Living abroad

European laws and directives have made it easy to move to another EU country with the minimum of fuss. All your belongings can be transported without having to pay customs duties or taxes, and if you’re flying, you can claim compensation if the flight is delayed or cancelled or if your baggage is lost.

A current full Irish driving licence legally allows you to drive in any EU nation. Jobseekers who move to another EU member state to look for work can usually continue to draw unemployment benefit from their home country for up to three months extendable to six months.

EU rules also mean that all workers are entitled to exactly the same social security and welfare benefits as nationals of the host country. As long you’ve paid enough contributions you can claim sickness and maternity benefits, old age pensions and unemployment payments.

The EU Single Market gives citizens the freedom to pursue their career in any member state and there’s a system in place that facilitates the recognition of professional qualifications across the entire European Union.

And all EU workers are entitled to the same conditions and benefits as nationals of the country they’re working in, including equal pay and trade union membership.

Irish people who want to conduct business in Europe benefit from both the freedom to move as well as the freedom to move goods- another fundamental EU right.

There are no longer any border controls on goods moving between EU countries and products manufactured in Ireland must be allowed to be sold on markets in all member states.

Irish citizens also benefit from the freedom to move capital allowing them to open bank accounts, buy property and invest in shares in all EU nations.

EU directives made under this freedom mean it’s now relatively easy to move money around with fast, cheap and reliable credit transfers.

Charges for cross-border transfers in euro are the same as those for payments made within a single EU country.

Students who want to study abroad have to be accepted in EU universities and colleges on the same conditions as nationals. That means they can’t be charged higher fees or excluded from courses on the basis of their nationality.

Each EU country has the responsibility to recognise academic qualifications within its own jurisdiction. However, there is a European Network of Centres (ENIC) that promotes the recognition of international vocational qualifications throughout Europe.

In Ireland the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) is the Qualifications Recognition National Qualifications Authority of Ireland. It’s their job to provide information on having qualifications recognized abroad.