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Settling in

Settling in Dublin

No visa, no residence permit, the euro and English: on paper, Dublin is one of the easiest moves for a French family. In practice, everything revolves around two things to secure fast, a home and a PPS number, then a local doctor and a Leap Card. Here is what we would have liked to know before arriving, checked against official sources.

Verified on 31 October 2026

Arrival and first steps

As EU citizens, you enter Ireland with an ID card and have nothing to register with immigration. The real key to everything is the PPS number, requested by employers, banks, the HSE and benefits.

Good to know

  • An EU citizen can stay 3 months without conditions (6 months to look for work); beyond that they must work, be self-employed, study or have sufficient means and health insurance. No registration or residence card is required; only non-EU family members must apply for a residence card. Source
  • The PPS (Personal Public Service) number is applied for online on MyWelfare with a MyGovID account, ID, proof of Irish address under 3 months old and the reason for the request; for a child born outside Ireland, the parent, who must already hold a PPS, applies with the birth certificate. Source
  • Registration with the French consular register is free, valid 5 years and done online on service-public.fr: French ID card or passport, proof of address in Ireland and a recent photo; the consular section validates it within a few days. Source
  • Week 1, in order: an address (even temporary) then a PPS application for each family member, a bank account, choosing a GP and registering under-8s for the free visit card, registering the job on myAccount (Revenue), a Leap Card, then the consular register. Source
  • The consular section takes passport and ID card applications by appointment only (Monday to Friday, 9:30 to 12:30); consular registration, certified copies and loss declarations are handled without appointment Monday to Thursday 14:00 to 15:00 and Friday 11:00 to 12:30. Civil status transcriptions are done by post. Source
  • Phones and laptops are not allowed inside the embassy and are left in lockers; large bags are not allowed either, worth remembering with a changing bag. Source

Addresses

  • Section consulaire de l'ambassade de France en Irlande

    Consulate

    66 Fitzwilliam Lane, Dublin 2, D02 HP38

    Behind Merrion Square, ten minutes' walk from Pearse station. Passports and ID cards by appointment in the morning, walk-in counter in the afternoon; the France Consulaire phone service answers from Paris (+353 1 699 0984), visa questions excepted.

    Website Source

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Housing: neighbourhoods and renting

This is Dublin's real challenge. French families cluster south of the Liffey, along the DART and the green Luas line, between the two campuses of the Lycée français. The market is tight, rents exceed those of Paris and rental rules changed in 2026.

Good to know

  • The embassy says it plainly: Ireland is going through a severe housing crisis, rents are much higher than in Paris and the search can take several weeks. Prepare strong financial guarantees and reference letters from previous landlords, and be aware that many leases forbid pets. Source
  • Listings are on daft.ie and myhome.ie, complemented by French Facebook groups. Sign nothing and pay no deposit without visiting the property and meeting the landlord or agent: fake rental scams target newcomers. You can check that a property is registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Source
  • The security deposit cannot exceed one month's rent; pay it by bank transfer if possible, ask for a receipt and know who holds it. It must be returned at the end of the tenancy, unless rent arrears, unpaid bills or damage beyond normal wear and tear. Source
  • The landlord must register the tenancy with the RTB within a month of you moving in (you receive a confirmation with an RT number) and give you the landlord's details even if an agent manages the property; a rent book is a tenant's right. Source
  • Since 1 March 2026, rent increases are capped nationwide at inflation or 2% a year, whichever is lower; after 6 months in the property you have security of tenure and the landlord can only end the tenancy on limited legal grounds. Source
  • In case of dispute, the Threshold charity advises tenants for free and the RTB settles disputes between landlords and tenants; most landlords will ask for your PPS number and photo ID. Source

Addresses

  • Foxrock, Cabinteely et Cornelscourt (Dublin 18)

    Neighbourhood

    The Lycée français nursery and primary campus is in Foxrock, the NAIS international school in Leopardstown: residential areas of houses with gardens, Cabinteely Park, green Luas line and the M50 close by.

    Source

  • Clonskeagh, Donnybrook et Ranelagh (Dublin 4, 6 et 14)

    Neighbourhood

    The LFI secondary school shares the Clonskeagh Eurocampus with the German school St Kilian's; Ranelagh and Donnybrook line up cafés, parks and the green Luas line into town, at a high price.

    Source

  • Blackrock, Booterstown et Mount Merrion

    Neighbourhood

    The south coast by DART, Blackrock market, St Andrew's College (Leaving Certificate and IB) in Booterstown and several French-speaking practitioners from the consulate's list based in Blackrock.

    Source

  • Dún Laoghaire, Dalkey et Killiney

    Neighbourhood

    The sea at the end of the street: Dún Laoghaire piers, People's Park and its Sunday market, Killiney Hill for the bay view; direct DART into town in half an hour.

    Source

  • Rathmines, Rathgar et Terenure (Dublin 6 et 6W)

    Neighbourhood

    The classic family neighbourhoods of the south side, Victorian houses and well-regarded schools, a bike or bus ride from the centre; even-numbered postcodes south of the Liffey are the most sought after, hence the dearest.

    Source

  • Sandymount et Ballsbridge (Dublin 4)

    Neighbourhood

    Sandymount Strand beach, Herbert Park with its playground and duck pond, the RDS and the DART: the Dublin 4 of the embassies, expensive but very convenient.

    Source

  • Clontarf, Raheny et Malahide (côte nord)

    Neighbourhood

    The north coast by DART: St Anne's Park, Bull Island and its dunes, Malahide and its castle; rents somewhat gentler than in the south, and the consulate's list includes a French-speaking GP in Raheny.

    Source

  • Castleknock et Phoenix Park (Dublin 15)

    Neighbourhood

    On the doorstep of Europe's largest enclosed park and its zoo, with the CHI at Connolly paediatric urgent care centre in Blanchardstown; trains to Connolly and Heuston.

    Source

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Phone and insurance

Your French plan is enough for the first weeks, an Irish SIM then activates in minutes. On insurance, only one is compulsory: the car; private health cover is a very common choice.

Good to know

  • For the phone, a prepaid SIM or eSIM activates immediately; a contract plan requires an Irish address and a local bank account. The dialling code is +353.
  • Motor insurance is compulsory to drive in Ireland; an imported car must be registered, taxed and, from age 4, tested at the NCT. Source
  • Private health insurance is not compulsory but very common and often provided by the employer; the Health Insurance Authority compares the plans of the four market insurers (Irish Life Health, Laya, Level Health, Vhi) for free. Families keeping a link with France also look at the Caisse des Français de l'étranger. Source
  • Tenant's contents insurance is not compulsory but recommended, buildings insurance being the landlord's responsibility; check it includes family liability cover.

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Banking and money

Same currency, same SEPA transfers as in France: your French account carries you through the first weeks, then an Irish IBAN makes salary, rent and direct debits simpler.

Good to know

  • To open an account, the bank must verify your identity and your address: passport or ID card and proof of address; for a joint account, each of you provides both documents. The three main retail banks are AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB. Source
  • In the meantime, your French card and account work with no exchange fees, the euro being the currency of both countries. Revolut, widespread in Ireland, opens an account from its app. Source
  • Day to day, people pay by contactless card or phone. Since March 2026, AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB have built Zippay into their apps: you send, request or split a payment with just a mobile number, no IBAN needed. Source
  • A euro transfer between France and Ireland costs the same as a domestic one, and since October 2025 euro-area banks must offer instant transfers at no higher price than a standard one: handy to pay the school or receive money from family. Source
  • Keep your French account, useful for taxes, insurance and holidays back home, but tell your bank you are moving to Ireland: some adapt or close non-residents' accounts. If a bank refuses to open one, French citizens living abroad can apply for the right to an account through the Banque de France. Source

Addresses

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Setting up your home

Dublin has one IKEA, in Ballymun north of the city, which delivers nationwide. For the rest: the national supermarkets, three large suburban shopping centres and two widely used classifieds sites for second-hand.

Addresses

Getting around with children

Bus, Luas (tram) and DART (coastal train) are paid with the Leap Card, and children travel free until age 9. A car is useful for weekends, not for the centre; your French licence remains valid.

Good to know

  • The TFI Leap Card costs up to 30% less than single tickets; in Zone 1 (Dublin City), the 90 Minute fare covers bus, Luas, DART and commuter rail, and your spending is automatically capped per day and per week. Source
  • Children under 5 travel free without a card; the Child Leap Card 5-8 gives free travel until the 9th birthday; the Child Leap Card 5-15 then 16-18 (with photo, ordered online) unlocks reduced child fares. Source
  • Buses and trams are low-floor: the unfolded buggy goes in the central space when free, with priority to wheelchairs; the TFI journey planner shows accessible connections, useful in older DART stations. Source
  • Your French (EU) licence is valid in Ireland as long as it has not expired; you can exchange it for an Irish licence, and must do so within 10 years of its expiry date. Source
  • A car brought from France must be registered within 30 days at an NCT centre and Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) paid, unless exempt for transfer of residence if you owned the vehicle for at least 6 months; a current EU roadworthiness certificate is recognised until it expires. Source
  • The M50 ring road has a barrier-free toll run by eFlow: you pay online after passing or with a tag, otherwise the fine comes by post. You drive on the left, and Irish Rail trains leave from Heuston (west and south) and Connolly (north, Belfast, the coast). Source

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Admin: PPS, taxes and the consulate

The PPS number serves as both social security and tax number. Income tax is deducted at source by the employer, and the consulate remains your town hall and prefecture, not your health insurer.

Good to know

  • From your first job, create a myAccount on revenue.ie and register your employer there (with its tax number): otherwise you are taxed at the emergency rate. The employer then deducts income tax and USC from each payslip (PAYE). Source
  • The tax year is the calendar year. Income is taxed at 20% up to a cut-off point, then at 40%; the Universal Social Charge is added, and tax credits (personal, employee, married couple) are deducted from the tax due. Source
  • The Local Property Tax is a local tax based on the home's value and owed by its owner: as a tenant you pay nothing. A 1968 tax treaty links France and Ireland; the embassy's tax service explains its principles, but the French non-residents tax office handles your French file. Source
  • Child Benefit is a universal monthly payment, paid regardless of income to the mother for each child under 16 (up to 18 if still in education), provided you are habitually resident in Ireland; an EU parent working here qualifies. Source
  • What the consulate does: passports and ID cards, consular registration, transcription of Irish births and marriages, PACS, elections, proxies, and processing of means-tested AEFE school grants for the Lycée français (file to submit before the end of January for the following year). Source
  • What it does not do: the French State does not cover your health, hospital or repatriation costs in Ireland; the consulate does not issue PPS numbers, does not handle visa questions by phone and does not replace the HSE or Revenue. Out of hours, a duty officer only answers genuine emergencies. Source

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Budget: what costs more, what costs less

Two lines blow up a family budget in Dublin: housing and childcare for little ones. On the other side, free state schools, ticketless museums, children's transport and the free doctor before age 8 lighten the bill. No precise figures, but here are the orders of magnitude.

Good to know

  • Housing: markedly more expensive. The embassy itself describes rents as 'much higher than in Paris', even in house shares; for the same space as in France, expect much more, and more still on the south side near the schools. Source
  • Childcare: one of the heaviest lines. Two years of ECCE preschool are free at 3 hours a day, 38 weeks a year, from age 2 years and 8 months; beyond that, the National Childcare Scheme pays an hourly subsidy to the crèche, universal or income-assessed, from 6 months to 15 years. Source
  • Health: GP visits are paid by adults without a card, free for under-8s; public hospital stays have been free since April 2023 and pharmacy spending is capped per household per month with the Drugs Payment Scheme card. Source
  • Transport: comparable to or cheaper than Paris thanks to the 90 Minute fare and Leap Card caps, and free for children up to age 9; a car-free family also saves insurance, tolls and parking. Source
  • Culture: the national museums (National Museum of Ireland, National Gallery) are free, as are the big parks and libraries; it changes rainy weekends. Source
  • School: state schools are free (budget for a voluntary contribution and uniform) and primary textbooks are provided by the school under the Primary Schoolbooks Scheme; the Lycée français charges fees, see our school fees page. Groceries, restaurants and pub outings cost noticeably more than in France. Source

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A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Dublin will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ambassade de France en Irlande, section consulaire
  2. 2 Ambassade de France en Irlande, se loger
  3. 3 Citizens Information, droits de séjour des citoyens européens
  4. 4 gov.ie, obtenir un numéro PPS
  5. 5 Residential Tenancies Board, dépôt de garantie
  6. 6 Citizens Information, hausses de loyer depuis le 1er mars 2026
  7. 7 Transport for Ireland, tarifs
  8. 8 Zippay, paiement mobile des banques irlandaises

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