Dent Recruit Contributor
Intro
Ireland is a small English speaking country on the far Western edges of Europe. It has a population of 5.1 million, with most people living along the east coast. Agriculture, Pharma and the services sector are its main industries. The Irish state became a Republic in 1922, and English is the official language, but basic Irish gaelic phrases can be helpful in understanding road signs!
Compared to its nearest biggest neighbour, the UK, it’s a pretty small country - but has punched above its weight globally when it comes to music, literature. If you’re thinking of making the move here to work as a dentist, here’s some practical info you should know.
Visas and immigration
Your visa requirements depend on your nationality. If you want to work in Ireland and are a non-EEA/non Swiss national, you will need to have a valid employment permit or Atypical Permission first. Depending on your nationality, you may also be required to apply for a visa. You then have to apply for the relevant permission.
The first thing you will be asked to do when you arrive in Ireland is to show your passport, permit, visa and all other required documentation to the immigration officer at the airport or other port of entry. The immigration officer will then decide if you are allowed to enter the country.
Even if you have a valid visa for Ireland, you could be refused entry by the immigration officer if they are not satisfied with your documents or explanations. The officer will place a ‘landing stamp’ in your passport to give you temporary immigration permission to stay here. This stamp identifies how long you can stay.
The maximum time you can stay will be shown by a date on the landing stamp. The usual time limit is 3 months, though you may be given less. If you arrive with a short stay ‘C’ visa, you must leave the country before your landing stamp expires.
If you arrive with a long stay ‘D’ visa and wish to stay longer than 3 months, you must visit the Dublin registration office.
If your plan is to work as a dentist in Ireland and you’ve reached out to us at Dent Recruit, we can help you with your visa requirements. Generally you will be sponsored by an employer, so we can help you prepare in advance. In order to find a dental role, you need to be registered with the Irish Dental Council. This can take some time depending on where you acquired your dental qualifications. So before you make the move, reach out to us and we can advise you what you need to do with plenty of time before you get on a plane.
How do I get there?
Ireland is an island so you will need to fly there or get a ferry. The main airport is in Dublin. If you’re flying from outside Europe, you may need a connecting flight through the UK or another European airport to get here. There are other smaller airports in Ireland but they deal with domestic flights or short-haul routes - Cork, Shannon, Knock, Donegal and Kerry.
You can also travel to Ireland by passenger ferry. The main access points here are Rosslare in Waterford, Dun Laoghaire, and Dublin. These operate to and from the UK, Spain and France.
So where am I going to live?
On the island of Ireland there are two states - the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is a land border with the UK (Northern Ireland is a part of the UK). In recent years (since Britain left the EU) this border is now considered an international border. However there are no passport control, or customs. You don’t need a visa to cross to Belfast or anywhere in the North, but be mindful that the currency is different - they use sterling as opposed to the Irish euro.
Dublin
Dublin is the capital city, and where most business and economic life takes place. The Dail, the Irish parliament, is here, along with all official government business. It’s also where you’ll find most employment opportunities, but also the highest cost of living. Wages tend to be higher in Dublin for this reason. Even though it’s a thriving capital city, and has decent public transport links with buses and trams (called the Luas and DART) Dublin is very accessible and you can get out to beautiful areas of seaside, mountains and countryside in Wicklow and surrounding counties pretty quickly. With a population of just over half a million people you won’t find it as hectic as the bigger European capitals.
Dublin is divided by the river Liffey - many Dubiners refer to themselves as Northsiders and Southsiders. While both areas have a mix of family-friendly neighbourhoods where you’ll pay
a premium to live by the sea (Dalkey, Killiney, Clontarf, Malahide), there are also less salubrious areas that experience some anti-social activity. Generally though, Ireland has a low crime rate, and ranks 3rd among all 163 nations participating in the Global Peace Index, 2022, by the Institute for Economics And Peace (IEP).
Cork
Cork is the biggest urban centre in the South and is a vibrant university city of just under 125,000 population. Desirable places to live in Cork would be considered the areas around Kinsale, Ballincollig, Douglas, Rochestown, Blackrock, Crosshaven, Blarney, Montenotte, and St. Lukes.
Cobh (famous for the Titanic) is 30 mins by bus. Cork has carved out a niche as a foodie capital in recent years - a visit to the English market is a must. Cork is on the southern tip of the Wild Atlantic Way, a stunning drive along Ireland’s western coastal region.Travel along the coast to Kerry, Clare, through Galway, Mayo, Sligo and your journey will end in the northernmost county, Donegal.
Galway
Galway is a vibrant city located on the west coast known for its lively atmosphere, cultural scene, and beautiful scenery. It’s a very laid back city and if you like live, traditional music, here is where you’ll find it. You can also travel to Ireland’s small inhabited islands by boat from here - the Aran islands. They speak Gaelic here, but will converse with you in English too. If you’re moving here you might want to look at these areas for their proximity to the city and suitable accommodation: Salthill, Menlo, Carna, Oranmore, Knocknacara, Renmore, Renville, Moycullen, Claregalway, Clarinbridge.
Limerick
Limerick is in the southwest of the country, on the banks of the river Shannon. Some of the most popular neighbourhoods include Castletroy, Dooradoyle, Raheen, Monaleen and the city centre. Castletroy is a popular choice for families and students, as it’s home to the University of Limerick and has a great range of amenities. Dooradoyle and Raheen are also family-friendly areas with good schools and plenty of parks.
Other sources of information
Decide what part of the country you’re moving to and then do some research. Each county has a council website that will be more specific to that area. You’ll find that you will have more luck finding somewhere to live on a permanent basis when you actually move here. Like many places, it’s a case of being on the ground to find those promising leads. Often people will find houses through people they have met through work or a social network. You’ll need to prioritise what you’re looking for - proximity to city, schools, and whether you need a car.
Whether you’re renting or buying, there's a considerable shortage of housing across the country. Here are the sites that will help you find some leads on your search.
https://www.rent.ie/
Helpful community sites:
Reddit
Local Facebook sites
Boards.ie
What do I need to work?
Once you’ve arrived and are here and have your work visa in place, you need to get into the system. This means getting a Pay Related Social Insurance number, or PRSI. PRSI is a way of paying social insurance contributions - generally it’s deducted at source by your employer. A wide range of benefits are available to people who have paid social insurance. Your entitlement to these benefits depends on a number of conditions as well as the contribution requirement.
It’s a lot of work moving jobs, never mind countries. But there’s no doubt the effort can be worth it. As a dentist in Ireland, you’ll enjoy excellent remunerations, opportunities to advance and a good work/life balance in a country that is pleasant to live in. DentRecruit.ie is a one stop recruitment shop for dental candidates and Irish dental clinics. If you’ve trained in the EU, the UAE, UK, or anywhere else in the world, we can help you make the transition to life in Ireland. We’ll look at your qualifications and fluency in English, and guide you on how to sit the Irish Dental Council exams, to get registered as a dentist in Ireland. If you want to change your life and your job and move to Ireland, get in touch today.
[Imagery Source: Luciann Photography]
