The practical order of things for your first weeks on an Ireland Working Holiday Authorisation: what to sort, when, and where to go next. Some steps unlock others, so the order matters. Most steps link to our verified living guides.
Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Ireland, so Australians can use medically necessary public care on the same basis as residents. New Zealand and Canada have no agreement and are private patients unless ordinarily resident. For Canadian applicants a full year of cover is a documented requirement at application.
The Working Holiday Authorisation gives no reciprocal public-health cover of its own, so what you can access turns on your nationality.
Hold a policy covering medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation for your full stay. Save 112 or 999 for emergencies. See the healthcare guide for the detail.
Read the healthcare guideEmployers, banks, landlords and government services need to reach you on an Irish number.
Use a travel eSIM for the airport run, then get a local prepay SIM or eSIM. Networks are Three, Vodafone and Eir, with budget brands such as 48 and GoMo. Prepay needs no address, bank account or credit check.
Read the SIM guideIreland’s rental market, especially Dublin, is tight, so give yourself a base and an address for the bank and employers.
Book a hostel or short stay for your first week or two and scout areas near where you will work before signing a lease.
See the cost of living guideThe PPS number is needed to work, be taxed correctly and access public services. Without it you risk emergency tax.
Apply through MyWelfare with proof of identity, an Irish address and a reason such as a job or job offer. There is no fee.
Read the tax guideWages are paid into an Irish account and rent runs from one.
App banks such as Revolut and N26 open quickly on ID alone; the retail banks (AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB) usually want proof of an Irish address, so many people open an app account first.
Read the banking guideRegistering your employment with Revenue lets your correct tax credits reach your employer, so you are not stuck on emergency tax.
Set up a Revenue myAccount and register the new employment; your employer then receives the details to tax you correctly under PAYE.
Revenue myAccountNon-EEA nationals staying beyond 90 days must register their permission and get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card.
Book an appointment with immigration registration, bring your passport, WHA and supporting documents, and pay the registration fee, currently EUR 300 (set by Immigration Service Delivery and subject to change).
Immigration registrationIt is why you are here, and rent waits for no one.
The WHA lets you work casual or temporary jobs without a separate permit (Australia and New Zealand: six months maximum with any one employer; Canada: no per-employer cap). Job sites include IrishJobs, Indeed Ireland and Jobs.ie.
Search jobs on IndeedA shared place is far cheaper than a hostel, and income makes you a credible tenant in a competitive market.
Look on Daft.ie and Rent.ie and local groups. Expect a deposit plus the first month upfront, and never pay before viewing in person or on a live video call.
Browse rooms on Daft.ieVerified on 23 June 2026 by the WHE research team. Sources: gov.ie · revenue.ie · irishimmigration.ie · citizensinformation.ie. How we verify →