Living in Ireland

Ireland is a unitary state. The rules newcomers deal with most, from immigration and employment permits to income tax, social welfare, health services and tenancy law, are national. Local councils (Dublin has four) run local services such as libraries, housing and roads.

Who does what

• Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), part of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, grants entry visas and immigration permissions. It registers first-time permissions at its Registration Office on Burgh Quay in Dublin and handles renewals online. Your permission is recorded on an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
• The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment (DETE) issues employment permits, such as the Critical Skills and General Employment Permits.
• The Department of Social Protection (DSP) allocates the Personal Public Service (PPS) number, runs the Intreo employment service and pays social welfare, including Child Benefit.
• The Revenue Commissioners (Revenue) collect income tax, the Universal Social Charge (USC) and PRSI. Employees manage their tax through Revenue's online service, myAccount.
• The Health Service Executive (HSE) runs public health services. GP visits are usually paid privately unless you hold a medical card or GP visit card.
• The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) registers private tenancies, sets out tenants' and landlords' rights and resolves disputes.
• Transport for Ireland (TFI) is the brand for public transport. In Dublin you pay for bus, Luas, DART and commuter rail with a TFI Leap Card.

Who needs permission to live here

• Irish citizens and British citizens can live, work and study in Ireland without any permission, under the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK.
• Citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland can live and work in Ireland under EU free movement rules and do not register with ISD.
• Everyone else who plans to stay longer than 90 days needs an immigration permission, such as one based on an employment permit or a study programme, and must register it within 90 days of arrival. Whether you also need an entry visa depends on your nationality. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa does not let you enter Ireland.

Getting help

• Citizens Information is the State's information service on public services and rights. It has a phone service on 0818 07 4000 and local centres.
• Threshold gives free advice to renters, and the Workplace Relations Commission handles employment rights complaints.

The HomiStart Ireland guides are general information, not legal, immigration, tax or health advice. Rules, fees and thresholds change, so confirm details with the official sources linked in each guide.