work gateway
Find work that fits around study.
Students can browse part-time opportunities by city, then continue to Indeed.ie to view the current jobs and apply.
Live jobs integration
Part-time jobs from Indeed
Indeed Publisher access required
Once Flight to Ireland is approved by Indeed and served over HTTPS, matching Indeed job cards will load here inside the platform. Each job will link to Indeed for the full listing and application.
View the live search on Indeed.ie ↗Flight to Ireland links to live Indeed searches and does not copy Indeed job advertisements. Confirm your own immigration conditions before accepting work.
Housing discovery
Find your first place from here.
Browse detailed room listings, compare your options and contact the advertiser without leaving Flight to Ireland.
Nationwide search · Ireland
Select a city here, then continue to Daft.ie to use its live price, room and property filters.
Daft.ie housing gateway
Shared homes across Ireland
Availability counts are reference summaries. Daft.ie remains the source of truth for live results and full property details.Stay alert.Never send money before viewing a property, checking the landlord, and confirming a written agreement.Safety tips ↗
Flight to Ireland does not copy or republish Daft listings. Search summaries link to Daft.ie, where users can view the current inventory and contact advertisers.
Flight to Ireland community housing
List a home. Post a request.
Direct listings and student requests live on Flight to Ireland. Landlords complete verification before a property is published.
Verified landlord process1. Email account2. Identity check3. Ownership or authority evidence4. Listing review5. Verified badge
Nearby essentials
Find a little piece of home.
Discover international grocery stores and everyday essentials by city, cuisine and category.
Ireland essentials
The practical guide for your first months.
Understand the important cards, transport options, driving rules and the places worth exploring once you arrive.
Get your PPS Number
A Personal Public Service Number is your unique reference number for public services. Students commonly need it when starting employment so Revenue can handle tax correctly.
1
Wait until you have a reason to apply.A job offer or employment is a common reason. A PPSN is not issued only because you want one.
2
Create or use your MyGovID account.Open the online PPSN application through MyWelfare.
3
Prepare proof of identity.Use the identity document accepted for your nationality, such as your passport.
4
Prepare proof of address.Use a document showing your current Irish address. Follow the official list if your accommodation is temporary.
5
Upload evidence of why you need a PPSN.For employment, use supporting evidence such as an employer letter or contract.
6
Submit and monitor your application.The Department of Social Protection may contact you if anything else is needed.
Get a Public Services Card
A PSC supports access to public services and a verified MyGovID. It is not an immigration card and it is not automatically required for every student.
1
Check whether you need SAFE registration.The Department of Social Protection may invite you or you may need the PSC for a service.
2
Book your appointment.Use the official PSC information page to find the appropriate registration route.
3
Collect your identity documents.Bring the required proof of identity, PPSN evidence where requested and proof of Irish address.
4
Attend in person.Your details are checked and your photograph is taken during SAFE registration.
5
Receive the card by post.Keep it safe. Use your verified MyGovID for supported online services.
Get a Student or Young Adult Leap Card
A TFI Leap Card is a reusable travel card. Eligible students and young adults can access discounted fares on participating public transport.
1
Choose the correct card.Check whether your age makes you eligible for a Young Adult card or whether you need the Student card.
2
Apply through the Leap Card website.Follow the application route shown for your card category.
3
Verify eligibility if asked.Student-card applicants may need to follow the current student verification process.
4
Top up your card.Add travel credit before use or select an available ticket product.
5
Use it correctly.Tap on and tap off where required. Check TFI guidance for the service you are using.
Get your first Irish Residence Permit
An IRP is your immigration-registration certificate. If you are from outside the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland and plan to stay longer than 90 days, you generally need to register your permission within 90 days of arrival.
Current process: Since 13 January 2025, first-time registrations for residents anywhere in the Republic of Ireland are handled by Immigration Service Delivery at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2.
1
Arrive in Ireland first.You can only book a first-time registration appointment after arriving in Ireland.
2
Create your ISD Customer Service account.Use the Immigration Service Delivery portal and create your personal profile.
3
Book a free first-time appointment.Choose an available registration appointment at Burgh Quay. Do not pay anyone to book it.
4
Print the address form.Complete the address form attached to your appointment confirmation. This is where your IRP card will be posted.
5
Prepare your Stamp 2 student documents.Bring your valid passport, proof of address, entry visa and landing stamp where applicable, enrolment letter dated on or after your course started, proof of paid fees, scholarship proof if applicable, and original medical or travel insurance with the required cover. Bring printed originals or printed supporting documents as required.
6
Attend the appointment.Check in at the kiosk. An officer reviews your documents, takes your photograph and fingerprints, and processes your registration.
7
Pay the fee if applicable.The usual Stamp 2 registration fee is €300. Pay by credit or debit card only.
8
Receive your IRP card by post.The government guidance says cards are generally posted within approximately 10-15 working days after processing.
Open an Irish bank account without guesswork.
A local current account is useful for salary payments, rent, direct debits and everyday spending. Each provider has its own eligibility checks, so verify the bank’s current document list before applying.
1
Choose a provider and account type.Compare fees, app features, branches and student-account eligibility where relevant.
2
Prepare valid photo ID.A passport is commonly accepted. Banks publish their own accepted-ID lists.
3
Prepare proof of address.Use a recent accepted document. Some banks accept specific university letters or offer a moving-to-Ireland application route.
4
Apply online, in-app or in branch.The route differs by provider and your residency position. A selfie or identity check may be required.
5
Add the account to payroll.Once open, send your IBAN to your employer and use it for bills and rent where appropriate.
AIB
New customers resident in the Republic of Ireland can review mobile account opening. Branch support remains available.
Check AIB account opening ↗Bank of Ireland
Includes a Coming to Ireland process for eligible people moving to the Republic of Ireland within the next 45 days.
Check BOI Coming to Ireland ↗PTSB
Review its current-account document requirements and student-account enrolment evidence before applying.
Check PTSB documents ↗Your PPSN and your bank account are different steps.
Do not assume every provider requires the same documents. If you have just arrived and do not yet have standard Irish proof of address, read each provider’s accepted alternatives or book a branch appointment.
Can you drive with your existing licence?
If your licence is from the EU or EEA, it remains valid in Ireland while it is current. Visitors with a valid foreign licence may generally drive for up to 12 months. If you become normally resident in Ireland, exchange rules depend on the issuing country. Licences from recognised states may be exchangeable; licences from other countries are not exchangeable and usually require the Irish learner-driver process.
EU or EEAUse a current licence. Exchange is optional in many cases.
Recognised exchange stateCheck NDLS eligibility and exchange requirements.
Other countryBegin the Irish licensing process if resident.
Getting an Irish driving licence
- Pass the Driver Theory Test.
- Apply for a learner permit.
- Complete Essential Driver Training lessons when required.
- Practise while following learner-driver rules.
- Pass the driving test.
- Apply for the full licence.
€45Theory test
€45Learner permit
€85Driving test
€6510-year licence
Core official fees total approximately €240. Add EDT lessons, practice lessons, insurance and vehicle access. Lesson prices vary by instructor.
RSA learner-driver steps ↗Iarnród Éireann / Irish Rail
Book intercity trains and check timetables for rail travel around Ireland.
Book trains ↗Bus Éireann
Regional and intercity bus services, including many towns outside the rail network.
Plan a bus journey ↗Expressway
Bus Éireann's commercial intercity coach network for selected routes.
Book Expressway ↗Citylink
Useful for routes including Dublin, Galway, Cork and airport connections.
Book Citylink ↗Dublin Coach
Intercity services on selected corridors, including stops outside Dublin.
Book Dublin Coach ↗Transport for Ireland
Use the official journey planner to compare public-transport routes and services.
Plan with TFI ↗Must-visit places
Food, pubs and day tours
These are travel suggestions, not official endorsements. Check opening hours, prices and accessibility directly before visiting.
First weeks checklist
Your soft landing, one step at a time.
01
Before you fly
Research housing, line up viewings, organise documents and build a shortlist of employers.
02
First 7 days
Settle into temporary accommodation, arrange your IRP appointment and get connected.
03
First month
Open a bank account, apply for a PPS number and understand your work permissions.
04
Build your circle
Find your local stores, student communities and support services near campus.