Limerick Citizens Information Centre

Are you returning to Ireland and thinking about applying for certain social welfare payments? You may need to show that you’re ‘habitually resident’ in Ireland.

👍 ‘Habitually resident’ means you’ve got a close link to Ireland and that you’ve lived here and plan to continue living here in the future.

📋 You can apply to be treated as habitually resident. In your application, try to include evidence that shows:

📍Your main centre of interest is now Ireland
📍You’re resuming your previous residence here

This can include documentation showing that you’ve:

✅ Moved your personal belongings back to Ireland
✅ Stopped working abroad
✅ Started a job in Ireland
✅ Ended a lease on a rented property abroad
✅ Sold your home abroad
✅ Rented or bought property here in Ireland
✅ Closed bank accounts abroad