Practical, honest guidance for every challenge students face in Ireland — from your first day to your first job.
Finding accommodation is one of the biggest challenges for students arriving in Ireland — especially in Dublin, Cork, and Galway where demand is extremely high. Start early and stay safe.
Start looking 3–4 months before you arrive. The Irish rental market is very competitive. Waiting until you land will make things much harder and more expensive.
Watch out for scams. Never pay a deposit before viewing a property (in person or video call). If a landlord asks you to wire money before signing a lease — it is almost certainly a scam. Read our Scam Awareness section below.
If you have a dispute with your landlord, contact the RTB (Residential Tenancies Board) at rtb.ie — it's free to use.
Check that the landlord owns the property (ask for proof), inspect the property via video call if not in Ireland, read the full lease before signing, and confirm what bills are included.
Gas, electricity, broadband, and sometimes bin collection are often not included in rent. Budget an extra €80–€150/month for bills in a shared house.
RTB dispute resolution is free. Threshold.ie also provides free housing advice. Contact ISAI at hello@joinisai.ie and we can point you in the right direction.
Our Campus Ambassadors run housing WhatsApp groups. Students often find rooms through the community before listings even go public.
Your PPS number and IRP card are essential for almost everything in Ireland — opening a bank account, getting paid, accessing public services, and renewing your student permission. Do these as soon as you arrive.
A PPS (Personal Public Service) number is your unique tax reference number for Ireland. You need it for employment, healthcare, and most public services.
You can also apply online in some cases at mywelfare.ie. This is faster and avoids queues — check if online applications are available in your area.
Your IRP (Irish Residence Permit) card is your official immigration permission. You must register within 90 days of arriving in Ireland.
Renew before it expires. Your IRP must be renewed before it expires each year. Allow 3–4 weeks before the expiry date. If your IRP expires, you are technically undocumented — this can affect your ability to work.
⚠️ Passport with your Embassy? If your passport is currently submitted for renewal at your home country embassy and your IRP is due to expire soon, do not travel outside Ireland until you have your new passport. Without a valid passport you cannot re-enter Ireland. Contact your embassy urgently — explain your IRP deadline and request expedited processing. Use the Embassy Finder for your embassy's contact details.
Apply for your PPS number in your first week. Book your IRP appointment as soon as you have an Irish address — slots fill up fast, especially in Dublin.
Stamp 2 allows you to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and 40 hours per week during designated holiday periods.
You'll need your IRP renewed each academic year. Your college will usually issue a new enrollment letter — bring this along with proof of insurance and funds.
Immigration Service Delivery: +353 1 603 8000
or visit irishimmigration.ie
You'll need an Irish bank account to receive wages, pay rent, and manage your money. Opening one has got easier for international students but still requires the right documents.
Recommended route: Open a Revolut account as soon as you land for immediate use. Then open a Bank of Ireland or AIB account once you have your PPS number and proof of address for when employers or landlords need a "traditional" bank account.
Rent €600–€900 · Groceries €150–€250 · Transport €60–€120 · Phone €10–€30 · Miscellaneous €100–€200. Total: approx €1,000–€1,500/month outside Dublin, €1,200–€1,800 in Dublin.
Get a Leap Card for public transport — students get discounted fares on Dublin Bus, Luas, Dart, and Irish Rail. Apply at leapcard.ie.
If paying fees from your home country via bank transfer, use Wise or Flywire rather than your bank to avoid high conversion fees. Saves €200–€500 per transfer.
Ireland has strong employment law. Every student worker — regardless of visa status — has rights. Knowing them protects you.
If your employer pays you cash only with no payslip, refuses to register you for tax, or pays below minimum wage — this is illegal. Report it to the Workplace Relations Commission at workplacerelations.ie.
Written contract within 5 days · Payslip for every pay period · Right to join a trade union · Protection from unfair dismissal · Right to safe working conditions
Workplace Relations Commission (WRC): workplacerelations.ie or call 1800 80 80 90. Free and confidential.
Register for your Tax Credits Certificate with Revenue at revenue.ie before starting work — otherwise your employer will apply emergency tax (much higher).
We run CV clinics, mock interviews, and career networking events. Check our events page for upcoming sessions or email hello@joinisai.ie.
Private health insurance is a requirement for your student visa and IRP registration. Knowing how to access healthcare in Ireland will save you time, money, and stress.
You must have private health insurance to obtain and renew your IRP card. Here are your options, starting with the most affordable and widely accepted for international students:
€198/year · Cover limit: €2,500,000
This is a student-specific medical and travel insurance plan that meets Irish IRP and visa requirements. It is one of the most affordable options available and is referenced by many Irish universities on their international student guidance pages. Ideal for non-EEA students on Stamp 2.
Students on low income may qualify for a Medical Card or GP Visit Card — giving free GP access. Check eligibility at hse.ie.
Medicover Standard — €2.5M cover limit. Most affordable IRP-accepted plan for international students, referenced by Irish universities on their guidance pages.
Ambulance, fire brigade, Garda (police). Free to call from any phone. Use 112 anywhere in Europe.
Call 1800 700 700 for non-emergency health queries. Free, available daily 8am–8pm. Also at hse.ie.
Most Irish universities have a student health centre on campus — usually free or subsidised for enrolled students. Register in your first week.
Students are disproportionately targeted by scammers — both before arriving and after. Knowing how to spot a scam can save you thousands of euros.
Rule: Never send money for accommodation you haven't viewed. Legitimate landlords will always allow a video call viewing first.
Rule: Legitimate employers never ask you to pay money upfront. Use our free JobGuardIE tool to check if a job listing shows warning signs.
Moving to a new country, adjusting to a new academic system, being far from family, and managing financial pressures can all take a toll on your mental health. It's normal to struggle — and there is help available.
Reaching out is a sign of strength. Many students feel pressure not to show vulnerability. Your wellbeing is more important than any exam or deadline. Please talk to someone.
Free call from any phone: 116 123
Email: jo@samaritans.ie
Always there, whatever you're going through.
Text HELLO to 50808 any time, day or night. Free, anonymous, confidential. Trained crisis volunteers respond within minutes.
Free mental health support for young people. Walk-in centres in cities across Ireland and online support at jigsaw.ie.
Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who understands. Our Campus Ambassadors are here. Email hello@joinisai.ie anytime.
Search by country or use the category tabs below. Click any embassy to expand full contact details, services, hours and visa information.
If your passport is with your Embassy for renewal and you face a family emergency, there is a clear process to follow. Don't panic — read the steps below and contact ISAI immediately.
If your passport is with the Embassy for renewal and you face a family emergency, there is a clear process to follow. Don't panic — read the steps below and contact ISAI immediately.
Family bereavement or medical emergency — passport is with the Embassy?
Follow the 6 steps below immediately. The Embassy has a specific process for this — including an Emergency Certificate for travel. Do not travel on someone else's passport or attempt to leave Ireland without a valid travel document.
Use the Embassy Finder at the top of this section to get your country's emergency line, consular phone, email and hours.
999 / 112
Ambulance, Garda, Fire. Free from any phone.
info@joinisai.ie
We can help you draft embassy letters, translate and accompany you.
0818 07 4000
Free legal and civil rights advice. Mon–Fri 9am–8pm.
Check your embassy's online passport portal — find the link in the Embassy Finder above.
If a student passes away in Ireland, their home country Embassy handles official death registration and repatriation. Contact your Embassy's consular section immediately and reach out to ISAI for community support:
⚠️ Fraud warning — Embassy impersonation scam
No Embassy will ever ask for payment over the phone. There are known scams where callers claim to be Embassy officials and threaten deportation or legal action unless you pay immediately.
If you receive such a call — hang up. Do not pay. Report it to your Embassy directly and to An Garda Síochána on 1800 666 111.
Save these in your phone on your first day in Ireland.
Ambulance, Garda (police), Fire. Free. Works from any phone.
Non-emergency health queries. Free, daily 8am–8pm.
Mental health & crisis support. Free, 24/7, confidential.
Legal, financial & social welfare advice. Free.
Free housing advice for tenants. Mon–Fri 9am–9pm.
Free money & debt advice. Mon–Fri 9am–8pm.
Workplace rights & complaints. Free.
Use the Embassy Finder above to get your home country embassy contacts, hours, and emergency lines.
ISAI can help you navigate embassy processes, connect with community members, or accompany you in person.
Our ISAI team and Campus Ambassadors are here to help. Email us anytime — no question is too small.