Overview: leaving Ireland

If you have lost your job you may be thinking of moving to another country to look for work. You can prepare yourself in advance by getting as much information as possible about the country to which you are travelling. You can search for this information online and get information from the embassy of the relevant country. You can check out the foreign newspapers, which are on sale here as well as the Irish papers, which sometimes carry advertisements for foreign companies.

Before you leave

There will be a lot to organise before you leave Ireland and our document on general tips for travelling abroad outlines what you should do before you go, such as applying for an Irish passport if you don’t have one already. You need to find out what documents you should bring with you such as your birth certificate and certificates of educational and professional qualifications.

If you are leaving Ireland to look for work in another country, you may be planning to work within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland or you may be going to work in a country outside the EEA. If you need advice or assistance while you are abroad, you can call on the Irish embassy or consulate in that country.

Looking for work in the EEA

If you are unemployed, you have the right to live in another EEA country for 3 to 6 months, depending on the country, in order to look for a job. If you are going to another EEA country you may be able to transfer your Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) to that country for up to 13 weeks. If you do not find work, you must return to Ireland within 3 months, otherwise you will lose your right to Jobseeker's Benefit.

If you are looking for work a EURES advisor can give you general practical information about other EEA countries such as legislation, social security and living conditions. You can contact your nearest FÁS office to find your nearest EURES advisor. You can register at employment agencies and centres without being resident in the country in which you wish to work and you will be given the same help to find work as nationals of that country.