Work Remotely from Ireland: Complete Guide

Visa Options

For EU/EEA Citizens

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in Ireland freely without any visa requirements. Simply arrive and register with local authorities if staying longer than 3 months. You’ll receive a certificate of registration and can access healthcare, banking, and other services.

For Non-EU Citizens

Tourist Visa (90 Days) Citizens of many countries (including the US, Canada, Australia) can visit Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days. You can work remotely for a foreign company during this period, but you cannot work for Irish companies or clients.

Remote Work Visa (Stamp 1E) Launched in 2022, this allows non-EU remote workers to live in Ireland for up to 2 years while working for employers outside Ireland. Requirements include:

• Employment with a company outside Ireland
• Annual income of at least €27,000
• Job must be suitable for remote work
• Valid for 1 year, renewable for another year

This visa does NOT lead to permanent residency, but it’s excellent for experiencing Ireland while maintaining your current job.

Critical Skills Employment Permit If you have a job offer from an Irish company with a salary of €34,000+ (or €30,000+ for specific occupations), you can obtain this 2-year work permit. After 2 years, you can apply for permanent residency. This is the main pathway for skilled workers joining Ireland’s tech industry.

General Employment Permit For jobs not covered under Critical Skills, with salary requirements of €30,000+. Your employer must prove they couldn’t find an EEA citizen for the role through a labor market needs test.

Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) For entrepreneurs with an innovative business idea and funding of at least €50,000. Your business plan must be approved by an independent evaluation body. Initial permission is for 2 years.

Tax Implications

Tax Residency

You’re considered tax resident in Ireland if you spend:

• 183+ days in Ireland in a tax year, OR
• 280+ days over two consecutive tax years (with 30+ days in each year)

Tax residents pay Irish income tax on worldwide income. Non-residents only pay tax on Irish-sourced income.

Income Tax System

Ireland uses the PAYE (Pay As You Earn) system with progressive rates:

Single Person:

• First €44,300: 20%
• Balance: 40%

Universal Social Charge (USC):

• Up to €12,012: 0.5%
• €12,013-€25,760: 2%
• €25,761-€70,044: 4.5%
• Above €70,044: 8%

PRSI (Social Insurance):

• 4% on income (employees)

Effective tax rate including all charges is approximately 30-35% for middle incomes, rising to 48-52% for higher earners.

Special Assignee Relief Programme (SARP)

Foreign executives and employees earning over €100,000 can receive tax relief on 30% of income between €100,000-€1 million. Only available for first 5 years in Ireland and requires employer application.

Self-Employment

Self-employed individuals pay income tax through self-assessment, file annual returns, and make preliminary tax payments. You’ll need to register with Revenue and potentially for VAT if turnover exceeds €37,500 for services.

Tax Treaties

Ireland has double taxation agreements with over 70 countries, including the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. These prevent you from being taxed twice on the same income.

Best Cities for Remote Work

Dublin

Ireland’s capital and tech hub, home to European headquarters of Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Apple. Vibrant startup scene with numerous coworking spaces and networking events. Temple Bar, Grand Canal Dock, and Smithfield are popular with young professionals. Downsides include very high rent (€1,600-2,400/month for 1-bedroom) and Ireland’s worst traffic congestion. However, the concentration of tech workers, excellent cafes, and cultural amenities make it the top choice for many remote workers.

Cork

Ireland’s second city, located in the south with a more relaxed pace than Dublin. Known for its food scene, creative culture, and nearby coastline. Rent is 40-50% cheaper than Dublin (€1,200-1,600/month for 1-bedroom). Growing tech presence with Apple and other companies having offices. Smaller but friendly expat community. The city center is walkable, and you’re an hour from stunning coastal towns like Kinsale and Cobh.

Galway

Artsy, bohemian city on the west coast with a strong Irish cultural identity. Famous for music, festivals, and proximity to the Wild Atlantic Way. Much smaller than Dublin (population 80,000) but with a disproportionate number of cafes, pubs with live music, and cultural events. Rent averages €1,100-1,500/month. Perfect if you want to be near dramatic landscapes, ocean, and traditional Irish culture while having good internet and a vibrant social scene.

Timezone Overlap

Ireland operates on Irish Standard Time (IST, UTC+1) in summer and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0) in winter, switching between late March and late October.

Working with US Companies

• East Coast: When it’s 9 AM in New York, it’s 2 PM in Dublin (IST) or 1 PM (GMT). Excellent 5-7 hour overlap window - one of the best European locations for US remote work.
• West Coast: When it’s 9 AM in San Francisco, it’s 5 PM in Dublin (IST) or 4 PM (GMT). You can manage with slightly late working hours (until 6-7 PM Dublin time).
• Central Time: Perfect overlap with 6-8 hours of shared working time.

Ireland’s timezone is arguably the best in Europe for working with US companies, especially East Coast-based teams.

Working with European Companies

Good overlap with the UK (same timezone), and only 1-2 hours behind most of continental Europe. You’ll be wrapping up when colleagues in Germany or France are finishing their day.

Working with Asian Companies

Very challenging. When it’s 9 AM in Singapore, it’s 1 AM in Dublin. You’d need very early morning meetings (5-7 AM) to catch afternoon hours in Asia.