Moving To Ireland: The Final Checklist
Moving To Ireland: The Final Checklist
Moving to Ireland for your master’s program can be exciting yet overwhelming at the same time. You will experience a tremendous shift in your lifestyle when you move to Ireland. The food, culture, way of life and time zones change. You need to be prepared for the move by equipping yourself with everything you need before your shift.
Final Checklist before Moving to Ireland
We have listed some of the important things to be ticked off your final checklist before moving to Ireland.
Here is a list of some things that can make moving to Ireland as comfortable as possible. Let’s go through them in detail.
1. Bank accounts
- Ensure that all your bank accounts have the ‘minimum balance’ necessary to keep it active. Else, you might be penalized for not maintaining the minimum account balance.
- If you have a salary account, it will be transformed into a savings account (with minimum balance Rs.XXXX) after some time, since there is no salary being deposited. Once again, you will lose money if you fail to keep the required minimum balance.
- If you are unable to maintain the active status of your bank account, it might be wise to withdraw all of your money and close your bank account.
- If you are planning to access your bank account from Ireland, ensure that the Net Banking facilities have been made available and is active on your bank account. Keep all the PINs and passwords handy.
2. SIM card
- International roaming services, by default, will not be activated on your SIM. If you are planning on taking your local SIM card to Ireland, call and request the customer service to activate the International roaming plan. If you have a postpaid plan, you will probably be doing this on the online customer portal.
- However, you will be switching to an Irish SIM card once you arrive in Ireland. So you might dump your old SIM card once you are in Ireland. If you have any active postpaid calling plans, terminate it before you leave.
- All the airports offer free WiFi. You can call your home during the travel using VoIP calling apps (e.g. MobileVoIP) or you can also buy a matrix SIM card.
3. Other records
Lastly, we would like to remind you of these: confirm that all the income tax records are clean before you depart. You must also check that the services like your Health/Life Insurances, Provident Funds, Credit Cards, Business Partnerships etc. are taken care of. You must ensure that either (i) You can still manage them abroad or (ii) delegate your authority to a trustworthy person in your home country or (iii) end/close it.
4. Education loan
- Meet the bank manager and discuss about your plan to pay the interest for your education loan every month.
- Note the procedure to get the following instalments of your loan. Also, a list of the records/documents to be submitted to the bank (e.g. University Enrollment Letter)
- You might want to consider thinking about a Life Insurance on your education loan (to make sure that your family is not burdened in case something unfortunate happens). Again, you can dicuss this with your bank manager.
5. Currency exchange
- You need to keep aside at least a dispensable amount of £1,000 with you when you land in Ireland. Splitting this amount in a prepaid card and cash is recommended.
- Usually, credit/debit cards charge you an additional servicing cost or higher conversion rates when you use them in Ireland. So it is smarter to have more money in your prepaid card instead.
- You now need to grab a good deal for the currency exchange. You can either (i) use this website- BookMyForex to get best deals near your city. (ii) Contact the dedicated Forex companies (iii) Visit some banks, Western Union, Thomas cook etc. to find out the best exchange rate. Buy Dollars.
- Get yourself a prepaid card. Load the card with at least half the amount of money you are planning to carry. Click here for the detailed process in arranging the prepaid card
Apart from these ‘practical’ matters, you HAVE to ensure that some basic needs are also taken care of.
6. Learn to cook
- Whether you know it already or not, cooking is going to be an important skill when you are living on your own and studying abroad.
- You will cook at least one meal per day. Eating outside everyday isn’t healthy or wallet-friendly.
- Learn a few variety of dishes which are quick and easy to prepare. For the rest, VahChef and Gobble will be your friends.
7. Do your shopping the right way
About 70 kgs. allowance will be given for all the items you need for a pleasant stay in Ireland. Be smart in packing and in deciding what is needed.
8. Install useful mobile apps
- Make sure you have all the required apps already downloaded in your phone before you leave for Ireland. Check the reviews of the apps you will be downloading.
- VoIP Calling Apps : MobileVOIP or any other app you are familiar about
- Maps : You need to be able to access maps at your destination place. Maps
Goodbyes are not easy. Moving to Ireland is a huge decision, considering the country functions on a different time zone. Not only does your farewell extend to the people close to you but to all the other things that were a crucial part of your life till now. So be thankful for everyone and everything that has been in your life, and bid farewell with a warm smile.
