In your first weeks in Cork, sort things in this order: an address you can prove, your PPS number, a bank account, registering your job with Revenue, then a GP. After that come transport, English and meeting people. Each step unlocks the next, so order saves weeks.
Moving to Cork is exciting, and the first few weeks can also feel like a long queue of forms. Most of the stress does not come from any single form. It comes from not knowing which one to do first, and finding out that the step you are on needs something from a step you have not done yet.
This moving to Cork checklist puts the ten most common tasks in a sensible order, with a link to the official Irish source for each one. Where DGS has written a fuller guide, that is linked too. Tick the boxes as you go; your progress stays in your own browser.
Domhan Green Society (DGS) volunteers in Cork maintain a free first-90-days checklist that links each step to the official Irish source. It is general information, not immigration, tax or legal advice.
Your 90 days at a glance
The checklist, step by step
1. Get an address you can prove
Almost every later step asks for proof of address, so start here. For a PPS application, gov.ie says the document "must show your name and address and not be older than 3 months": a utility bill, bank statement, tenancy agreement or an official letter all count. If you are staying with friends or family, a household bill in their name together with a short note from the bill holder can be accepted.
2. Check whether you need to register your immigration permission
If you are not an EU, EEA, UK or Swiss citizen, you may need to register with Immigration Service Delivery and get an Irish Residence Permit. Rules depend on your situation, so read the Immigration Service Delivery page for your permission type. DGS does not give immigration advice; if your case is complicated, Citizens Information can point you to free help.
3. Apply for your PPS number
Your Personal Public Service (PPS) number is how Irish public bodies, employers and Revenue identify you. Adults apply online through MyWelfare with a basic or verified MyGovID account, and you will need photo ID, proof of address and evidence of why you need the number, such as a job offer. Our step-by-step guide on how to get a PPS number covers the documents and the appointment.
4. Open a bank account
Employers in Ireland pay wages into a bank account, and many landlords expect rent by transfer. If you live legally in the EU and do not already hold an Irish current account, you have a right to a basic bank account, which has no maintenance or day-to-day fees for the first 12 months. Banks must check your identity and address, so bring your passport and the proof of address from Step 1.
5. Register your job with Revenue
When you start work, register the job in Revenue's myAccount so your employer receives your tax credits. If this is not done, you may be taxed at the higher emergency rate until it is fixed.
6. Register with a GP before you need one
A GP (general practitioner) is your family doctor and the usual first step for any non-emergency health issue. Contact practices near you and ask whether they are taking new patients. Children under 8 and people aged 70 or over are automatically eligible for a GP visit card; others may qualify for a medical card or GP visit card based on income, through the HSE. Our guide on how to register with a GP in Cork covers what to do when practices say they are full. In an emergency, call 112 or 999.
7. Get a Leap card and learn the bus network
Cork city buses accept the TFI Leap card, which is usually cheaper than paying cash. Plan routes with the Transport for Ireland journey planner.
8. Start English practice, whatever your level
Even fluent speakers find that everyday Irish English — at the GP, on the phone to a landlord, in a team meeting — takes a little practice. Cork has several free options, including Cork ETB courses, library groups and community sessions. Our comparison of free English classes in Cork lists who each one suits, including Practical Life English – Fluent in Cork, DGS's own six-session course.
9. Meet people on purpose
Making connections is a step like any other, and it works best with a plan rather than waiting for it to happen. Pick one regular thing: a language group, a sports club, a river clean-up or a volunteering role where your skills are useful. Shared activity is the easiest way to meet Irish neighbours as equals. Our guide to volunteering in Cork lists roles that take only a few hours.
10. Make your qualifications readable to Irish employers
If your degree or diploma is from outside Ireland, NARIC Ireland (part of QQI) offers free comparability statements that show how it relates to the Irish National Framework of Qualifications. Our guide to NARIC Ireland explains how this works and when you need a professional body instead.
Common hold-ups and how to get past them
- No proof of address yet: Short-term stays, house shares. What usually helps: A household bill plus a note from the bill holder; an official letter to your current address.
- PPS appointment weeks away: Demand in your area. What usually helps: Check MyWelfare for other centres; keep evidence of the booking for your employer.
- Taxed too much on first payslips: Job not yet registered with Revenue. What usually helps: Register the job in myAccount; overpaid tax is normally refunded through payroll.
- GPs say they are full: High demand in some areas. What usually helps: Keep a list of practices you contacted; medical card holders can ask the HSE to assign a GP.
- Feeling far from people: Nothing regular in the diary yet. What usually helps: One weekly or monthly activity with the same group of people.
Not advice: This checklist is general information. It is not immigration, tax, legal or medical advice. Always check the official page linked in each step, because rules and fees change.
Key points
- Order matters in your first 90 days in Cork: address, then PPS number, then bank account, then registering your job with Revenue.
- Proof of address for a PPS application must be no older than 3 months; a household bill plus a note from the bill holder can be accepted.
- A basic bank account has no maintenance or day-to-day fees for the first 12 months.
- Register with a GP before you need one; children under 8 and people aged 70 or over automatically qualify for a GP visit card.
- Meeting people is a step on the list too: one regular shared activity is the most reliable start.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first when I move to Cork?
Get an address you can prove, then apply for your PPS number on MyWelfare, open a bank account and register your job with Revenue. Most other services, including GP cards and correct tax, depend on those first steps being done.
Can I get a PPS number without a lease in my name?
Often, yes. gov.ie lists several types of proof of address, and if you are staying with friends or family a household bill in their name together with a note from the bill holder can be accepted. Check the current list on gov.ie before you apply.
How long does it take to settle in Cork?
The paperwork in this checklist usually takes a few weeks to two or three months, depending on appointment waiting times. Feeling at home takes longer and depends on having regular contact with the same people.
Do I need to speak perfect English to use these services?
No. Public services in Ireland are used every day by people at every level of English, and you can bring someone with you to appointments. Free English classes and conversation groups in Cork can help with the vocabulary for each step.
Is this checklist immigration or legal advice?
No. It is general information from a volunteer-led community organisation. For your own situation, use the official pages linked in each step, or contact Citizens Information.
Next step
Paperwork goes faster when you can ask someone who did it last year. If you would like questions answered by people who have been through the same steps in Cork, join the DGS community network. It is free, and newcomers and Irish neighbours take part on the same terms.
About this guide. Published by Domhan Green Society, a volunteer-led community organisation in Cork.