Life in Ireland · Your first 30 days
Land prepared. Settle faster. Feel at home.
From packing your documents to finding your everyday routine. One practical guide for arriving, settling in and making the most of student life.
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General information only. AIMarketer is not authorised to provide immigration or legal advice. Confirm requirements with the official source and consult a suitably qualified adviser for your own circumstances. Read our Student Information Disclaimer.
Guidance reviewed 7 September 2026. Rules, services and availability can change.
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Your hand-luggage document folderOpen guide & resources
Keep your passport, visa if required, college acceptance letter, fee-payment evidence, accommodation details, evidence of funds and insurance accessible. Carry copies offline and keep originals secure. Check the official list for your circumstances; a visa does not guarantee entry.
SIM, eSIM and staying connectedOpen guide & resources
Check that your phone is unlocked and supports the eSIM you plan to buy. Compare coverage, data allowance, expiry, roaming and whether calls or an Irish number are included. A data-only travel eSIM may not receive verification texts. Save installation instructions and arrange access to your existing number before departure.
Insurance, money and useful appsOpen guide & resources
Confirm your insurance meets the requirements of your permission and understand how to claim. Bring a working payment card and a backup; check foreign-exchange and withdrawal charges. Save your accommodation address, college contact, TFI journey plan and booking confirmations offline. Pack a Type G plug adaptor.
Arriving at Dublin Airport
Keep the essentials to hand, then take your next step calmly.
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Questions you may be asked at immigrationOpen guide & resources
Be ready to explain why you are travelling, which course and college you will attend, where you will stay, how you will support yourself and how long you intend to remain. These are preparation prompts, not an official script or guaranteed list. Answer truthfully using your own documents; ask for clarification if you do not understand a question.
Before leaving the arrivals hallOpen guide & resources
Follow signs for passport control where applicable, baggage reclaim and customs. Check which terminal you arrived in, connect using the airport’s published Wi-Fi instructions and confirm your accommodation check-in arrangements. Use the airport information service if you need directions or assistance.
Read the permission given at the borderOpen guide & resources
Check the conditions and expiry date recorded on arrival. Where registration is required, follow ISD’s current first-registration process before your landing permission expires. A course place, visa, PPS number and Irish Residence Permit serve different purposes.
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City buses and airport coachesOpen guide & resources
Compare public buses in the TFI planner with Aircoach and Dublin Express. Enter your exact destination and travel date, then check the stop, terminal pickup zone, last service and luggage policy. Airport coaches may require their own ticket; do not assume a Leap card covers every service. Check live operator details rather than relying on a fixed fare or route number.
Taxi ranks, Uber, FREENOW and Zone 18Open guide & resources
Walk-up taxi ranks are outside both terminals. For an app booking, enter the correct terminal and destination, review the price and confirm the booking before walking to the pickup point shown. Zone 18 is a designated pre-booked taxi area: follow current airport signs and your driver’s instructions rather than assuming every booking collects there. Match the registration and driver to your booking and keep the receipt.
Travelling beyond Dublin or landing lateOpen guide & resources
Check direct coaches to your destination before planning a city-centre transfer. Allow time for border checks and luggage, and check the final connection separately. Save a backup route and your host’s late-arrival instructions. For rail journeys, check how to reach the departure station from the airport.
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Open a bank accountOpen guide & resources
Compare account fees, card charges, branch access and international transfers. Providers normally need proof of identity and address; ask the bank which documents it accepts before applying. If you do not yet have a bill in your name, ask about accepted alternatives and whether your college can supply a suitable letter. Approval and document requirements vary.
PPS number and MyGovIDOpen guide & resources
A PPS number is used for public services and tax; it is not permission to work. Check whether you have a qualifying reason to apply and prepare identity, address and reason evidence. Follow the Department of Social Protection application process. A basic MyGovID account and a verified account are different; complete the checks required for the service you need.
Registration and your IRPOpen guide & resources
Read the current ISD instructions, book through the official process when required and prepare the documents requested for your permission. Keep appointment and submission records. Your own landing permission and official instructions determine your deadline; this first-week plan is not a replacement for them.
Revenue and your first payslipOpen guide & resources
When starting your first job in Ireland, register it with Revenue through myAccount as soon as possible. Give your employer the details they need and check your payslip. Emergency Tax can apply when the required information is missing; use Revenue’s instructions to resolve it and check any refund due.
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Where to look and what to compareOpen guide & resources
Ask your college accommodation office about residences, approved listings and temporary options. Compare student residences with private rentals on Daft or Rent.ie. Check total rent, bills, deposit, contract length, commute, furnishings and cancellation terms. A listing is not a guarantee of availability or quality.
Before paying a depositOpen guide & resources
Verify the property and the person offering it, arrange a viewing or trusted local check, and obtain written terms. Pressure to pay immediately, unverifiable ownership and unusual payment requests deserve scrutiny. Keep the advert, agreement, inventory and receipts. Follow CCPC’s scam checks before transferring money.
Know your accommodation arrangementOpen guide & resources
A private tenancy, student-specific accommodation and a room in an owner-occupied home can have different protections. Check your agreement type with RTB guidance before assuming deposit, notice or dispute rules apply. Contact Threshold or your students’ union for help with a housing concern.
Living & Working in Ireland
Build a routine around study, everyday travel and support.
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Employment permit eligibility and graduate routesOpen guide & resources
Start by checking whether an employment permit is required for your nationality and existing permission. Critical Skills and General Employment Permits depend on more than salary: occupation classification, qualifications, job offer, employer and other conditions matter. Irish graduates should separately check the Third Level Graduate Programme and its application timing. Use the official route pages for current remuneration thresholds, occupation lists and exemptions; this guide cannot determine individual eligibility.
Employment permit salary and remuneration thresholdsOpen guide & resources
Reviewed 7 September 2026: General Permit thresholds shown are €32,691 for specified sectors, €34,009 for qualifying recent Irish graduates, and €36,605 generally. Critical Skills figures are €36,848 for the applicable recent-graduate route, €40,904 for listed occupations, and over €68,911 for the higher-remuneration route. These are annual remuneration figures, not take-home pay or guarantees of eligibility. Hours, qualifications, occupation exclusions and other conditions apply. Check official definitions and current figures.
Work permission and finding a jobOpen guide & resources
Check your actual immigration permission before accepting work. Stamp 2 generally permits up to 20 hours a week in term time and 40 during the designated holiday periods; Stamp 2A does not permit work. Check ISD’s current dates and conditions, including restrictions on self-employment. Start your search with your college careers service and JobsIreland; keep your contract and payslips.
Everyday transport and a realistic budgetOpen guide & resources
Check Leap card options and eligibility directly with TFI Leap Card. Plan the full commute before choosing housing or work. Build a monthly budget covering rent, utilities, groceries, phone, travel, insurance and study materials, with a buffer for unexpected costs. Check current prices rather than treating an estimate as a promise.
Healthcare, pharmacies and settling inOpen guide & resources
Find your college health and wellbeing services and a local GP; ask about registration, appointment costs and insurance cover. A pharmacist can help with appropriate everyday health questions. Save an out-of-hours contact and join college societies or local groups. For a life-threatening emergency, call 112 or 999.
Employment permits: find your starting point
Explore the official checks relevant to your next step. This tool does not decide eligibility or recommend a permit for your personal circumstances. No answers are saved or sent.
Minimum remuneration by route
Annual thresholds, not take-home pay. Salary alone does not determine eligibility. Compare the route conditions below.
- General Permit · specified sectors€32,691
Horticulture workers, meat processor operatives, healthcare assistants and home support workers; hourly conditions also apply.
- General Permit · recent Irish graduate€34,009
Relevant degree from an Irish third-level college in the previous 12 months; other conditions apply.
- General Permit · standard threshold€36,605
Eligible employment, subject to all route requirements.
- Critical Skills · recent graduate€36,848
Relevant qualification received within 12 months before application, for the applicable listed-occupation route.
- Critical Skills · listed occupation€40,904
Relevant degree or higher required; specific exceptions apply.
- Critical Skills · higher remunerationOver €68,911
Official eligibility wording specifies over €68,911; ineligible occupations and public-interest exclusions still apply.
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Travel and your addressOpen guide & resources
Save your full address and Eircode, the nearest stop and an offline route home. Use official transport information for live changes.
Administration and independent helpOpen guide & resources
Bookmark the official services you need. Enter personal documents only through the relevant official service, and keep your login details private. Commercial links on this page are starting points, not endorsements.
Emergency contactsOpen guide & resources
Call 112 or 999 when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Save your college support contact, accommodation emergency contact and insurer’s assistance number separately. Know your address and Eircode so you can describe your location.
Your First 30 Days checklist
A suggested rhythm, not an official deadline. Follow the dates on your own documents. Tick tasks you have completed or checked are not applicable. Progress lasts while this page stays open.
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Small questions. Clear next steps.
Quick Answers
The questions that come up first — answered with links you can check.
01Does my Irish student visa guarantee entry?
No. Carry the supporting documents relevant to your journey. The immigration officer decides permission at the border; check the conditions and expiry recorded on arrival.
02Should I go to Zone 18 for every taxi?
No. Walk-up taxi ranks are outside the terminals. For a pre-booked taxi, use the pickup location in your confirmed booking and current airport instructions; Zone 18 is a pre-booked taxi area.
03Can I open a bank account without a utility bill?
Ask the provider which alternative address documents it accepts. Identity and address checks apply, and a college letter is not automatically accepted by every bank.
04Does a PPS number allow me to work?
No. Work rights depend on your immigration permission. A PPS number serves tax and public-service purposes.
05How do I avoid Emergency Tax in my first job?
Follow Revenue’s first-job process, register the job in myAccount as soon as possible and ensure your employer has the required details. Check your payslip and follow Revenue’s correction instructions if needed.
06Are all student rentals covered by the same rules?
No. Private tenancies, student-specific accommodation and digs can be treated differently. Check the RTB student guide for your agreement type.
Dedicated Ireland FAQ assistant
Ask about life in Ireland
Search the guidance in this hub, including the first-month checklist. This assistant returns prepared FAQ answers with source links. It cannot assess your personal eligibility or give immigration or legal advice.
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