Building a life in Ireland as a British citizen

The 15-second snapshot

You can visit

Yes, 90 days (Common Travel Area with the UK)

You can stay long term

Yes, work and Stamp routes

Remote-work routes

1 route

Bring dependants

Yes

Open a local bank account

Yes, a PPS number helps

Likely tax resident after

183 days (or 280 over 2 years)

Citizenship pathway

Moderate, ~5 years

• Entry2026 · High confidence

  Ireland shares a Common Travel Area with the UK, so British and Irish citizens move, live and work freely with no visa; EU/EEA nationals have free movement, and many others (US, Canada, Australia) get 90 days visa-free short stay The Common Travel Area lets British and Irish citizens travel passport-free and take up residence, work, study and healthcare without a visa; the movement itself needs no visa. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals have free movement. Nationals of non-visa-required countries such as the US may enter for short stays of up to 90 days.

  Citizens Information (gov.ie) - Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UKHigh-churn · re-verify by 2026-10-21
• Tax residence2026 · High confidence

  You are Irish tax resident if present 183 days or more in a tax year, or 280 days or more across the current and prior year combined (with at least 30 days in each year); non-domiciled residents can use the remittance basis on foreign income Two tests: (1) 183 days or more present in the tax year, or (2) 280 days or more across that year and the preceding year combined, but a year with 30 days or fewer of presence is ignored (the 30-day floor). Any part of a day counts as a day present. Ordinary residence follows after three consecutive resident years. Non-domiciled but resident individuals are taxed on Irish source income and gains in full, but foreign income and gains only to the extent remitted into Ireland (the remittance basis), with no annual charge; a deemed remittance regime can apply to long-term (15+ year) residents.

  PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - Ireland Individual ResidenceHigh-churn · re-verify by 2026-10-21
• Citizenship2026 · High confidence

  Naturalisation needs about 5 years reckonable residence in the previous 9 years, including 1 continuous year immediately before applying; separately, Irish citizenship by descent is available via the Foreign Births Register for those with an Irish-born grandparent Standard route: 5 years (1,825 days) reckonable residence within the 9-year period ending the day before application, of which the final 12 months must be continuous residence (up to 70 days abroad allowed). Spouses/civil partners of Irish citizens can apply after 3 years. Separately, citizenship by descent runs through the Foreign Births Register: a person with an Irish-born grandparent, or a parent who was an Irish citizen at their birth, can register (see https://www.dfa.ie/citizenship/born-abroad/registering-a-foreign-birth/).

  Citizens Information (gov.ie) - Becoming an Irish citizen through naturalisationHigh-churn · re-verify by 2026-10-21
• Income tax2026 · High confidence

  Income tax is 20% up to 44,000 euro (single) and 40% above; adding USC (up to 8%) and employee PRSI (about 4.2%) brings the top marginal rate to roughly 52% Income tax bands for 2026: 20% on income up to 44,000 euro for a single person (53,000 euro one-income married couple), 40% on the balance. On top: Universal Social Charge at 0.5% / 2% / 3% / 8% bands (8% on income over 70,044 euro; source: Citizens Information USC page https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money-and-tax/tax/income-tax/universal-social-charge/), plus employee PRSI at about 4.2% of gross (rising to 4.35% from 1 October 2026). Combined, the top marginal rate for higher earners is about 52%.

  PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries - Ireland Individual Taxes on personal incomeStable · re-verify by 2027-07-23

Researched from public sources on the dates shown. Rules change; this is a planning layer, not legal or tax advice, and not a substitute for a professional before you act.