Your first week in Ireland: the essential checklist
The first week sets the tone for a smooth relocation. Ireland's bureaucracy is digital-first, so most tasks are done online — but they all need your PPS number, which takes a few weeks to arrive. Prioritise: (1) PPS number application, (2) tax registration, (3) bank account, (4) accommodation paperwork, (5) GP registration. Here is the week-by-week plan that works for most newcomers in 2026.
Day 1-2: the essentials
- Apply for your PPS number on mywelfare.ie (see our PPS guide) — start this the day you arrive; you need ID, proof of address and a reason (job offer/college letter).
- Buy a SIM card — GoMo, 48, Three, Vodafone or eir; prepay plans cost €10-€20 a month for generous data.
- Collect your Eircode (your 7-character postcode) — it is attached to your address and needed for deliveries, registration forms and GP registration; find it at eircode.ie.
- Register with a GP practice near your new home — do this early, as some practices have waiting lists.
Day 3-5: money and tax
Open a bank account — AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB and permanent tsb offer current accounts; non-EEA residents need their passport and IRP card, and proof of address. Digital banks (Revolut, N26) can be opened within minutes and are fine for day-to-day spending while you wait for a traditional account. Register for myAccount on revenue.ie and, once you have a job confirmed, register the employment so your employer receives your tax credits (personal €2,000 + employee €2,000 in 2026) and you avoid emergency tax. Set up utilities at your new home: electricity and gas (Electric Ireland, Bord Gáis Energy, Energia, SSE Airtricity — compare on Bonkers.ie), broadband, and a bin collection service.
Day 5-7: getting around and settling in
Buy a Leap card for public transport (Dublin Bus, Luas, DART, Bus Éireann, and now more regional services) — fares are cheaper than cash and weekly caps apply. If you are driving, check our driving guide: EU/UK licences are recognised, licences from recognised states (Australia, Canada, Japan, etc.) can be exchanged without a test within 6 months of becoming resident, and other licences are valid for up to 12 months before you must sit the Irish test. Register your eircode with delivery services, and let your home country's embassy or consulate know you have arrived (free registration, useful in emergencies).
Welfare and healthcare registration
Register on mywelfare.ie — it is the single portal for medical card applications, child benefit (€140 per child per month) and other supports. If you are from the EU/EEA or the UK, bring your EHIC/GHIC for emergency cover until you are fully registered; if you want private health insurance (recommended for faster hospital access), get quotes from VHI, Laya and Irish Life Health in your first week — premiums do not depend on health status (community rating), so there is no penalty for waiting, but no reason to either.
The first-month financial reality
Most Irish employers pay monthly in arrears, so your first salary usually lands 4-6 weeks after your start date. Your first month's outgoings — deposit (max one month's rent), first month's rent, furniture, groceries and transport — can easily reach €5,000-€8,000 for a single person, so arrive with funds to cover it. Keep all receipts: medical expenses, rent (for the €1,000 rent tax credit) and tuition fees can all be claimed against tax in your first Irish tax return.
Action steps
- Bookmark mywelfare.ie, revenue.ie, hse.ie and rtb.ie — these four sites cover 90% of newcomer admin.
- Join local Facebook groups for your neighbourhood — they are the fastest way to find recommendations.
- Set a reminder to register your tenancy check (your landlord must register with the RTB within a month of your tenancy start).
- If you moved with children, register them with a GP and a school immediately — places are competitive.
Non-EEA: immigration registration in week one
If you are non-EEA, your most urgent task is immigration registration. You must register your permission within 90 days of arrival: in Dublin, this is done online through ISD (Immigration Service Delivery) with an appointment at the Burgh Quay Registration Office; outside Dublin, at your local immigration office. Bring your passport, visa, employment permit (or proof of your permission type), proof of address and proof you can support yourself. You will receive your IRP card — carry it with your passport at all times, as Gardaí can ask to see it, and you need it to open bank accounts, sign leases and access many services. Renewals are also online, and you should start the renewal process before your permission expires.
Settling in: community and practicalities
Beyond admin, week one is about building your Irish life. Join your local library (free membership, free internet, and often English classes and children's activities); find your nearest Garda station and register your address with your local station (useful for proofs of address); introduce yourself to neighbours — Irish neighbourliness is real; and check Meetup, Eventbrite and local Facebook groups for newcomer networks, which exist in every city. If you have school-age children, contact the school immediately (enrolment is by application, and popular schools have waiting lists). And remember the small things: Irish plugs are the UK three-pin type, so bring adapters; rain gear is not optional; and the greeting 'how are you' is a greeting, not a medical inquiry.