Returning to Ireland -
Additional Information
If you are thinking about returning to Ireland this is a
list of documentation you will need to bring, where it
applies to you.
Documentation
to bring with you
Check List for Returness: Re Application for Social Assistance payments to the Department of Social Protection in Ireland.
Where Possible, the returnee will undertake to provide the following documentary evidence:
- Proof to show they have given up accommodation abroad
- Proof they have cancelled or applied to cancel any non-transferable benefits
- Proof to show they have transferred or applied to transfer any transferable income
- Proof to show measures have been put in place to open a bank account here
- Proof to show they have a tenancy in their own name (In Ireland)
- Proof of travel documents including, where relevant, excess baggage fee and removal/shipping receipts
And!
Any additional documentation relevant to supporting their intention to reside permanently in the State.
Other Documentation to bring with you:
- Personal documentation, birth certificates, marriage cert etc
- Back up documentation regarding any medical conditions
- Name & address of last employer and National Insurance number
- English medical card
- Drivers Licence, insurance details and any documents associated with ownership-if bringing a car
The cost of moving: Moving home is always expensive even if you are only going ‘down the road’. Where you are traveling to a different country the problems and the costs quickly mount up. If you do not have family or friends who will help you to move, you will be relying on expensive removal firms. It may be worthwhile considering whether the amount/quality of furniture you wish to bring with you is worth the expensive fee- or whether it would be cheaper to buy new in Ireland..
Driving in
Ireland
Driving Licence-There is no requirement for anyone coming from a European Union country to transfer their licence to an Irish one because all European Union driving licences are International Licences. If you arrive with an ‘individual European Union country’ driving licence (issued before the ‘single EU licence’) you can drive in Ireland without any restriction because when the licence comes up for renewal you will be issued with a European Union driving licence which is an International Licence.
If you are the holder of a Driving licence/Permit from
a non EU or EEA member State: If you hold a national driving licence or international driving permit from your own country, you can drive in Ireland for the duration of a temporary visit (a visit not exceeding 12 months). If you intend to stay in Ireland for more than 12 months, you will have to apply for an Irish driving licence (please see below for details).
Applying for a Driver's licence: If you intend to apply for a first driver's licence you will be required to complete a theory test in order to get a provisional licence and an oral and practical test for your full driver's licence. A provisional licence issued in any country other than Ireland will NOT be valid to drive on in Ireland.
Bringing motor vehicles into Ireland: You will have to present the registration book and proof of ownership of the vehicle. There is VAT of 21% on all new vehicles here in Ireland. If you are bringing a vehicle with you it will be judged to be new for tax purposes if it is less than 6 months old or has registered less than 6,000km on the clock. All goods should arrive in Ireland within 12 months of your moving back here permanently. Customs and Excise generally request a confirmation letter from a Garda station that you have taken up permanent residency in Ireland. The moving company you use should provide all the necessary paperwork and information regarding your transferring of residence. Further information about VRT (Vehicle Registration Tax), VAT (Value Added Tax) and bringing a vehicle to Ireland is available from: St John's House. Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland E-mail: vrotallaght@revenue.ie
Motor Vehicle Insurance: Motor Vehicle Insurance is compulsory in Ireland. A bonus can generally be given to anyone with a no claims bonus from the UK. However each case is assessed individually and detailed documentary evidence as well as a letter of your insurance history abroad is essential. Your insurance broker will sort this out for you if they are given details of your current insurance company.
Motor Tax: This is payable on every motor vehicle. Rates vary according to the size of your vehicle. It can be paid quarterly, every six months or annually.
NCT vehicle testing: Compulsory testing of cars older than 8 years old, was introduced in 2000. Since then the age of vehicles has gone down and now there is a requirement for all cars over 4 years to be tested yearly and you won't be able to renew your car tax without this having been done. Vehicles that fail the test will not be issued with Motor Tax. In effect this means they cannot be driven on a public road.
Petrol: Petrol is cheaper in Ireland than in the UK but prices vary considerably and the advice is to shop around. You'll find discrepancies of one, two, three or more pence a litre even in small towns.
Bringing
Pets to Ireland: There is no quarantine for pets coming from the UK but check whether the accommodation you have been offered allows you to keep pets. Many of them don't although the rules, in some places, are less rigidly enforced than in others. This notice relates to cats and dogs, as there are few, if any, regulations against the keeping of fish or small birds.
Banking and
Finance
Opening a bank account in Ireland:
It is a legal requirement that anyone opening a bank account in Ireland provide two forms of identification including a photo ID and proof of address.
Guidance Notes to financial institutions give advice on the various forms of identity which may be used.
A full passport is the favoured option, however if this is not available the following may be acceptable:
- Driving licence or age card issued by the Gardai.
- Birth cert accompanied by a passport photograph signed by the Gardai
- Documentation issued by a Government Department showing the name of the person, together with a statement from a person of responsibility who is in a position to confirm the person’s identity- e.g solicitor, doctor, accountant, religious minister, teacher/other professional.
- For Safe-Home returnees – headed notepaper from the Housing Association confirming the offer of housing to the applicant and the address of the property may also be useful.
- For Safe-Home returnees we can give you a letter confirming your return to the new address- this has often proved helpful.
The final decision on what is appropriate identification rests with the financial institution. Banks and Building Societies provide similar banking services and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) CARDS. Bank charges are high - check costs before opening an account. The safeguards instituted by the banks can mean that opening a bank account may take some little time so you would be wise to anticipate this and have a sum of ready cash to tide you over until your account is operable.
General Guidelines on Transferring pensions and
benefits
Many returning emigrants ask do they have to transfer
their pensions to Irish banks when they come to live in
Ireland?
It might be easier if you have transferred your pension/s
to an account here in Ireland where the money will be shown
in Euro (¤) and be simpler for officials to calculate
your financial position and decide what, if anything, you
are eligible for. You can keep your bank account abroad and
continue to have your pension/s paid into it if you want to,
but it may cause you difficulty when dealing with Irish
officials.
The really important consideration as far as Ireland is
concerned is are you going to owe them any tax when you are
living in the country permanently? We contacted the Irish
Revenue for the legal situation and this is what they
say:
Tax
Matters
Q. I am resident in Ireland and
in receipt of a pension from the UK. Is this taxable in
Ireland or in the UK?
A. Any UK pensions received by an Irish resident,
whether occupational or social welfare, are only taxable in
Ireland.
Explanation: If you are an Irish citizen and did
not take out British nationality then your pension is
taxable in Ireland once you are resident here. If you did
take out British nationality and gave up your Irish
nationality then your pension will continue to be taxed by
Britain and not Ireland, when you move here. If you took
British nationality and kept your Irish nationality then you
hold 'dual nationality' your pension will be taxable in
Ireland but you should contact the UK Tax Authority to
confirm this because there may be some exceptions to the
rule. You must notify the local Tax office (where you move
to in Ireland) that you are now living here permanently and
they will assess you for income for tax. Please check the
question of dual nationality with them if this is your
situation.
If you only have the British State pension you will
probably not be paying any tax. If you have a Works Pension
as well as the State pension then you might have to pay tax.
If you are paying tax on your pension (where you are living)
at the moment, then you may have to tax to pay here.
In all cases you must notify the local Irish Tax office
of your permanent residency here. Not to do so is breaking
the law. You should also notify the Tax Authority in the
country you are leaving.
A word of advice:
Tax matters are very personal so can be different
depending on someone's individual circumstances. The
information in this leaflet is intended as a general guide
for older people returning to Ireland, in receipt of
pensions from abroad. We advise everyone to contact the Tax
Authorities in the country they are leaving and local Tax
office on arrival in Ireland to clarify his or her
individual situation.
VAT
Value Added Tax is a general sales tax charged on goods
sold and services supplied within Ireland. Prices of goods
and services will mostly include VAT in the costs but if in
doubt ask before you buy.
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