The permit got you here; the first three months are about converting it into a working life. Most of the admin below is sequential, because each document unlocks the next. Here is the order that avoids the common deadlocks.
Week 1: entry and the paper you must keep
At immigration control, present your passport and your employment permit (carry the original or a printed copy in hand luggage, not checked baggage). The officer will stamp your passport with a landing stamp and a date. That stamp is not your residence permission: if you are staying more than 90 days you must register with immigration before it expires, so note the date.
Keep the permit itself safe. It is issued in two parts, one for you and one for your employer, and you will need yours repeatedly.
Weeks 1 to 4: immigration registration
Registering gives you your Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, which most permit holders receive with a Stamp 1 permission. If you live in Dublin, book an appointment with the Registration Office (Burgh Quay) through the Immigration Service Delivery online system; appointments are released in batches, so start checking immediately. Outside Dublin, you register at your local registration office (usually a Garda station that handles registrations). Bring your passport, your permit, proof of your address and the registration fee (€300 at the time of writing; check the current figure on irishimmigration.ie). Some registrations ask for evidence of private medical insurance, so check the current checklist before your appointment and ask your employer what cover comes with the job.
Weeks 1 to 3: PPS number
The Personal Public Service (PPS) number is your key to tax, public services and much else. Apply through MyWelfare.ie: you will need your passport, evidence of why you need a PPS number (your job offer or permit) and proof of address. Proof of address is the classic deadlock for new arrivals: a letter from your employer, your landlord or your accommodation provider confirming your address is usually accepted; ask for one in your first week.
As soon as the PPS number arrives: tax
Register for Revenue's myAccount and register your job (your employer's tax registration number is on your payslip or from HR). This lets Revenue send your employer a payroll notification with your tax credits. Skip this and you go on emergency tax, which can take more than half of your pay for a while. It is refunded once you register, but the first month is far more pleasant if you register before payday.
Banking, and the address problem again
To open a current account, banks want photo ID and proof of address. If you have no utility bill yet, most banks accept an employer letter; some e-money institutions can be opened with less and are a workable bridge for the first weeks. Give your employer your IBAN as early as payroll asks for it.
The permit conditions people forget
- Your permit ties you to the named employer and occupation. Casual switching is not allowed; under the Employment Permits Act 2024 there is a change-of-employer process that can apply after nine months, but check the current DETE guidance before making any move, and never resign on a verbal promise.
- If you are made redundant, you must notify the Department of Enterprise within four weeks, and you are allowed a period to seek a new job; check the current rules for the period that applies to your permit.
- Keep your address updated with Immigration Service Delivery and Revenue.
- Critical Skills holders: after two years you can apply for a Stamp 4; keep every payslip and permit document from day one, because that application is evidence-driven.
The soft landing
Three practical things that make the rest easier: get an Irish SIM (many services want an Irish mobile), learn the Leap card if you are in a city, and register with a local GP practice before you need one (many have waiting lists for new patients). None of these are legal requirements; all of them make week ten calmer.
This is general information for people who already hold a valid Irish employment permit, verified against published official sources in September 2026. Fees, waiting times and processes change: confirm the current position on irishimmigration.ie, gov.ie and enterprise.gov.ie. Not legal or immigration advice.