Moving to Ireland

Aptly called Emerald Isle for its green pastureland, Ireland is now considered, both literally and figuratively, as greener pastures for many expatriates looking for their niche in Europe.

Geography and Climate

Ireland's astoundingly beautiful landscape is nature's gift to its people. Impressive limestone formations dot the Irish countryside, giving it an air of enchanting mystery. These breathtaking sights span an area of 70,280 square kilometers, making Ireland Europe's third largest country.

Coastline mountains surround the plains of Ireland. The highest peak of which is Carrauntoohil, a mountain which rises to an elevation of 3,406 feet above sea level. Most of Ireland's Western areas are made up of mountainous and rocky green plains.

Ireland owes its many shades of green to the country's mild oceanic climate. The country gets frequent rainfall and days of warm sunshine, but is spared from very extreme weather. The precipitation remains tolerably light throughout the year.

The country's inner towns are warmer in the summer and colder in the winter and experiences around 40 days of below freezing temperature annually. The months of May to September bring the best weather for an Irish sightseeing trip.

Economy and Demographics

Ireland's lush surroundings show how agriculture greatly contributes to the country's income. However, recent economic changes shifted the focus to services and high-tech industries.

The country has a GDP of around 117 billion USD, making it one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. Ireland also tops the list of a study by The Economist for having the highest quality of life. The low Irish corporate taxes, currently at 12.5%, have attracted more businesses to set up camp in the Emerald Isle.

However, recent financial challenges have also affected the Irish economy, and the country is still trying to bounce back from the economic slump.

Ireland has a population of 4,581,269 residents. A significant 73% of the population is Roman Catholic and the remaining numbers are mostly Protestant. With the promising economic growth experienced by Ireland in the 20th century, the country has become one favorite immigrant destination in Europe.

Around 150,000 of the foreigners in Ireland are made up of Polish citizens, and a considerable number of expatriates also come from European neighbors like Lithuania, Czech Republic, and Latvia.

Getting a Visa

Non-EU citizens would definitely be required to present a visa to enter Irish territory. Ireland is currently using a computerized system called AVATS, which is an online facility that can also be used to lodge your visa applications.

If you wish to personally submit your application for processing, you may do so at any Irish Embassy or Consulate in your home country. The documents you would need to submit, aside from a passport valid for at least six months, can be found online.

Accompanying documents would depend on the kind of visa you're applying for. For example In the case of an employment visa, you must present an employment contract, as well as a letter from your employer regarding other pertinent details of your employment (like salary and if accommodation would be provided).

If all documents are in order, general processing time for a visa application is 10 working days upon receipt. Multiple entry visas would require a fee of 100 Euro.