Returning to Ireland from the United Kingdom

Before returning to Ireland from the United Kingdom (UK), you may have some questions. For example, you might be wondering about tax in Ireland, getting your pension, or other social welfare benefits.

This page covers key things to know when coming back to Ireland from the UK and how you can plan your journey home.

Before you open a bank account in Ireland, you need to show:

• Proof of identity (such as a valid passport or driving licence)
• Proof of address (such as a recent utility bill)

In general, this means you cannot open an Irish bank account until you have arrived home.

The UK is still part of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), meaning you can use the IBAN from your UK bank account for payments and transfers in euro. For example, your Irish employer can pay wages into your UK account, and you can set up direct debits using your UK account.

Learn more on our page about using your UK bank account in Ireland.

Non-resident bank accounts

Some banks in Ireland offer ‘non-resident’ accounts. This means you may be able to set up an Irish bank account before returning home.

You still need to prove your identity, but the bank may, for example, accept a foreign utility bill if it has been certified by a solicitor or police officer. Different banks have their own requirements, so you should contact your preferred bank directly for advice.

Read more about opening a bank account in Ireland.

Your PPS number is a unique number that helps you access social welfare benefits and public services in Ireland. You already have a PPS number if you:

• Were born in Ireland from 1971 onwards
• Started work in Ireland after April 1979

If you can’t remember your PPS number, contact the Department of Social Protection.

If you have never had one before, you must wait until you are back in Ireland to apply for a PPS number.

Non-resident applications for a PPS number

If you are living outside Ireland and need a PPS number to interact with certain specified bodies in Ireland, you can apply for one. For example, if you are a beneficiary under an Irish will, you may need to provide a PPS number.

In these cases, you can contact the Department of Social Protection’s, Client Identity Services (CIS) by:

• Email at cis@welfare.ie
• Telephone 0818 927 999 (or +353 71 9672616, if calling from abroad)

You can find the forms and more information about applying for a PPS number on gov.ie.

Applying for benefits

In Ireland, the Department of Social Protection provides social welfare benefits. Even though you are an Irish citizen, you must meet the habitual residence condition (HRC) to qualify for certain payments, including Child Benefit and the State Pension (non-contributory).

This means you must be able to prove a close link to Ireland and show that you plan to continue living here for the foreseeable future. Read more about meeting the habitual residence condition.

Many UK benefits, including national insurance pensions, can continue to be paid to you by the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if you move from the UK to Ireland.

Before you move, you should ask if you can transfer your existing UK benefits outside the UK. Contact the DWP’s International Pension Centre for more information.

As you prepare to return, consider visiting our page that covers retiring to Ireland.

Claiming your UK state pension from Ireland

If you worked in the UK and paid enough national insurance contributions, you may qualify for the UK State Pension. You can claim your UK State Pension even if you have moved back to Ireland. You must choose whether you want your pension paid into a UK or Irish bank account.

Contact the International Pension Centre for information on how to claim your pension from abroad.

You can also visit GOV.UK for information on claiming your State Pension when you retire abroad.

UK pension deadline

If you have worked in the UK and have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can pay voluntary contributions to help you qualify for the UK State pension.

If you’re a man born after 5 April 1951 or a woman born after 5 April 1953, then you can pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps between 2006 and 2018. You could make these voluntary contributions until 5 April 2025.

After 5 April 2025, you are only able to pay contributions to cover the previous 6 years. This may not be enough contributions to qualify for a new State Pension, if you have fewer than 4 qualifying years on your National Insurance record. You usually need at least 10 qualifying years in total.

You can read the guidance from GOV.UK about deciding if you should pay voluntary contributions to fill any gaps.

Transfer a private pension from the UK to Ireland

You can transfer your UK pension to Ireland if it is listed as a ‘Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme’ (QROPS). Your request for the transfer may be assessed for tax purposes by the scheme administrator and by the UK’s tax authorities.

The UK has a list of recognised Irish overseas pension schemes.

If the scheme to which you are considering transferring your pension savings is not a QROPS:

• Your UK pension scheme may refuse to make the transfer, or
• You may have to pay at least 40% tax on the transfer.

Find out more about overseas pension transfers, including details about applications and taxes.

Renting

If you are planning to rent, you can find out what to consider before looking for somewhere to rent in Ireland.

Learn more about your rights and responsibilities when renting in Ireland.

Buying a home

If you plan to buy a home, there are several steps in the process. Before you decide to buy, make sure you have done the following:

Find out what you can afford

Make a budget, and include insurance, legal fees, monthly mortgage payments, and stamp duty.

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has a budget planner that you can use to see how much you can afford each month.

Read more in our step-by-step guide to buying a home.

Get a solicitor

You will need a solicitor to do conveyancing. This is the legal worked involved in buying a house. Since conveyancing charges can vary between solicitors, contact several different solicitors to compare prices.

The Law Society of Ireland has a search tool you can use to find a solicitor near you.

Get mortgage approval

There are different types of mortgages and mortgage providers in Ireland. You should contact several different mortgage providers to find out who can offer you the best deal.

You can also use the CCPC’s mortgage calculator to check what your monthly repayments will be. The amount will depend on:

• The amount you borrow
• How long the mortgage lasts
• The interest rate

Read more about taking out a mortgage.

Additional help

If you are an older returning Irish emigrant and will be unable to provide accommodation for yourself, Safe Home Ireland may be able to help you find accommodation before you return. Find out more about the housing assistance that Safe Home Ireland provides.

You can also visit our page covering housing supports for returning Irish emigrants, which includes information on emergency accommodation and how to access this this support for people who are homeless.

Learn more about social housing in Ireland.

Public health services in Ireland are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

You are entitled to public health services free of charge or at a reduced cost if:

• You have been living in Ireland for at least a year
• You plan to live here for at least a year

This is called being ‘ordinarily resident’ in Ireland.

You may have to pay for some health services in Ireland that you accessed for free in the UK. For example, people in Ireland generally pay a fee for GP appointments. However, you may be able to attend your GP for free if you qualify for a medical card or GP visit card.

Read more about how to find a GP in Ireland and accessing health services when you return to Ireland.

Private healthcare

Individual health professionals and healthcare companies provide private healthcare services in Ireland. Typically, you pay the full cost of private healthcare services, but you can buy private health insurance to help cover the cost.

You can find out which companies offer private health insurance in Ireland and more information on how private health insurance works.

The Irish education system includes:

• Primary school (sometimes called ‘national school’)
• Post-primary school (often called ‘secondary school’)

If you will be returning home to Ireland with children, read about the process for enrolling them in primary and secondary school.

Before beginning the process, it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with how schools in Ireland admit students.

Higher and further education

The Common Travel Area (CTA) between Ireland and the UK means that you do not need a visa or residency permit to study in Ireland. If you are thinking of going to college, you can search the Qualifax website for details about courses.

Generally, applications for undergraduate courses in Ireland are made through the Central Applications Office (CAO). The colleges and universities you apply to in Ireland will evaluate your GCE/GCSE qualifications by converting your points over to the points scale for the Irish Leaving Certificate.

You can find more information on our pages covering:

• Applying to college and the CAO
• College application procedures and entry requirements
• Third-level fees
• Tax relief for third-level fees

If you think you might qualify for a grant, you can read more about:

• Maintenance grant schemes for students on third-level courses
• Grants and funds available for mature students.

If you are an Irish citizen returning home, you can work without a visa or employment permit.

If you are bringing family members to live in Ireland who are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom (UK), you should first check if they need a visa to come to Ireland. Family members of Irish citizens can apply for residence in Ireland. If successful, they will get a Stamp 4 IRP which allows them to work without an employment permit.

If you are planning to work when you are back, there are many schemes and training supports for jobseekers. You can also learn more on our page that covers where to look for jobs in Ireland.

Recognition of foreign qualifications

You should get your foreign academic qualification recognised before applying for jobs. National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) can help you do this by providing comparisons of foreign academic qualifications based on the Irish National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).

To compare your qualification:

1. Search for your foreign qualification on the NARIC database
2. Download a comparability statement

You can ask for recognition advice by submitting an online form.

NARIC has published a guide on how to get your foreign qualification recognised (pdf). You can also find guides in different languages on the website.

NARIC is part of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), which has a guide for comparing UK qualifications (pdf).

We also have pages covering things you should know when returning to Ireland:

• As a teacher
• As a healthcare worker
• As a construction worker

If you have family members returning with you, visit our pages on residence rights of family members and coming home with children.

Read about returning to Ireland in a crisis if you are coming back under difficulty circumstances. Also consider contacting Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project if you are looking for support in relation to homelessness and social welfare.