Before you start

Unlocked handset
Passport or photo ID for registration
Irish bank account, for bill-pay contracts

Step-by-step

1
Use EU roaming as a bridge
If you're arriving from another EU country, roam-like-at-home means your existing SIM works in Ireland at no extra charge for a reasonable period. There's no rush on day one.
In personWho: You
2
Buy a prepaid SIM
Available in supermarkets, phone shops and online. Registration requirements are light compared with most countries.
In personWho: YouCommonly EUR 10–25 including initial credit
3
Consider a reseller for value
Brands such as 48 and GoMo run on the major networks at noticeably lower prices, generally on rolling 30-day terms rather than contracts.
OnlineWho: You
4
Move to bill pay if you want a handset deal
Contracts need an Irish bank account for direct debit and may involve a credit check. Most newcomers stay on prepaid or SIM-only for the first months.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Photo ID for registration
Irish bank account and IBAN, for bill pay
Proof of address, sometimes for contracts

Things most newcomers don’t know

EU roaming removes the day-one urgency.

Arriving from another EU country, your existing SIM keeps working at domestic rates. That's unusual among the cities here and means you can pick a plan calmly rather than buying at the airport.

Source: EU roam-like-at-home rules

The reseller brands are the same networks for much less.

48 and GoMo run on Three and Eir respectively at a fraction of the headline price, with no contract. In a small, well-covered country the premium buys very little.

Source: community-reported, widely corroborated

Coverage is good in Dublin and patchy in the west.

If your work involves travel to rural Ireland, network choice starts to matter in a way it doesn't inside the M50. Ask colleagues which network works where you'll actually be.

Source: community-reported

Common mistakes to avoid

Buying an expensive airport SIM when EU roaming already covers you.
Signing a 24-month bill-pay contract before you know your address or bank situation.
Paying premium-network prices for coverage a reseller provides identically in Dublin.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.