About the City

Situated in the south-west of Ireland on the River Lee, Cork is one of the most important cities in the country. With a population of 119,230, this city, in the province of Munster, is Ireland’s third most populous region. Cork is well known for being an iconic, historic destination with a large number of famous sights and has twice been awarded the title of European Capital of Culture. This cosmopolitan city attracts expats from a vast array of nationalities. An estimated 86% of people living in Cork are of Irish nationality, 8% are citizens of other European Union countries, 4% are from other parts of the world and the rest choose not to state their nationality. The religion of Cork is overwhelmingly Roman Catholic. Catholicism is ever present throughout the city with churches and monuments. English is the spoken and official language of the city.

Visas for Ireland

Anyone who wishes to stay in Ireland for more than three months, to retire, to study, to work or to settle permanently for any other reason, must apply for a long stay type D visa. The specific visa requirements vary greatly, depending on which country the expat is moving from and the reason for relocating. It is important to seek advice from your local Irish embassy and find out exactly what documents and evidence you will be required to supply the embassy with before being granted a visa. Further information can be found at the official website of the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service. On this site, potential expatriates intending on moving to Ireland can find the correct visa form and a hugely helpful selection of information.

Finding Accommodation

The styles of property most commonly found in Cork are flats and semi-detached townhouses. Younger expats often prefer to rent an apartment or live in a group house share; however anyone looking to purchase property in the city can make the most of the house prices, which are much cheaper than other cities such as Dublin and London. Finding accommodation is straightforward and simple to do. There are a large number of websites which help to make house hunting in Cork extremely easy, for example Daft and Property. Another good way to search for houses and apartments is to check the property listings in city-wide newspapers such as The Evening Echo. As well as this, there are plenty of estate agents’ offices situated throughout the city. The helpful, professional agents will help expats to find their ideal property to buy or rent.