Census 2022 counted 3,528 Canadian citizens living in Ireland, plus 5,855 people with dual Irish and Canadian citizenship. Canadians come for the two year Working Holiday Authorisation, for jobs in tech, finance and healthcare, for university, or to reclaim an Irish passport through a parent or grandparent. Here is what you need to sort out.
| Quick facts | Canada to Ireland |
| Visa to enter | No, up to 90 days |
| Working Holiday Authorisation | Yes, ages 18 to 35, up to 2 years |
| Canadian licence exchangeable | Yes, from 7 provinces only |
| Double taxation agreement | Yes |
| Social security agreement | Yes (Canada, and a separate one with Quebec) |
| Canadian citizens in Ireland (Census 2022) | 3,528 (plus 5,855 dual) |
Do you need a visa?
- Working Holiday Authorisation: Canadians aged 18 to 35 can live and work in Ireland for up to 2 years, the longest stay Ireland offers any working holiday nationality. You do not need a job offer. Apply directly to the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa or through SWAP Working Holidays; the fee is 150 Canadian dollars. You need proof of funds, health insurance and a return ticket or funds for one.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit for jobs on the critical skills list, minimum salary 40,904 euro from 1 March 2026 (68,911 euro for other eligible roles). Partners get Stamp 1G and can work without their own permit.
- General Employment Permit for other jobs at 36,605 euro, usually after a labour market needs test.
- Study on Stamp 2, with the Third Level Graduate Programme afterwards.
- Family routes to join an Irish or EU citizen spouse or partner.
Many Canadians have an Irish born grandparent. If you do, apply to the Foreign Births Register: once registered you are an Irish citizen and need no permission at all.
Your driving licence
Canada is on the NDLS list of recognised states, but only for licences issued by Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan. Licences from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the territories cannot be exchanged. If yours qualifies, you exchange it at the NDLS for 65 euro with no test; you may need a driver abstract from your province, and only the car category is exchanged in most cases. If yours does not qualify, you can drive on it for up to 12 months as a visitor, then must pass the theory test, take a learner permit, complete 6 EDT lessons (reduced from 12 for experienced drivers) and pass the driving test.
Tax, pensions and money
Ireland and Canada have a double taxation agreement. You become Irish tax resident after 183 days in a calendar year, and the treaty decides which country taxes what. Tell the CRA when you leave and consider whether you are severing Canadian residency, which triggers departure tax on some assets. On a working holiday you are usually taxed only on your Irish earnings; claim any refund through Revenue myAccount when you leave.
Ireland has bilateral social security agreements with Canada (since 1992) and separately with Quebec. They let you combine CPP or QPP contribution periods with Irish PRSI to qualify for a pension in either country. CPP is paid anywhere in the world once you qualify. OAS needs 20 years of Canadian residence after age 18 to be paid indefinitely abroad, and time in Ireland can count towards that threshold under the agreement.
Your Canadian credit history does not transfer. Irish lenders only see the Central Credit Register, so open an Irish bank account or a Revolut account with an Irish IBAN once you have proof of address.
Healthcare
Working holiday applicants must show private health insurance. Once you are ordinarily resident (living here or intending to for at least a year) you can use the public HSE system. Unlike provincial health plans, the HSE charges for GP visits (about 50 to 70 euro) unless you qualify for a medical card or GP visit card; public hospital inpatient charges were abolished in 2023. Around half the population holds private insurance from VHI, Laya or Irish Life Health. If you are 35 or older, buy it within 9 months of arriving to avoid a Lifetime Community Rating loading.
Bringing your things and your pet
Air Canada flies non-stop from Toronto and Vancouver and the journey is 6 to 9 hours, so most working holiday makers arrive with two suitcases. If you ship household goods, they enter free of duty and VAT under Transfer of Residence relief if you have lived outside the EU for 12 months and owned them for 6 months.
Canada is a listed country for pet travel, so your dog or cat does not need a rabies blood test. It needs an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after the chip, an EU animal health certificate endorsed by the CFIA, tapeworm treatment for dogs, and you must give the Department of Agriculture advance notice so a compliance check can be done on arrival.
First 30 days checklist
- Apply for a PPS number through MyWelfare.ie once you have a letter confirming your Irish address.
- Book your IRP registration with Immigration Service Delivery within 90 days (300 euro).
- Open an Irish bank account and register with Revenue myAccount so your first payslip is not on emergency tax.
- Register with a GP and decide on private health insurance.
- Get a Leap card and, if your province qualifies, exchange your licence at the NDLS.
