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Ireland and the European Union

Can EU citizens work in Ireland?

Ireland and the European Union

Nationals of all European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway plus the European Union members which comprise Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom) have the right to enter, live and work in Ireland or any other member state without a work permit, provided they have a valid passport or national identity card and comply with the member state’s laws and regulations on employment.

EEA nationals are entitled to the same treatment as British subjects in matters of pay, working conditions, access to housing, vocational training, social security and trade union rights, and immediate dependants are entitled to join them and enjoy the same rights. EU legislation is designed to make it easier for people to meet vocational training requirements in other member states.

There are, however, still practical barriers to full freedom of movement and the right to work within the EU. For example, some jobs in various member countries require job applicants to have specific skills or vocational qualifications, and qualifications obtained in some member states aren’t recognised in others. Other more practical barriers include housing availability and cost, and the transfer of pension rights. There are also restrictions on employment in the civil service, when the right to work may be limited in individual cases on the grounds of public policy, security or public health.

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