Ireland: all programs

Ireland at a glance

Ireland is an English-speaking European Union country in western Europe with about 5.4 million people and its capital in Dublin. It hosts the European offices of the world's largest tech and pharmaceutical companies, one of the European Union's fastest-growing economies and a 12.5% corporate tax. The currency is the euro. Ireland is not in the Schengen area and issues its own visas.

The country attracts with careers in international companies, English, strong schools and a clear path to citizenship after 5 years of residence, without exams. The main downsides are expensive housing, high taxes on salaries and no remote work visa.

History and government

For centuries Ireland was ruled by England and then Britain. After the war of independence the Irish Free State was formed in 1922, the country became a republic in 1949, and Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom. Ireland joined the European Community in 1973. Today it is a parliamentary republic with a president and a prime minister, and free movement between Ireland and the United Kingdom continues under the Common Travel Area.

How to move in 2026

Russian citizens need an Irish visa; a Schengen visa is not valid for entry. Citizenship by naturalisation is granted after 5 of the last 9 years on reckonable permissions, after 3 years for spouses of citizens, with no language test or exam, and adult fees including a passport are about $1,400. A child born in Ireland is a citizen if a parent has lived in the country for 3 of the 4 years before the birth. More on the pages Irish citizenship, Irish citizenship by birth and Ireland startup residence.

Taxes

Income tax is 20% and 40%, and with the universal social charge and contributions about 52% of each euro of salary above 70,044 euros a year goes in tax. Corporate tax is 12.5% and VAT 23%. Foreigners whose permanent home is not in Ireland can be taxed on foreign income only when the money is remitted to the country. More on the page Taxes in Ireland.

Property

Foreigners buy property in Ireland without restrictions, and a purchase does not grant residence. Stamp duty is 1% on prices up to €1 million and higher on expensive properties, and a solicitor handles the deal. The main problem is the housing shortage: Dublin apartments have long queues, rent eats most of income, and many start in temporary housing.

Cost of living

Prices reflect the Dublin market in 2026 at about $1.12 per euro. One person lives comfortably in Dublin on about €3,500-4,500 a month including rent. Rent is cheaper in Cork, Galway and Limerick, but supply is also tight.

Where to live

• Dublin - the capital and hub for tech and finance jobs. More in the Dublin guide.
• Cork - the second city, pharma and tech, cheaper than the capital.
• Galway - a university city on the west coast.
• Limerick - affordable housing and growing companies.

Practicalities

• Climate. Mild maritime: around 5-8 degrees in winter, 18-20 in summer, rain at any time of year.
• Language. English; Irish is the second official language.
• Healthcare. A public system with waiting lists; many buy private insurance from €100 a month per person.
• Transport. Traffic drives on the left; Dublin has trams, a coastal rail line and buses.

Who Ireland suits

Ireland suits specialists with a job offer from an international company, families who want English and a European Union passport after 5 years, descendants of the Irish and wealthy people of independent means. It does not suit those working remotely for a foreign employer: there is no remote work visa. Murblz specialists choose the basis and prepare documents for the visa and permit, and later for citizenship. A consultant in the chat will calculate the cost of support.