1. We arrange a meeting with you to discuss your case
We arrange an appointment with you to get a better understanding of your specific needs and requirements. We can do this over the phone, at our offices or on Skype.
Moving To Ireland From The USA? We can help
Moving to Ireland From the USA
Moving home can be very stressful, especially if you’re relocating from one country to another.
For citizens of the United States of America who wish to relocate to Ireland, the process of doing so can feel overwhelming. A combination of the huge distance between the two countries, the actual logistics of moving and the bureaucracy involved in living in Ireland legally are difficult to juggle, but not impossible.
We’re here to reassure you that it’s possible and that by taking the right steps before the move, the process can be incredibly smooth.
How Gibson & Associates Can Help You Move To Ireland
At Gibson & Associates, we’re experts in assisting Americans immigrating to Ireland. We help our clients to relocate to Ireland by:
- Assistance with purchasing property
- Assistance with visa applications
- Assistance with citizenship applications
- Assistance with Dual nationality
- Offering advice on Will & Probate Law in Ireland
We charge fixed fees for our services and our expertise will ensure the processes are done quickly and efficiently to ensure peace of mind throughout what can be a stressful and complicated process.
For more information on how we can help you, complete an Online Enquiry form now, call us on +353 01 872 3143 or email us on info@gibsonandassociates.ie/ for immediate assistance and advice.
Guide Contents
In this guide, we’ll highlight all the things you need to do both logistically and legally before you make Ireland your home for the long term.
- What you need to do before you move to Ireland
- Purchasing Property in Ireland
- Wills, Probate & Asset Protection in Ireland
What To Do Before You Move to Ireland
Before you make Ireland your home, there are some things you need to do ahead of moving.
1. Visit Ireland
It’s incredibly important to visit a country before you make the decision to move there. There are many things you need to become familiar with, such as the weather, the food, prices, and the media – everything that will impact your daily life.
If you’re planning a move independently from your work, be sure to spend time in Ireland before you make a definite decision, even if you’ve spent time in the country before. Rent a property for a couple of weeks and see how you feel about Ireland as a place to live, before making a definite decision.
If your job is sending you to Ireland to work, insist that they allow you and whoever would move with you, to visit the country for as long as possible before the transfer. This way, everyone will be familiar with the country before the relocation.
2. Arrange your Finances
Having your finances organised before you move is critical. Minimise any debt you have in the USA as much as possible, and make sure you’ll have more than you need in savings to cover your predicted costs of moving, as well as enough to cover any unforeseen costs during the move.
Draw up a plan ahead of time, detailing when you’ll need to pay for certain things. This will ensure you have cash flow during the moving process.
3. Plan how you will stay in Ireland for the Long Term
Depending on your situation, there are many routes available to non-Irish citizens, which allow them to stay in Ireland long term. You will need to plan how you will obtain the right to work and live in Ireland legally well in advance of your move.
4. Apply for Irish Citizenship
If you are eligible to apply for citizenship, make sure your citizenship request completed and approved before you move to Ireland.
You can apply for Irish citizenship if:
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- You were born in Ireland
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If you were born in Ireland before 1st January 2005, you can apply for dual citizenship, even if your family moved away right after you were born, and even if your family are not Irish. If you were born after this, it’s still possible, but you need proof that there are ties to Ireland.
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- Your parents are Irish
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If one or both of your parents are Irish nationals, either since birth, or via other means, you can apply for citizenship via descent.
We’re the only Law Firm in Ireland that has successfully acquired citizenship for individuals whose Great Grandparents were Irish!
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- Your grandparents are Irish
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Same as with parents, if one of your grandparents are Irish nationals, either since birth or via other means, you can apply for citizenship via descent.
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- You’re married to an Irish national and have been living in Ireland for the 5 of the last 8 years
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To claim Irish citizenship by marriage or civil partnership, you must have been married to, or in a civil partnership with your Irish partner for over 3 years. Altogether, over the last 5 years, you need to have spent 3 years residing in Ireland with your spouse before you can apply for Irish citizenship this way.
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- If you have lived in Ireland for an extended period of time
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In order to qualify, you much have spent 1 year continuously living in Ireland before the date of your application and have spent 4 of the previous 8 years before that living recognisably in Ireland. Altogether, you need to have spent 5 out of the last 9 years living in Ireland.
For more information on obtaining citizenship, take a look at our page on Obtaining Irish Citizenship from the USA.
If none of the above applies to you, then you’ll need to look into the visa options available to you.
5. Apply for an Irish Visa
There are many different visa options available for non-Irish citizens.
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- Work Visa & Business Visa
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If you are coming to Ireland because your work transferred you, they will have most likely sorted much of your visa requirements for you. Be sure that you have provided all the details they need to approve your visa.
However, if you are left to sort your visa out yourself, it’s important that you ensure the process is done correctly and on time. The rules are very strict, and the visa needs to be completed and approved before you move to Ireland.
There are many different types of work visas available, depending on your type of work and how long you plan to work in Ireland. For more information see our page on applying for an Irish visa.
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- Student Visa
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If you wish to study in Ireland, you will require a study visa to do so. Although it‘s a long-term visa, it is only for the purpose of studying. This visa does not permit you to work.
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- Join Family Visa
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If you already have family who are living in Ireland and you are dependant on them, this visa will allow you to stay with them in Ireland on a long-term basis.
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- Spouse/Family Visa
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This visa allows you to reside in Ireland for longer than 3 months with a spouse or family member who is an Irish citizen or who is legally resident in Ireland. With this type of visa, you need to show a clear link to the Irish citizen before it can be approved.
For more information on the types of visas available and how we can help, see our Visa page.
6. Apply For a Stamp 0
It’s possible to reside in Ireland long term by using the Stamp 0 status. This is a low-level immigration status that allows people who are financially self-sufficient to live in Ireland.
In order to be declared financially self-sufficient, you need to demonstrate that you earn over €50,000 a year, plus have access to savings in order to cover unforeseen costs. An Irish accountancy firm must be able to verify this.
If you are granted stamp 0 status you will be unable to apply for benefits whilst living in the country, and you must also have access to private healthcare. This allows those with no ties to Ireland to live in the country on a long-term basis.
Purchasing Property in Ireland
If you are planning to purchase property when you arrive in Ireland, the difference in processes, currency and legalities may seem overwhelming. We pride ourselves on helping our clients through the buying process, helping to minimise jargon and increase efficiency.
Take a look at our property law page for more information on how we can help you buy property once you are here.
Wills, Probate & Asset Protection in Ireland
The legalities behind wills differ from country to country, so it’s important that you organise a will to cover you and your family in Ireland, as well as any you may have in the USA.
Our team at Gibson & Associates can help you and your family to draw up a will that is legally binding in Ireland and will protect you and your assets whilst you live here.
Get in touch with Gibson & Associates Today
Based in Dublin and also Donegal, we’re here to help you every step of the way with your re-location from USA to Ireland. Our team is highly experienced in many areas of law and can help you from the moment you decide to the make the move.
We offer fixed fees for our services, and will gladly answer any questions you have about moving free of charge.
Contact our team now by filling in an Online Enquiry form, call us on +353 01 872 3143 or email us on info@gibsonandassociates.ie/ for immediate assistance and advice.
what our clients say…
I received an excellent service from Oliver and his administrative staff, especially Clodagh O’Donnell. It was my pleasure to do business with you all. Many thanks.
Martin Burke, Finglas
Gibson & Associates acted for me in the purchase of my first home. I found the service offered to be first class and would highly recommend this firm to my friends and colleagues.
Tony Gillespie, Strabane
I would have no hesitation in recommending Gibson & Associates Solicitors to any person who needs a good professional team to represent them on any legal matter. The team was courteous at all times.
Leigh Howard, Dublin
I would recommend Gibson & Associates Solicitors to my family and friends. My solicitor kept me updated regularly and was courteous and professional at all times.
Kim Nolan, Dublin
OUR EXPERTISE
Gibson & Associates is one of Ireland’s leading law firms. No matter your situation, our team will use their experience to make sure that you benefit from the best possible outcome.
OUR ETHOS
We put our clients at the heart of everything we do and work tirelessly to get the best results.
We treat clients and each other the way we’d like to be treated and for us “good enough” just isn’t good enough!
WE’RE FAST & RESPONSIVE
When you make contact with our team, you’ll hear back from us within 3 hours or less – that’s our promise.
WE USE CLEAR, SIMPLE LANGUAGE
We don’t try to impress with “legalese” and jargon. We use clear, plain language.
WE GIVE YOU A DEDICATED POINT OF CONTACT
The person responsible for your case will never change. You’ll be assigned a dedicated point of contact who will take charge of your case from start to finish.
OUR TRANSPARENCY
At Gibson & Associates, we’re clear about our processes and transparent when it comes to costs. Before progressing any case, we offer a no-obligation consultation with our client care team and will provide you with practical options. Integrity and transparency are core to how we work with all of our clients and means we’ll always treat your case as if it was our own.
