Moving to Ireland means working through a precise sequence of tasks. Your first 90 days determine whether you can work, rent a home, open a bank account, and access the health system. Miss one step and everything else stalls. This checklist covers every essential task — in the order you need to complete them.
Before You Leave the USA: Documents That Open Every Door
Irish administrative offices ask for original documents, not photocopies. Arriving without the right paperwork adds weeks of unnecessary delay.
Gather originals of the following before you travel:
- A valid passport with at least 12 months remaining
- Your full birth certificate (not the short-form version)
- Proof of US address — a utility bill or bank statement from the last three months
- Six months of bank statements showing regular income or savings
- Any visa decision letters from the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS)
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate if applicable
If you are moving under the Stamp 0 financial independence scheme, Irish immigration requires you to show annual income of at least €50,000 per individual. For a couple, that rises to €100,000 per year. These thresholds are non-negotiable.
Before you leave the USA, open a bank account with low international transaction fees. Wise, Charles Schwab, and Revolut USA all charge near-zero rates. You will need access to money before your Irish bank account opens — which takes two to four weeks from the date you apply.
Thinking through the full picture before you move? The full Move to Ireland guide covers every stage in detail — from visa types to settling-in costs and what life really looks like after arrival.
Week 1: The PPS Number — Your Key to Everything
The Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is Ireland’s equivalent of a Social Security Number. You need it to open a bank account, register with a GP, access public services, and pay tax. Without it, almost nothing else on this list is possible.
How to apply for your PPS Number
Book an appointment at your local Intreo Centre or Department of Social Protection office using mywelfare.ie. Bring your passport, proof of Irish address (a signed lease or a letter from your landlord works), and your birth certificate. Processing takes five to ten working days after your appointment — contact the Department of Social Protection if you haven’t heard back within 10 working days.
Apply in Week 1. Do not wait. Every other task depends on this number arriving.
Need more detail? Our step-by-step guide to getting an Irish PPS Number as an American covers the full process, including which Intreo Centre to visit and what to bring.
While you wait: get a SIM card
Pick up a prepay SIM card on arrival at any Tesco, Centra, or phone shop. Ireland has three physical mobile networks — Three, Vodafone, and eir — plus budget prepay brands such as 48 and GoMo that run on their infrastructure. Budget-brand prepay plans start from around €10 for 30 days (Three’s own-brand prepay starts nearer €20) and include data, calls, and texts. You do not need a PPS Number to buy a SIM.
Weeks 2–4: Open an Irish Bank Account
Once your PPS Number arrives, go straight to a bank. The main retail banks in Ireland are Bank of Ireland (BOI), AIB, and Permanent TSB. All offer current accounts with online banking, contactless cards, and Revolut-style apps.
What you need to open an account
- Your PPS Number
- Passport or national ID
- Proof of Irish address (utility bill, lease, or a letter from your landlord)
Account opening takes three to five working days after you submit documents. Bank of Ireland and AIB both charge around €6 per month for a standard current account (AIB dropped its fee-free standard account in July 2026); AIB’s separate Basic Bank Account remains free for the first year for new customers who qualify.
If you need a working bank account before your PPS Number arrives: Revolut and N26 both operate in Ireland and can open a European IBAN account within 24 hours using just your passport and a selfie. Use these as a bridge while you wait.
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Month 1: Register With a GP and Sort Health Cover
Ireland operates a two-tier healthcare system. Public healthcare is available to all residents, but waiting times for non-emergency specialist appointments can exceed 12 months. Private health insurance cuts those wait times to days or weeks in most cases.
Registering with a GP
Search for a local GP on hse.ie, or ask neighbours for a recommendation. Bring your PPS Number and a form of ID. A standard GP consultation without a medical card costs between €60 and €80. If your income falls below certain thresholds, you may qualify for a medical card — which covers most GP and hospital costs at no charge.
Private health insurance
Ireland’s three main private health insurers are VHI, Laya Healthcare, and Irish Life Health. Basic plans start at around €42–€46 per month, with most entry-level cover in the €40–€80 range. Under the Community Rating system, everyone pays the same price for the same plan regardless of age — but a lifetime community rating (LCR) loading applies if you are over 34 when you first take out a plan.
For every year you are over 34 when you first join, a 2% loading is added to your premium. If you join at age 45, you pay 22% more than someone joining for the first time at age 34. New arrivals get a grace period, though: if you take out a policy within 9 months of becoming a resident in Ireland, the age-related loading is waived entirely — so it pays to sort insurance early rather than put it off.
For a full breakdown of Ireland’s two-tier system and insurer options, see our complete guide to healthcare in Ireland for American expats.
Month 2: Driving and Getting Your Irish Licence
A valid US driving licence allows you to drive in Ireland legally for 12 months from the date you become resident. After that, you must either convert your licence or pass the Irish driving test.
Ireland does not currently have a driving licence exchange agreement with the USA. You must take the full Irish theory test (€45) and, in most cases, a practical driving test (€85). Add the cost of lessons — typically €35–€50 per hour — and budget around €500–€800 for the full process.
Book your theory test at theorytest.ie as early as possible. Slots fill up weeks in advance in larger cities. The National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) handles all applications and licence issuing. Allow three to four months from starting the process to holding your full Irish licence.
One key reminder: driving in Ireland is on the left. Speed limits are in kilometres per hour. The national road limit outside towns is 100 km/h, urban roads are 50 km/h, and most rural roads are 80 km/h.
For complete advice on converting your US licence and what to expect at the theory test, see our guide to driving in Ireland for Americans.
Month 2–3: Register for Tax With Revenue
If you are working in Ireland, your employer registers you with Revenue and deducts income tax, PRSI (social insurance contributions), and the Universal Social Charge (USC) from each payslip. If you are self-employed or running a business, register yourself at revenue.ie.
Tax rates for 2026
Ireland uses two main income tax bands. You pay 20% on income up to €44,000 per year (for a single person in 2026), and 40% on anything above that. The standard personal tax credit is €2,000, which reduces your bill directly — not just the income it applies to.
If you arrive partway through the year having paid US taxes already, you may be eligible for a partial-year refund on your Irish tax. Revenue’s myAccount portal at revenue.ie handles all personal tax affairs online. For the full picture on setting up accounts and understanding the Irish tax system as a US expat, see our banking and taxes guide for American expats.
Month 3: Building a Life — the Social Side
The practical tasks get you set up. The social connections make Ireland feel like home.
Ireland has a genuine culture of community. Most towns have a GAA club, a tidy towns committee, sports clubs, and an active parish network. Joining one early — even just as a casual spectator or volunteer — gets you meeting people far faster than waiting for friendships to develop organically.
Local libraries run events, language classes (including Irish), and community noticeboards. Facebook groups for American expats in Ireland and Internations both have active Irish chapters, particularly in Dublin, Cork, and Galway. And the Irish pub, for all the clichés, remains the genuine social centre of most communities. Becoming a regular somewhere — not to drink, just to be present — is one of the most effective ways to build a network quickly.
By the end of month three, most people who actively engage with their community report feeling genuinely settled. The ones who struggle are usually those who stayed home waiting for Ireland to come to them.
Your First 90 Days at a Glance
Before you arrive
- Original documents gathered and safely packed
- US bank account with low international fees opened
- Short-term accommodation in Ireland booked
Week 1
- PPS Number appointment booked at mywelfare.ie
- Irish SIM card purchased
- Bridge bank account (Revolut or N26) opened if needed
Weeks 2–4
- PPS Number received
- Irish bank account application submitted
- GP registered
- Private health insurance applied for
Month 2
- Theory test booked at theorytest.ie if driving long-term
- Revenue (tax) registration completed
- Standing orders and direct debits set up for rent and utilities
Month 3
- Community connections established
- First tax return submitted if self-employed
- Practical driving test booked if required
What documents do I need to move to Ireland from the USA?
You need originals of your passport, full birth certificate, proof of US address, and six months of bank statements. For Stamp 0 (retirement/financial independence), you must also show annual income of at least €50,000 per person or €100,000 for a couple.
How long does it take to get a PPS Number in Ireland?
After your in-person appointment at a Department of Social Protection office, your PPS Number typically arrives within five to ten working days — contact the Department of Social Protection if you haven’t heard back by then. You cannot open an Irish bank account, register with a GP, or access most public services without it — apply in Week 1.
Do I need private health insurance in Ireland?
It is not legally required, but it is strongly recommended. Public hospital waiting times for non-emergency specialist care regularly exceed 12 months. Private plans start at around €42–€46 per month, and the community rating loading adds 2% for every year over 34 when you first join — though new arrivals who take out a policy within 9 months of becoming resident avoid this age loading entirely, so it pays to sign up early.
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