Are you interested in moving to Ireland from America as a medical practitioner? Here is what the relocation process will be like for you. Use these steps.
Relocating you and your family to a new home is no easy feat. There are a lot of ins and outs to navigate when it comes to packing and preparing for such a venture. Moving to another country altogether can be even more of a challenge, too.
Still, you’ve decided to take up your career as a medical practitioner in the country of Ireland. At the same time, you’re not really sure where to start when it comes to moving to Ireland from America.
Well, the good news is you’ve come to the right place. Detailed below is everything you need to know about relocating to Ireland as a doctor.
You’re not alone in deciding to move to the country of green rolling hills, by the way. Join the other over 90,000 immigrants to Ireland of the year 2018 with the following guidance.
Start by Doing Plenty of Research on Living in Ireland
Of course, the first thing to consider is whether relocating to Ireland is really best for you and your family. This is important to think about, in particular, when it comes to families with children. Are you ready to enrol them in new schools and expect them to make new friends?
Take the time to research what it might be like when you live in Ireland with your family. Are you aiming to live near Dublin, the capital? Or, do you and your family think you’d be better suited in the countryside?
When you’ve settled on a geographic area in Ireland where you want to live, check out some of the local attractions. Are there annual celebrations or festivals that can help you connect with others in the area? Developing a strong sense of community can go a long way in helping you and your family get accustomed.
In addition, you might want to look into the regulations regarding a work permit if you’re not an Irish citizen. Going through the process of even registering for a work visa in Ireland can be long and tedious. For that reason, it’s worthwhile to get started on that sooner rather than later.
You’ll Want to Leave a Point of Contact in America First
Packing up all of your things and moving to Ireland might be a dream come true. Perhaps you never want to step foot in the United States again.
Even if that’s the case, it’s still smart to leave behind a point of contact just in case. After all, even experts recognise the importance of leaving an American-based address when moving out of the country. That way, business on your behalf can still be conducted in America while you’re abroad.
You might be leaving behind other friends and family members you trust. If that’s the case, have all of your American mail forwarded to them. That way, they can send you parcels of all of your collected mail to Ireland on a regular basis.
Having a base in the United States can only benefit you and your family’s security. If you’re United States citizens, maintaining an address on file can be crucial for your future status as a citizen. If you do move back, for example, that address will allow you to prove residency if you want to get a driver’s license or vote.
Relocating to Ireland Is Going to Require a Lot of Planning and Preparation
You understand that moving to a new country can be expensive. For that reason, you’re going to want to consider the actual costs of the big move. Then, you’ll want to compare that overall cost to your available budget.
Of course, you’re going to be planning this relocation for months in advance. That’s the only way to ensure the move itself can go as smoothly as possible.
If you have pets that you want to move with you, for instance, there’s some preparation to be done. Ireland is part of the European Union. All pets in the European Union (and Ireland) require a microchip. Details like that are essential if you want the move to be a success, and you have to plan for them.
As a General Practitioner, You’ll Have a Lot of Patients
One thing to note about practicing medicine in Ireland is that you might have more patient visits than you would have in the United States. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be overwhelming to some people. As a general practitioner, though, you’ll need to be prepared for handling such hurdles.
Consider the following statistic concerning general practitioners throughout the country of Ireland. It indicates that, on average, general practitioners have 861 patients. Some doctors even have over one thousand patients at any given time!
Both Public and Private Healthcare Plans Exist in Ireland
When you’re ready to move to Ireland to practice general medicine, you’re going to have a lot of questions about the industry itself. For one thing, note that Ireland operates on both private and public healthcare. That means you can expect to work with a variety of different kinds of patients.
For more detailed specifics, check out this article on the many roles of a general practitioner in Ireland. You need to be able to help any patient out with all kinds of problems. General practitioners, in this way, are one of the most versatile doctors in Ireland.
You Will Need to Apply for Registration with the Irish Medical Council
As mentioned above, it’s possible that you’re going to need a work permit to work as a general practitioner in Ireland. It’ll be your responsibility, though, to do the research and determine what application(s) you need to fill out.
Another thing to consider is the fact that anyone who practices medicine in Ireland needs to be registered. To be more specific, they need to be registered with the National Irish Medical Council.
The Irish Medical Council is an organisation that manages and maintains industry standards throughout the country. You’re going to need to get familiar with them if you want to practice medicine in Ireland. For more information about or to get started on that process, check out the website for the Irish Medical Council.
Connect with the local Irish Community for the Sake of Yourself and Your Family
As mentioned above, it’s worthwhile to invest in building a local community when you move to Ireland. The fortunate thing about Irish people is that they’re known for friendliness.
When you and your family have settled into your new Irish home, it’s time to start networking. Making valuable connections can be the difference between having a strong support system and having none. Who is going to babysit your kids when you want to go out on a date night, for instance?
Be intentional about going to local events or meetups so you can find Irish connections that suit your family. Your kids, in particular, deserve to feel as at home as possible in this new country. Making new friends is a crucial part of that process.
Remember to Maintain Self-Care Throughout the Process of Relocation
At the end of the day, the possibility of relocating to Ireland is an exciting one. You and your family are about to embark on a brand new adventure. Through all of the ups and downs, though, it’s important to remember and maintain your personal self-care.
In fact, read this article about the importance of personal health when working as a medical professional. If you don’t take care of yourself, how can you expect yourself to take care of others?
That’s why it’s wise to establish and stick to a regular exercise routine, for one thing. Plus, don’t let the stress of moving to a foreign country make you become a stress-eater.
In addition to a proper diet and exercise routine, make sure you get plenty of sleep on a consistent basis. Adults should strive for about seven hours of sleep every night to remain well-rested. Then, you can continue practicing medicine in a healthy manner for many years to come.
Make the Most of Your New Career After Moving to Ireland from America
At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of what it takes when moving from Ireland to America. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to the security and comfort of you and your family members, after all. That’s why you’ll take the above guidelines seriously.
When you get to Ireland, though, you’re going to need to start investing in your professional career. You deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have financial opportunities after your big move. For that reason, it can be in your best interest to do plenty of research ahead of time.
In fact, that’s where we can help. We prioritise bringing medical professionals like you with the most reliable resources about relocating to Ireland. We want you and your family to thrive on the “Emerald Island.”
So, we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website and blog today. To start, check out more information about the general medical jobs available throughout Ireland on our job board.