First Job In Ireland

If you are looking for your first job in Ireland, here is some information that you may find useful.

Eligibility/Permits:
Firstly you must determine if you are eligible to work in Ireland and what permit you require (if necessary). If you are from an EU member or one of the countries of the EEA or Switzerland, you are entitled to work in Ireland and do not require a work permit. If you are from any other country, you will generally need a work permit to work in Ireland. There are different work permits, student and holiday visas. For more information on permits please go to www.dbei.gov.ie Please ensure that you have the relevant work permit required for the roles that you are applying for.

Personal Public Service (PPS) Number:
Before you start your first job in Ireland, please make sure that you have a PPS number. You can apply for a PPS number in any of the PPS number allocation centres in your county. You will need to bring your passport and proof of address i.e. a utility bill. Please see www.welfare.ie for more information.

Once you receive your PPS number and have started working you will need to register with Irelands tax authority, the Revenue Commissioners, who will send a Revenue Payroll Notification (RPN) to your new employer. The RPN will tell your employer how much Income Tax (IT) and Universal Social Charge (USC) to deduct from your pay. Failure to register will mean that you will pay emergency tax until your affairs are in order whereby you will then receive a tax rebate for any overpayment that may have occurred. You will need the company’s Employer Registration Number as well as your PPS number.

First-time employees should register for MyAccount. MyAccount is a single online access point for Revenue services and is available at https://www.ros.ie/myaccount-web/register.html?execution=e1s1 Please see www.revenue.ie for more information.

Bank Account:
Most companies pay salaries directly into bank accounts so it is important that you set up a bank account as soon as possible. To set up a current bank account, you will need photo identification (Passport, Drivers or National Identity Card) plus proof of address (recent utility bill). Each bank offers different fees and benefits, so check with the banks before you open a current account. Once you have the account open, give your employer a copy of your bank details so they can pay your salary directly into your current account.

Accommodation:
If you don’t have friends or family whom you can move in with, you will need to find somewhere to live. The main website for rental accommodation is www.daft.ie Local newsagents and community centres may also have notice boards with local houses/rooms to rent. All renters should check that the property is registered with The Residential Tenancy Board (RTB). Please see https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/ for further information.

Employment Rights:
All new employees must receive a written statement of employment within 5 days of starting work. This should include your name, the name and address of the employer, the expected duration of the contract (if temporary or fixed-term), rate and frequency of pay and the expected working hours in a working day and working week. Additional terms of employment must be received in writing within 2 months of your start date. This will include paid leave, sick pay, pension/pension schemes, any terms or conditions relating to pay (ie overtime etc). Please see Citizens Information for more information.

Driving in Ireland:
As a visitor or new resident to Ireland, you can drive on a driving licence from any state outside the EU/EEA for up to a year provided the driving licence is current and valid. However, on taking up 'normal residence' in Ireland you must either exchange your driving licence or apply for a driving licence in Ireland. For further information see https://www.ndls.ie/holders-of-foreign-licences.html