Blog: The journey to ireland - Immigration information for South Africans moving, immigrating, visiting or working in the Republic of Ireland
Our decision to move to Ireland took a lot of planning we decided as a family in 2015/2016 to start the idea and slowly started getting all the information together asking questions sending emails to companies in Ireland having telephonic interviews etc. a lot of work went to preparing and planning looking at all avenues to a better future for our family. Originally hubby would’ve gone to London to work as he has the EU right but with the way things were going in South Africa and Brexit talks looming we changed those plans very quickly and decided to plan the move to Ireland as a family.
The process began to join the right groups on Facebook specific ‘South Africans moving to Ireland’ step one done. I started asking a lot of questions to the admins and boy there was a lot to ask, I’m sure they thought I might be crazy with everything I had asked from passports, birth certs, tax, schools, list just goes on and on but they answered everything to the letter.
Our next step was going to Home Affairs; boy, oh boy, had to have certified original marriage certificate and kids birth certs made up all over again as the originals were sent to the Czech republic embassy to process and register the children’s births and marriage cert in the Czech republic easy process took about a week for the second copies to be created, then we had to get the South African passports made for all of us that’s the fun part trying to get the two younger kids to sit still nightmare on its own but we got it done, next step getting hold of the Czech embassy in South Africa had to send a lot of paper work getting original documents certified by both South African embassy and having it then translated and apostilled by a registered Czech translator in Fourways with all the original birth certs and marriage certs stamped and apostilled we then went to the Czech embassy in Pretoria by appointment think we went 4 times in total, got hubbies and the kids passports and birth certs for the EU status made and because hubby is Czech and was born in the Czech republic it made the process easy and of course it opens doors for our children so we registered their births and our marriage in the Czech Republic 2 months later we got those paperwork, passports all sorted step two done.
This is where our fun part starts with that all sorted we rested our heads a bit, but not for long then we started looking at flights and were hearing some good and bad sides made us even more worried well mainly me as I’ve never flown or left SA in all my life. So hubby and I got quotes from Flight Centre in Green Stone Mall and they gave us good dates to fly now the process of selling and getting our tickets in motion which we got middle may as the rates then were reasonable its always best to get flights booked before June as summer break starts in Ireland so pricing does go up and many business as we say goes slow, that being said a little advice rather fly during the week and not weekend flight prices are cheaper weekdays. So began the stressful selling of our household stuff mainly what we were not using and yes our bags were already packed the day we booked our flights checked them about 15 times if not more. Excitement and worry started pouring in making sure we had everything ticket and crossed asked and double checked on the group if everything would be perfect or correct
I’m sure by now you’re wondering but what about the job? So, three companies had come back to hubby but only one was desperate enough to help with bookings so I made sure we got the booking of hotels and letter of appointment sent (most important is that letter) before we knew it, it was June and our count down started kids were very excited hubby was somewhat worried but not much me on the other hand stressed out sleepless nights and checking bags and paperwork over and over, eventually I got some natural Relicalm helped me relax as I really did need it. Hubby was clever we still had my car that was ready to go to the new owner who allowed us to use it one week before we booked into a BnB in Germiston called African Elephants Guest House that was well worth it that week just relaxing no cooking, no washing up kids could go play, was just what I needed, by then we’d already said our byes to family and some friends, had a last Sunday meal with my best friend cried our eyes out like big babies, said last goodbyes to my other friend who drove from Rustenburg.
The day for us to leave 21/06/2017, I haven’t slept a wink at all my Aunt came to collect us from the BnB so we could pack the trailer with our bags which yes I weighed and checked for the last time with not much sleep I was very emotional but kept it together otherwise my family would think moms really lost it. Had our last lunch with my Aunt we laughed so much kids were spoiled and then before we can even wipe our eyes it’s time to go all packed ready to go kids are even more excited now and so are we seems like hours before we got to the airport but it wasn’t nerves finally hit when we parked and got the trollies for the bags but we were early for our flight.
Then the dread checking of the passport but as soon as the gentlemen at queue checked and saw hold on EU passport apologised for the minor setback he said 5 minutes, just they have to check no need for clearance, we were allowed to check in our bags so the weighing began but that went like a breeze no problems did our declarations and bags checked in. We had an hour to sit so we had coffee and something to nibble with my Aunt, nerves all over the place mind my heart started racing as it was really time to board the plane, and then the tears start the realisation that this is it no turning back got to the gates crying and hugging my Aunt goodbye and yes crying as I type this out, still a very emotional moment.
Boarding the plane still crying but a little more relaxed got the hand luggage in the compartments and seated I swear I needed more eyes so I could check everything. Little side note on that if you suffer with your ears like I do get earplugs meant for flying they do help to a point and you can get them at any chemists.
When we were lifting off South African soil I discovered I am not a flying fan. Flight staff were amazing kids were loving every moment and were kept busy watching movies on the plane etc. 4 hours later we were in Abu Dhabi Airport, stepping out of a cool plane into a sauna lol it was hot but we got inside and had to find our connecting flight to Ireland so next 4 hours back on the plane and finally reached Irish soil. Gosh not much sleep as I was scared the plane would fall out of the sky. We step in and go through passport control but I have my bible file ready for anything started to panic abet as EU and no EU had two separate ques but thankfully a gentlemen said I could join my family in the EU section and give them all the necessary info and that’s exactly what I did questions asked and papers given no problems at all. Made my day when the officer said welcome to Ireland. We then proceeded to go find our bags all still in one piece thankfully, FYI don’t buy expensive travel bags they do get bashed and thrown around.
We finally get to the hotel exhausted and very, very tired. Got our rooms and bags taken up; I don’t remember us even eating anything we were so bushed, and we slept dead. The following morning hubby started work which shocked them but he wanted to give them a good impression we all still jetlagged so we stayed at the Cows Inn in Dublin but it was defiantly different for us walking around, no fear, it was amazing feeling and mind you was a surprise at 10 PM it was still bright outside.
Vicky had sent me all the necessary forms got them printed and filled out and just waiting to get a rental for a proper address within 6 days we got a rental from a private owner we were given the number from another Saffa, Dupie. We had few visits to and from him when we moved to swords in Dublin that place was amazing but was still very busy, during all this hustle and bustle we had sorted out all our PPS cards, and I had to get my immigration papers sorted and we sent everything on my birthday to them that was a lot of paper work that we sent I think two weeks went by and they sent a letter needing just a few things to processes the rest of my paperwork.
Then one day hubby wasn’t well I think it was from lack of sleep he got a little sick that the doctor’s kept him in Beaumont hospital, we just didn’t realise this was going to cause a lot more worrying nights for us as a family in the years to come we had angels helping me while hubby was in hospital. Karen had landed and payed me a visit which at that time I needed, will never forget Dupie told her that I don’t live that far from him she had a good walk that day and of course having Vicky phoning for our chats kept me sane.
So here comes more bad bits company hubby was working for let him go we didn’t see this coming but was advised to ask for a P40 for the tax office. As soon as this happen I was already sending more CV’s out and was advised from close friends to go to companies which we did two days later hubby was in another company. He was a month and half at the company when they sent him to a sister branch in Letterkenny.
Now the sad thing is where we stayed in swords it was lovely kids made friends and then came the day we had to move to Letterkenny was very sad kids had to say goodbye to the friends they made although we still keep in touch with them and we moved AGAIN this time to Letterkenny, Donegal.
Important links:
#MapMyMove- Our coaching Services - Confused or lost and need some direction, book a session with us to help untangle the confusion and work out your route of immigration
Immigration related - all the links that relate to each route of the immigration process
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