Essential planning checklist for your move to Ireland

It may be a cliche, but the reality is that failing to prepare is simply preparing to fail, and if there is one thing we have learned about preparing to move to Ireland, it’s that planning is key.

The more you can sort out before you arrive in Ireland, the easier the transition will be once you arrive. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips about everything from passports and paperwork to pets and school needs to help you prepare for your big move.

Passports, visas and other paperwork

• Check your passport to ensure it’s in date. Make sure the expiry date doesn’t affect your eligibility for a visa or work permit, if applicable. This means that your passport must be valid for more than six months after your intended departure date from Ireland. So, if you plan on staying here for the duration of a two-year visa, then your passport must be valid for at least two years and six months (30 months) from your arrival date, if you want to enjoy the full validity you may be entitled to.
• Make sure you and any dependents coming with you have all the relevant immigration paperwork. It is also possible that you may need to bring birth or marriage certificates, diplomas or academic records, or a no-claims letter from your insurance company if you plan to drive in Ireland Other supporting documentation, for example referral letters, may be useful when looking for a job or a place to live.  
• Make a photocopy of your passport and driving licence and save them to the cloud or scan them to your computer. This is important in case you lose them.
• Bring printed versions of your travel insurance documents in order to simplify matters on arrival.

Healthcare and Insurance

• You should make sure to fill any prescriptions, particularly important medication, in advance of your trip to Ireland so that you’re not relying on getting them immediately when you arrive.
• Many Irish health insurance companies will have a waiting period between your overseas policy and the coming into effect of your new Irish policy. If you require your waiting period to be waived, get started before you make the move as it can take several weeks to switch, and you have a maximum of a 13-week gap between policies. Investigate whether your insurance company has an Irish counterpart to avoid the waiting period.

Learn more about healthcare and insurance in Ireland.

Bills, Bills, Bills

• Cancel utility bills, phone contracts, and any other services you are signed up to abroad well in advance, as many service providers will require further action before cancellation, and it may be more difficult to complete these tasks after your arrival in Ireland.
• If you have an Irish address then you should register it with your local post office at your previous address so as to forward mail.
• Check that your phone is unlocked from its network if you plan to use the handset with an Irish SIM card. Otherwise cancel your existing bill and allow some room in your budget for a new phone once you arrive.

Learn more about mobile phone plans in Ireland.

Short-term accommodation

If you don’t have accommodation sorted, be sure to book temporary accommodation for a few weeks. There are lots of hotels, B&Bs, hostels and guesthouses to choose from in Ireland, while Airbnb is becoming more and more popular for short-term stays, particularly in larger cities like Dublin and Cork.

Learn more about renting accommodation in Ireland.

Children and schooling

• If you plan to move to Ireland with children, then why not inform them about activities that will get them excited about the move. If the kids are interested in sports, then maybe some research into Ireland’s popular sports like soccer, rugby and the gaelic games of hurling and gaelic football could be a good idea. If they are more interested in music and art, then try reading them stories about Irish legends, show or sing the Irish songs or take the time to play some fun and interactive games with them. This will help them learn the names of famous icons, cities and landmarks in their new home.
• If you’re looking for a school after you move to Ireland, and you know what part of Ireland you are going to be living in, then why not research the schools in advance and contact the principal or secretary to find out if they can accommodate your children once you arrive. If you choose to do this, then you should also ascertain what you will need to do to secure a place in your preferred school and get working on it straight away. In general, you can expect that most schools will require you to present a birth certificate and passport. Some may also need a Personal Public Service (PPS) number in order to register your child as a pupil.

If any of your children do not have a PPS number, then you will need to get one so that you can receive child benefit on their behalf after you move to Ireland. In addition, a PPS number is generally needed if you wish to enroll them in a school or creche, and to obtain the ‘under 6s GP visit card’. However, it is extremely important to remember that you will need to be in Ireland before you can get the PPS number, but if you’d like to view the application form and get your documents organised in advance, then you can view it on the Irish welfare website and download the CB1 form before you arrive.

Pets

If you’re bringing pets with you when you move to Ireland, it is essential that you complete the relevant  paperwork and make sure that all their vaccinations are organized well in advance. In addition, you need to make sure that their food is stored correctly. Similarly, you need to have the right transport materials in place during the flight. To do this, you will need to get in touch with your airline to make provisions for their transport. Finally, if you will move to Ireland from another EU member state, then a pet passport will be required for your cat(s), dog(s) or ferret(s). However, if you are coming from a non-EU member state, then an additional blood test may be required, along with the pet passport.

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Shipping your extras

The method you use to ship your valuable possessions to Ireland will depend on the size/weight of your belongings. For smaller items, your airline or local postal service could prove useful. For larger items, like furniture or cars, you will need to book a shipping container. If you think you will need a whole container, you should look at getting a Full Container Load (FCL), but if your items don’t take up a lot of space, a Less than Container Load (LCL) may be the better option. Bear in mind that the LCL option will mean multiple transfers of your crate between shipping containers, as it makes its way to Ireland. This may increase the likelihood of breakages and will probably take longer than an FCL.

Most shipping companies have the option of packing the container yourself or letting them pack it. Bear in mind that if you self-pack, customs may delay your container’s release and you may be charged extra. You will also have to spend on the wrapping and the boxes, and your items may not be insurable as there won’t be any verification of their state at the time of packing.

When you are preparing to pack, measure out the area of the cube and do a practice pack to make sure the size of the container is appropriate. It is also advisable to make a list of everything that goes into each box, as you you will need it for the customs forms and will prove beneficial when you receive the items again.

Take scans of the forms you have filled out for customs. There is a lot of paperwork involved in organising your shipment and you may be required to fill it all in again when the container arrives in Ireland. Doing this will keep stress to an absolute minimum.

Label your boxes with numbers, so your list of contents corresponds to the boxes. It is also a good idea to vacuum pack any clothes, bedclothes, cushions — any material that can be vacuum packed. It will save so much space.

Before shipping, you need to take the time to find out exactly what your insurance covers and what it doesn’t cover. There are many loopholes in insuring shipped goods. The type of shipping and the type of damage can render your insurance obsolete, so be clear before you sign the insurance contract.

Irish customs will may ask certain questions before releasing your items to you. You may need to prove that you lived in your previous home country for a minimum amount of time, and prove that you are now a resident of Ireland.

Moreover, you should also research Irish transport companies that can clear your items from the port, charged separately to the original shipping cost. If there is a delay in releasing your container, you will be fined.

Finally, you need to be prepared for the fact that the shipping could to take up to three months, depending on where it’s coming from and how much you are sending. If you think you’ll need anything urgently, bring it with you on the flight or have it delivered separately by air courier.

Embrace Ireland, even the weather!

Make peace with the Irish weather. Better yet, embrace it. After all, the weather in Ireland is consistently inconsistent. With a lack of temperature extremes and rain that can appear from anywhere, at any time, you will be doing yourself a great favour by investing in decent rain-gear and just getting out there to explore the wonderful outdoors that Ireland has to offer. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.