Country research
Ireland
Prices overall are about 0.85 of United States prices at market exchange rates (2025), the highest of the countries researched so far, and fixed broadband is 32.3 subscriptions per 100 people (2024). Ireland ranks 5th of 163 in the Global Peace Index 2026 and 8th of 31 for Ease of Settling In in Expat Insider 2026, but 29th for Quality of Life. Dublin Airport has 2 comfortable months a year by the program's test (1991-2020). The immigration service lists no residence route for remote workers: working for more than 90 days needs an Irish contract of employment and a work permission. Stamp 0 lets people of independent means retire to Ireland on an individual income of about EUR 50,000 a year, as a renewable permission with no stated step to permanent residence. To be safe, have more than EUR 51,000 a year. English is an official language under the Constitution of Ireland, so English is scored from that rather than the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, which doesn't cover Ireland. [L1] [C1] [K2] [S1] [Q1] [Q2] [W1] [K1] [R1] [R2] [F1]
The Fernshore Index
How it grades, factor by factor.
Each grade is against a published measure, with its source and the date we checked it. It is research information, not advice. Where we have no figure, the row says Unknown.
Cost of living
20 of 100Weak
Price level 0.848 of United States prices (2025), over the 0.75 line.
Source: Price level index (GDP), Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026.
Climate
8 of 100Weak
Dublin Airport (Met Eireann, 1991-2020): 2 comfortable months a year (July 19.5 C and August 19.1 C). June (17.7 C) and September (16.9 C) are under the 18 C line; no month is over 30 C and rain is under 150 mm in every month.
Source: Dublin Airport 1991-2020 averages. Checked 16 October 2026.
Safety
76 of 100Strong
Global Peace Index 2026: 5th of 163 (score 1.371).
Source: Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank. Checked 16 October 2026.
Healthcare
73 of 100Strong
WHO UHC service coverage index 82 (2023). Expat Insider 2026 ranks Ireland last of 31 for the availability of medical care, which this index does not measure.
Source: UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1). Checked 16 October 2026.
Schools
Unknown
Our research doesn't cover schools yet.
Community
74 of 100Strong
Expat Insider 2026: 8th of 31 for Ease of Settling In (13th for Finding Friends).
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In. Checked 16 October 2026.
Lifestyle
37 of 100Mixed
Expat Insider 2026: 29th of 31 for Quality of Life.
Source: Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life. Checked 16 October 2026.
Work and career
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed: one of the two tests holds. Fixed broadband is 32.3 per 100 people (2024), over the 30 line. But the Immigration Service Delivery's list of routes for working more than 90 days names no residence route for people who work remotely for an employer or clients abroad; a non-EEA national needs an Irish contract of employment and a work permission.
Source: Coming to work for more than 90 days; Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026.
Retirement
50 of 100Mixed
Mixed. Stamp 0 for people of independent means exists (an individual income of about EUR 50,000 a year, access to a lump sum such as the price of a home, private medical cover, no State benefits, no age minimum stated), but it is a renewable permission: the official page names no step to permanent residence, and the Department of Justice has said Stamp 0 time is not intended to count towards long-term residence or citizenship (2018 answer). To be safe, have more than EUR 51,000 a year.
Source: I want to retire to Ireland; Dail written answer 191, Naturalisation Eligibility, 9 October 2018. Checked 16 October 2026.
Internet
72 of 100Strong
32.30 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people (2024), over the 30 line.
Source: Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026.
English
100 of 100Strong
English is the second official language under Article 8 of the Constitution of Ireland. EF EPI doesn't cover Ireland, so the official-language rule applies.
Source: Constitution of Ireland, Article 8 (languages). Checked 16 October 2026.
Visa, United States passport
Unknown
Research for US passports is being checked
Visa, Canada passport
Unknown
Research for Canadian passports is being checked
Visa, Australia passport
Unknown
Research for Australian passports is being checked
Visa, New Zealand passport
Unknown
Research for New Zealand passports is being checked
Topics
The detail on Ireland.
Guides
Ireland, by passport.
Each guide is written for citizens of one country.
For your situation
Ireland for different circumstances.
Questions about Ireland.
How do prices in Ireland compare with the United States?
Prices overall in Ireland are about 0.85 of United States prices at market exchange rates (World Bank price level index, 2025), up from about 0.80 in 2024. That is an economy-wide average, not a budget for one household, and it does not show what rent, food or any single item costs.
Do I need a visa to visit Ireland, and how long can I stay?
Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and US passports are in the non-visa column of Ireland's list. The border officer sets the stay, up to a maximum of 3 months, and entry is always at the officer's discretion. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area and does not take part in the EU Entry/Exit System.
Can I work remotely from Ireland or move there long term?
The immigration service lists no route for remote work for an employer abroad; working over 90 days needs an Irish contract and a work permission. Stamp 0 for people of independent means asks for a yearly income; to be safe, more than €51,000. It bars work unless the permission letter allows it.
When would I pay tax in Ireland?
You are tax resident if you are in Ireland 183 days or more in a tax year, or 280 days or more across two years together (not if you were here 30 days or fewer in the year). Residents pay income tax of 20% up to €44,000 for a single person and 40% above (2026), plus USC. Ask an adviser.
What is the weather like in Ireland?
Ireland is cool and mild all year. Average daily highs run from 8.0 °C (January) to 19.5 °C (July) at Dublin Airport and from 8.2 to 18.6 °C at Cork Airport (Met Éireann, 1991-2020). Fernshore counts 2 comfortable months (highs of 18 to 30 °C) in each: July and August.
How safe is Ireland, and what do expats say about settling in and healthcare?
The Global Peace Index 2026 ranks Ireland 5th of 163. In a private InterNations survey of expats it is 8th of 31 for Ease of Settling In but 29th for Quality of Life, and last for availability of medical care. WHO's service coverage index is 82 of 100 (2023), which does not measure waiting times.
Sources
Where each figure comes from.
Every figure on this page links to the page we read, with the date we checked it.
- [L1] Constitution of Ireland, Article 8 (languages), Irish Statute Book (Office of the Attorney General). Checked 16 October 2026. Article 8: '1. The Irish language as the national language is the first official language. 2. The English language is recognised as a second official language.' Read from the Irish Statute Book on 16 October 2026.
- [C1] Price level index (GDP), Ireland, World Bank. Checked 16 October 2026. 2025: 84.85 (United States = 100), read from the World Bank API on 16 October 2026; 80.19 in 2024. Ireland is the highest price level of the countries researched so far.
- [K2] Fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Ireland, International Telecommunication Union, via the World Bank. Checked 16 October 2026. 2024: 32.30 per 100 people, read from the World Bank API on 16 October 2026 (the 2025 value is empty).
- [S1] Global Peace Index 2026, overall rank, Institute for Economics and Peace. Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland ranks 5th of 163 countries, score 1.371 (the ranking table in the report PDF, read on 16 October 2026).
- [Q1] Expat Insider 2026: Ease of Settling In, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland is 8th of 31 destinations in the Ease of Settling In index, read on 16 October 2026. The same page says Ireland ranks 13th for Finding Friends. A private survey of expats; 31 destinations met the 50-respondent minimum.
- [Q2] Expat Insider 2026: Quality of Life, InterNations (Expat Insider survey, private). Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland is 29th of 31 destinations in the Quality of Life index, read on 16 October 2026. The page says Ireland ranks last (31st) for the availability of medical care (47% positive ratings against 71% globally) and 30th for Healthcare as a whole, 29th for Leisure Options. A private survey of expats.
- [W1] Dublin Airport 1991-2020 averages, Met Eireann (Irish national meteorological service). Checked 16 October 2026. Met Eireann's 30-year climate averages page (https://www.met.ie/climate/30-year-averages) links this table, read on 16 October 2026. Mean daily maximum (C): Jan 8.0, Feb 8.5, Mar 10.1, Apr 12.3, May 14.8, Jun 17.7, Jul 19.5, Aug 19.1, Sep 16.9, Oct 13.6, Nov 10.3, Dec 8.3. Mean temperature runs 5.2 (January) to 15.4 (July). Monthly rainfall 51.4 to 82.7 mm, under 150 mm in every month. Dublin Airport is the station for the capital, which the program takes as the main city. Met Eireann publishes 1991-2020 averages for only seven stations (Dublin Airport, Casement, Cork Airport, Shannon Airport, Belmullet, Malin Head, Valentia). Dublin fits none of the three weather types (mean temperature range 10.2 C, under the 12 C 'seasons' line; coolest month's high 8.0 C, under the 12 C 'mild' line), so the climate list is empty, which counts as a known non-match (program decision of 16 October 2026).
- [K1] Coming to work for more than 90 days, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (irishimmigration.ie). Checked 16 October 2026. irishimmigration.ie refuses automated access (HTTP 403, Cloudflare), so the page was read from the Internet Archive copy of 9 April 2026 (page last updated 14 October 2025). It says: 'Before coming to work in Ireland for more than 90 days, you must have a contract of employment' and apply for the relevant work permission. The routes it lists: Critical Skills and General employment permits (Irish employer applies), intra-company transfer, internship, scientific researcher, working holiday, the Immigrant Investor Programme, the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, atypical working (nurse, locum hospital doctor), visiting academic (paid from outside the State, up to 12 months), volunteer and minister of religion. No route for people who work remotely for an employer or clients abroad is listed. The parent page (coming to work in Ireland, Internet Archive copy of 23 September 2026) says non-EEA nationals need an Employment Permit or Atypical Permission first. The page is the evidence of absence; the Department does not state that no remote-worker route exists.
- [R1] I want to retire to Ireland, Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (irishimmigration.ie). Checked 16 October 2026. irishimmigration.ie refuses automated access (HTTP 403), so the page was read from the Internet Archive copy of 1 September 2026 (page last updated 25 June 2026; an earlier copy of 8 October 2025, last updated 8 May 2025, has the same figures). The permission is Stamp 0 for people of independent means. 'You should have an individual income of EUR 50,000 per year. You must also have access to a lump sum of money to cover any sudden major expenses. This lump sum should be equal to, for example, the price of a residential dwelling in the State.' Finances must be certified by an Irish accountancy firm and are 'in the form of pension income or readily accessible funds'; private medical insurance with full cover in private hospitals is required; the holder cannot access State benefits. Visa-required nationals also need a D-Reside visa. No age minimum is stated. Renewal is by the TPER renewal form. Average processing time four months. The page gives no length of permission and no step to permanent residence.
- [R2] Dail written answer 191, Naturalisation Eligibility, 9 October 2018, Minister for Justice and Equality, Houses of the Oireachtas. Checked 16 October 2026. oireachtas.ie shows a CAPTCHA to automated requests, so the answer was read from the Oireachtas open data record (https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2018-10-09/writtens/mul@/main.xml) on 16 October 2026. The Minister says 'a permission on Stamp 0 conditions is a low level immigration status which is not intended to be reckonable for long term residence or citizenship', and that any person may still apply for naturalisation, which is at the Minister's absolute discretion. It is an eight-year-old answer; a newer official statement was not found.
- [F1] EF English Proficiency Index 2025, EF Education First (private test-taker index). Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland is not among the 123 countries and regions in the 2025 edition: it is absent from the index's Europe list (the page links 37 European countries, none of them Ireland), and ef.com/wwen/epi/regions/europe/ireland/ returns 404 (read on 16 October 2026). English is not scored; no figure is estimated. English is Ireland's first official language in daily use, but the method's only measure is the EF index.
- [G1] Geography of Ireland, Wikipedia (secondary). Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland is an island in the north Atlantic Ocean; 'low central plains surrounded by coastal mountains'; highest peak Carrauntoohil, 1,039 m; no part of the land is more than about 110 km from the sea (read on 16 October 2026). The 1,039 m summit is low for the program's 'mountains' setting, so it is not listed.
- [G2] Census 2022: usually resident population by birthplace or citizenship, towns and settlements (table SAP2022T2T1TOWN22), Central Statistics Office, Ireland. Checked 16 October 2026. Read from the CSO PxStat service on 16 October 2026 (Census of 20 April 2022, usually resident population). 867 settlements (plus a State total row): Dublin city and suburbs 1,243,278; Cork city and suburbs 219,445; Limerick city and suburbs 100,829; Galway city and suburbs 83,670; 842 of the 867 settlements have fewer than 20,000 residents (counted by script).
- [G3] Rural population (% of total population), Ireland, World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 16 October 2026. 2025: 35.4% of the population is rural (national definitions), read from the World Bank API on 16 October 2026.
- [G4] Agricultural land (% of land area), Ireland, World Bank, World Development Indicators. Checked 16 October 2026. 2024: 65.1% of land area, read from the World Bank API on 16 October 2026.
- [H1] UHC service coverage index (SDG 3.8.1), World Health Organization. Checked 16 October 2026. Ireland: 82 out of 100 (2023), read from the WHO Global Health Observatory data service (indicator UHC_INDEX_REPORTED, spatial code IRL) on 16 October 2026; 82 also in 2021, 81 in 2022. The index measures service coverage, not waiting times or whether care is available when needed.