Moving abroad · UK to Ireland

Cost of moving from the UK to Ireland

British citizens need no visa to live and work in Ireland, so this move has no visa line. The money goes on rent, which is high in Dublin and the cities, the deposit, the move itself and a buffer until your first Irish pay. Here it is in euros and in pounds.

Fees only, not immigration advice. Whether you qualify for a visa, and which route suits you, is for the official site (gov.uk: Common Travel Area) or a registered adviser (MARA in Australia, RCIC in Canada, the Immigration Advice Authority (formerly OISC) in the UK) or a solicitor. We are neither.

Who is moving, and how

British citizens can live and work in Ireland without a visa or any permission.

Where you will live

Rent figure: average rent on new tenancies, Q1 2026. Deposit at most 1 month’s rent, and at most 1 month’s rent in advance.

Getting there and settling in

Our estimate for your household, change it: food, transport, bills, phone.

Money you need to move

€15,064 – €19,763
about £12,621 – £16,558 at the ECB rate of 28 October 2026 (1 GBP = 1.1935 EUR)
    CostEUR
    Visa and permit feesOfficial fee pages, per person (see the route’s notes)€0
    Flights (one way)Our estimate, change it: prices move daily€30 – €155
    Shipping your belongingsPublished mover prices, kept as a range€1,194 – €2,268
    Rental deposit and first month’s rentOfficial rent statistics and the deposit law€4,670
    Setting upOur estimate, change it€2,500 – €6,000
    Buffer until first paydayMonths × (rent + other monthly spending, our estimate)€6,670
    Total€15,064 – €19,763

    No visa, permit or residence registration fee. You still apply for a PPS number (free) to work and use public services.

    What to do first

    1. You need no visa: under the Common Travel Area, British citizens can live, work and study in Ireland without permission. Your British passport is your proof.
    2. Apply for a PPS number once you have an address: you need it for work, tax and public services.
    3. A deposit is capped at 1 month’s rent, and rent in advance at 1 month, so budget for two months of rent before you move in.
    4. Swap your UK licence for an Irish one at an NDLS centre (€65) once you are resident.
    5. Get removal quotes that include the ferry crossing and say whether you load yourself or the firm packs.

    Visa and permit fees for Ireland

    British citizens can live and work in Ireland without a visa or any permission. No visa, permit or residence registration fee. You still apply for a PPS number (free) to work and use public services. Source: gov.uk: Common Travel Area.

    Rent, deposit and the first month

    The rent figures are official statistics, not asking prices, so a new lease in a popular area often costs more. The deposit is set by law in each place, which is why it differs between cities:

    Flights, shipping and setting up

    Flights are our estimate of a one-way economy fare from the UK (£25 to £130 per person); type your own fare to replace it. Shipping prices are the ranges movers publish, door to door unless they say otherwise:

    Setting up covers about two weeks of temporary accommodation, basic furniture and kitchen kit, a phone plan and local transport for the first weeks: €2,500 to €6,000 for one or two people, our estimate, scaled up for larger households. The buffer is the number of months you choose multiplied by your rent plus other monthly spending; most people need at least one month before the first pay arrives.

    Rules that cost money after you arrive

    The calculator counts what you pay to get there. These rules decide what the first year costs once you land, and most cost guides leave them out:

    Other moves

    Frequently asked questions

    How much money do I need to move from the UK to Ireland?
    For one adult on the No visa needed (British citizen, Common Travel Area) route renting in Dublin, our default works out at €15,064 – €19,763, or about £12,621 – £16,558 at the ECB rate of 28 October 2026. It includes visa fees, a one-way flight, shipping for a small removal by road and ferry (1–2 bedrooms), the deposit and first month's rent, setting up, and two months of living costs as a buffer. Change any input to match your plans.
    Do I need a visa to move from the UK to Ireland?
    British citizens can live and work in Ireland without a visa or any permission. This page shows costs only; for your own situation, check the official guidance (gov.uk: Common Travel Area) or ask Citizens Information or a solicitor.
    Why are some lines ranges?
    Flights and shipping are quoted differently by every airline and mover, and setting-up costs depend on how you live, so we keep the published spread instead of picking one number. Visa fees and deposits are fixed by law or by the official fee list, so they are single figures.
    How current are these figures?
    Every fee and statistic was checked on 29 October 2026 and each line names its source. Check the official page on the day you pay.

    Sources and how we checked

    Exchange rate: European Central Bank reference rates of 28 October 2026, converted through the euro (1 GBP = 1.1935 EUR). Your bank or transfer service will use its own rate. Figures are general information, not financial or immigration advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us. Disclaimer.