Moving to Dublin to study or work?
You probably have a lot of questions. I certainly did. Read on for my insider’s tips on how to smooth your transition and find your feet in the bustling Irish capital.
Dublin is an exciting city. It’s a popular place to come to study or to work. There are many top notch post-secondary educational institutions, as well as high calibre language schools, and a growing tech sector. There’s a vibrant cultural and social scene, and generally a good quality of life. If you’ve decided to come be a part of the action, congratulations and céad míle fáilte!
Now there are a few things you’ll want to get sorted ASAP.
Practical Matters:
I wouldn’t be a tax nerd if I didn’t include these all-important practical concerns. You can’t apply for your PPS number until you arrive, but forewarned is forearmed. Put these essentials on your to-do list.
- PPS number
This is an important identification number that you should apply for shortly after your arrival. You make your appointment online, then you go into the Intreo centre for a short appointment. I found the process simple and straightforward, and I was pleased with how smoothly it went!
A basic guide to the PPS number is available here. More information on booking your online appointment is available on Welfare.ie: How to Apply for A PPS Number.
- Emergency Tax
If it’s your first time working in Ireland, you’ll be placed on what’s called “Emergency Tax” until you apply to Irish Revenue for your tax credits. Revenue have a helpful guide on what to do when you start your first job in Ireland.
If you act quickly, you may be able to get off of Emergency Tax within your first few months in Ireland, and therefore get to keep more of your hard-earned paycheques!
Housing:
Housing is probably top of mind. Finding accommodations in Dublin can be a challenge. It helps to do your research, and to know the best tools to use.
- Research neighbourhoods
Dublin is a city with a number of appealing neighbourhoods. Many people choose to live outside city centre to find more space, a more appealing price, or a slightly slower pace. Depending on where you work or study, there should be an area within reasonable commuting distance that appeals to you! Lists like this are one place to start.
It will help to familiarise yourself with the postcodes used in Dublin. The odd-numbered ones are north of the Liffey, and generally the smaller numbers are closer to city centre, increasing as you move further into the suburbs.
- Find your flat!
Locals tend to use Daft.ie, which is fine for securing a long term lease. But what about for your first flat, for those first few weeks or months whilst you get your bearings? Or what if you’re only going to be in Dublin for a few months?
I’ve recently been introduced to a site that makes searching for a furnished flat, or a room in a shared accommodation, easy and intuitive.
Nestpick.com is a tool that searches across a number of resources, and allows you to refine your search based on price, type of accommodation, and numerous other factors.
Having played around with it a bit, I think it would be extremely useful for someone looking to find short term accommodation in Dublin. I really like the map feature, it’s very intuitive, and it will really work to your advantage if you’ve already done your research and have an idea what neighbourhoods you’d like to focus on.
If I’m honest, you’ll miss the user interface on Nestpick if/when you need to use Daft to find a longer term flat.
Transport:
- Leap card
I’m shocked when I encounter someone in Dublin without a Leap card. They are the best way to use the public transport system in Dublin, and can be used across the DublinBus, Luas, and DART services. And you typically save 20% over cash fares!
I just load travel credit on mine and top up as needed. I wish they had an iPhone app, but it’s not too difficult to add credit online, and then load it at a designated location (such as any Luas stop).
Are you ready to make your move to Dublin?
With a little research, a bit of patience, and the right tools, your move to Dublin can be a smooth transition and you can get straight into what matters: focussing on your studies, excelling in your new job, and perhaps enjoying a pint* (pro tip: it’s never just one…) to celebrate! Sláinte!
This post was written in collaboration with Nestpick.com.
