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Ireland: Moving to Dublin in July - requirements to rent?:
Normally you do not need PPS. If owner asks for it, ask him what he needs it for. PPS number is only used for Irish government transactions. It is actually illegal for commercial activities to ask for it unless it is for payroll taxes, etc. If owner wants identification show your passport. Be aware the owner may ask for you to have a bank account that automatically pays the rent every month. (Billpay) You do not need PPS to open a bank account either unless it is interest bearing account. PPS is for social welfare and taxes.
Ireland: Question re US docs for FBR:
It would be best if you have US passport to send in also for proof of who you are. I got my first Irish passport about 30 years ago and they asked for my US passport. I was automatically a citizen since my Mother was born there, but of course I had to prove it.
Ireland: Moving Family to Wexford:
We lived in wexford County for more than a year. We are from Florida, but I am a dual US - Irish and decided to live there for a short time and use Ireland as a base for other travel within Ireland and other places in Europe. We were able to rent in a Senior Village of small new houses but I do not believe you would qualify unless one of you have a disability since it is restricted to retirees or disabled. However, there were rental properties in some of the towns that are open to all ages. Ours was in Enniscorthy which we liked very much. Another nice Town is New Ross. Both these towns have Dentists, Doctors, varied supermarkets for shopping and I have seen apartments and houses for rent. It has been about 2 years since we left the area so I don't know the rental situation now. I do know, housing is very short in Dublin so some people that work in Dublin commute from towns as far South as Gorey, Camolin, or even Ferns which are close to the M11 highway to Dublin. I know you said you will work from home, but I am telling you where there may not be so many rentals available due to commuters. Enniscorthy is about the limit for someone to commute to Dublin as it takes 2 hours or so. Bus Eireann and Weford coach lines have good schedules into Dublin and even have special direct express buses morning and evening for commuters. From Enniscorthy there is a train station with about 5 trains a day each way. No trains from New Ross last I knew. You may also find rentals in Wexford Town itself, but I am not that familiar with what is available there. Shopping is good in all 3 towns mentioned. You can contact O'Conner & O'Conner Estate Agents at +353-53-937-7147 and ask for Barty. Make sure you tell him you are not retirement age and you heard about them from "The American that lived in Castle Gardens". They cover a wide area near Enniscorthy and New Ross. He probably is as honest as Irish Estate agents can be. Hahaha. If you have specific questions you can contact me directly with your questions.
Ireland: Soon to be College Graduate looking to move:
College Graduate in what field ? What passport do you carry ? Do you have a parent or grandparent that was born in Ireland, or other EU country ? Why do you pick Ireland ? If it is because of the English language, please understand most citizens in Northern / Central Europe under the age of 25 speak English. I have a nephew that worked in Holland for several years and he did not speak any other language but English. He also worked some in Ireland. All his work was in the Bio-medical Engineering field for a US company that has facilities in Europe. Don't forget, Ireland is a very small country and housing is scarce and expensive, especially around Dublin where most of the high tech jobs are. You might want to look for a job with a US company that needs people in their European facilities. Depends on your degree and experience.
Ireland: EU votes to end US visa-free travel:
The EU has been threatening for several years now to do this because Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007 and have not been able to get "Visa Waiver" status. Poland also has had problems trying to get that status because they have a higher "Overstay rate" than other EU countries. However, this time with a new administration that seems to be intent on keeping foreign immigrants out of the US, the EU may follow through and require a visa for Americans to enter any EU country which would include Ireland. The cost for a "Visa War" could be very high on both sides of the Atlantic. Right now if a citizen of one of those excluded countries wants a Visa, they MUST have a interview at a US consulate in their country and the cost is $160 US. That cost is not refunded if no visa is issued. They lose it. For citizens of Romania or Bulgaria, $160 is a lot of money. But then, let us look at another insult which does not impact US citizens going to the EU countries. If a citizen of a country on the "Visa Waiver" list wishes to come here, they MUST register at least 3 days prior to travel on the internet using the ESTA form and pay the US government $14 to do so. Yet when Americans go to ANY EU country, there are no fees. How long do you expect the Europeans to put up with this ? We get off free and they pay. Take a look at what Brazil did. They have a "Reciprocal Visa Fee" of $160 because they did not like our fee of $160. Tit for tat. I spoke with many Romanian citizens when I stayed there and they do not have a warm feeling about the US for that and some other reasons. Treating them unfairly is not a great idea.
Ireland: Relocating to Dublin to work on IBM Ireland:
You don't say where you are coming from or if you have past Irish roots enough to get Irish citizenship ? Or do you come from any other EU country ? Please understand the housing in and around Dublin are short of supply and monthly rents are very expensive. Some people I know were driving / commuting as much as 2 hours each way just to find affordable housing in order to work in Dublin. Better check it out before you accept offer. IBM is not the company it used to be. I know as I retired after 30 years with them. And I know Ireland as I lived there for over a year and have dual status.
Ireland: Cost of Living for Retirees:
Being that we lived in Wexford County for more than a year, we got a fair idea of what it cost to live there. Rents are cheaper than in the Dublin area (~600 - 700 Euro/month) Food was about the same cost as in US or maybe slightly less. Sometimes you can get vegetables cheaper in season. If one is a retiree and has Irish citizenship, they give a 31 Euro allowance on your electric bill, and of course, free travel card and free TV license. It looked like appliances were more expensive than in the US, but I never had to buy any since the house I rented was brand new and completely furnished with all new things except I did have to get a TV. All I had to buy when I moved in was bedding and towels, Etc. That was not expensive. We gave it all away to our Irish neighbors when we left, or to a church. Dental care is slightly less than in the US. But many Irish people fly over to Budapest for any major dental work. Crowns, implants, bridges, etc are about 1/3 the cost in the US or Ireland. I don't know about the cost of medical as we never needed it. There was a clinic in our town for poor people, and several Doctors offices for normal healthcare. The nearest Hospital was 14 Km south in Wexford Town. Our neighbors claimed there was not enough doctors as long waits for a appointment was common. That was 2013 - 2015. We came home at the end of 2014. Then spent a good part of 2015 in Central and Eastern Europe. Loved Budapest and Bucharest was quite nice too. Cost of living was much cheaper in both those countries. We do not speak any other language but English and we never had any serious problems. There was always someone that could help us that knew English. Once in a supermarket in Romania, a 10 year old boy offered to help with translation. He was so proud when I told him his English was very good. Prices in Romania were about 1/4 of US. I stayed in a 3 star hotel quite a lot during one trip and a twin bed room was 19 Euro per night. Breakfast was 3 Euro extra per person. In Budapest Hungary one can find a one bedroom apartment for 22 - 28 Euro per night. In off season (winter) I got a nice one bedroom apartment on the 3rd floor for 18 Euro per night during a 2 week stay. I have no idea what the immigration rules are in those countries as I could stay as long as I wished with my Irish passport. What I am telling those that have Ireland on your mind and cannot qualify to get in, take a look at some other countries. You might like what you see.
Ireland: Retiring in Ireland for one year:
My wife and I spent one full year plus in SE Ireland in a leased house in a retirement Village that was strictly for retirees of EU countries. As it turned out, of the 54 units in the Village, I was the only one from the US and one other person was from Switzerland. The remaining were native Irish. But the difference between your situation and mine is I have Irish citizenship (Dual) and have had for many years. We initially decided to stay in Ireland for maybe 2 years. We had visited many times over the years as we still have relatives there. However, when we started this plan in 2013 we both had medical insurance from my retirement plan at IBM that gave full coverage after a $1000 deductible and it became our primary coverage. Great, except IBM decided for 2014 to change and just give us a $3000 reimbursement fund to cover premiums or co-pays. No more insurance. So our first 6 months we had the IBM coverage. During 2014 we got partial coverage through a Medicare advantage plan that allowed a maximum of $50,000 for emergencies outside the US. (Was not AARP) But, with this plan, you need to return to your doctor every 6 months for a checkup. But many of these Medicare advantage plans have no premium so that might cover your costs of plane tickets back and forth. That would help the 72 year old, but the 52 year old would have to get private insurance which for a 52 year old female could be about $800-900 per month. According to my EU travel insurance card, the EU is using the number of 30,000 Euro as minimum coverage number and I believe most countries do require that for visitors from outside the EU even for a short visit. I know they don't seem to ask when an American arrives in any of the EU countries, but if they do ask, I believe they are looking for that 30,000 minimum number. The AARP "Medicare complete" advantage plan is in most counties in the US but you will have to check where you live. I do not know if the AARP plan has a maximum amount outside the country, but the "Summary of Benefits" does state "Worldwide" coverage. That might help you for one of you.
Ireland: Buying Health Insurance:
6 months in Ireland and then 6 months in Ireland ? Is this a misprint ? or do you mean spending 6 months, then going out for a day or 2, then returning for another 6 months. That is not legal. US passport holders only get 3 months and then must leave for 3 months. I think they might want to leave the dog with someone in the US until they find out if they will be allowed to stay. Then have the dog sent over.
Ireland: Buying a house:
You do NOT need a PPS number to buy a car or house, or open a bank account in spite of what some people might tell you. If you intend to stay, you probably should start the process to get one. It can take a month or more for that. But you do need proof of a residence in Ireland to get a bank account. It must be a letter or bill from a Irish government Agency, or a commercial business that is regulated by the Government. They usually will tell you to bring in a electric or telephone bill. But if you are just arriving, you would not have either of those yet. I called my car insurance agent and had him send a letter on the Insurance Company letterhead to my rental address via the Irish POST. Then they had to send it by POST into the bank headquarters in Dublin along with my application for "approval". 23 days later I received my starting kit via the POST and I went to the bank and deposited my money. I have no idea why it took so long. I told the bank Manager that I hated to compare, but in the US I could walk into a bank and come out 30 minutes later with a account, money deposited, and a brand new debit card ready to use at a ATM or shop. In other words, be prepared for the "snail race" of Irish bureaucracy.
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