Census 2022 counted 7,736 Filipino citizens living in Ireland and a further 3,319 people with dual Irish and Filipino citizenship. The community is closely tied to healthcare: Filipino nurses, midwives, care assistants and doctors have staffed Irish hospitals and nursing homes for over two decades, and the HSE and private providers still recruit directly from the Philippines.
| Quick facts | Philippines to Ireland |
| Visa to enter | Yes (long stay D visa) |
| Registration after arrival | Yes, IRP within 90 days |
| Philippine licence exchangeable | No |
| Double taxation agreement | No (under negotiation) |
| Social security agreement | No |
| Filipino citizens in Ireland (Census 2022) | 7,736 (plus 3,319 dual) |
Do you need a visa?
- Nursing and midwifery: first apply to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for recognition of your qualification. Most overseas nurses are then asked to complete an aptitude test or a supervised clinical adaptation placement of 6 to 12 weeks in an Irish hospital. You come for that stage on the Atypical Working Scheme, and once registered your employer applies for a Critical Skills Employment Permit. Nurses are on the critical skills list, so no labour market needs test is needed, and from 1 March 2026 the minimum salary for nurses is 40,904 euro (36,848 euro if you qualified in the last 12 months). Realistically the whole process takes 9 to 18 months.
- Healthcare assistants and home carers: a General Employment Permit with a lower threshold of 32,691 euro from 1 March 2026, usually after a labour market needs test.
- Family: the spouse or partner and children of a Critical Skills permit holder can apply to join you immediately, and the partner gets Stamp 1G and can work without a separate permit.
On the Philippine side you must leave through a Department of Migrant Workers accredited agency or a DMW registered direct hire, and get an Overseas Employment Certificate before departure, or you will be stopped at the airport. There is no Working Holiday scheme between Ireland and the Philippines.
Your driving licence
The Philippines is not on the NDLS list of recognised states, so an LTO licence cannot be exchanged. You can drive on it with an international driving permit for up to 12 months as a visitor, but as a resident you need an Irish licence: driver theory test, learner permit, Essential Driver Training and the driving test. Because you already hold a full licence you need only 6 EDT lessons instead of 12 and can sit the test without the six month wait.
Tax, pensions and money
There is no double taxation agreement in effect between Ireland and the Philippines; negotiations began in 2019 but nothing has been signed. In practice this rarely matters for salaried workers because the Philippines does not tax the foreign income of non-resident citizens, and Ireland taxes your Irish salary through PAYE, USC and PRSI. You become Irish tax resident after 183 days in a calendar year.
There is no bilateral social security agreement, so Irish PRSI cannot be combined with SSS or GSIS contributions. Your SSS record stays in the Philippines and you can keep paying voluntarily as an OFW if you want to protect it; Irish PRSI builds a separate Irish State Pension entitlement.
Your Philippine credit history does not transfer. Irish lenders only see the Central Credit Register, so open an Irish bank account early and build a record with bills and a phone contract in your name.
Healthcare
Your visa application must include private medical insurance. Once you are ordinarily resident (living here or intending to for at least a year) you can use the public HSE system. Public hospital inpatient charges were abolished in 2023, but GP visits cost about 50 to 70 euro unless you have a medical card or GP visit card, which are means tested. HSE employees usually get access to discounted group health insurance schemes; if you are 35 or older, take out a policy within 9 months of arriving to avoid a Lifetime Community Rating loading.
Bringing your things and your pet
There are no non-stop flights between the Philippines and Ireland. Most people fly Manila to Dublin via Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul or London, around 17 to 20 hours in total. Household goods you have owned for 6 months can enter free of duty and VAT under Transfer of Residence relief once you have lived outside the EU for 12 months.
The Philippines is an unlisted country for pet travel. A dog or cat needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody blood test at least 30 days later at an EU approved laboratory, and then a three month wait before entry. You also need an EU animal health certificate, tapeworm treatment for dogs, and advance notice to the Department of Agriculture.
First 30 days checklist
- Apply for a PPS number through MyWelfare.ie with your passport, permit and proof of 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 you are not on emergency tax.
- Register with a GP and sort health insurance through your employer if offered.
- Get a Leap card and book your driver theory test if you plan to drive.
