Our journey started Dec 2018, My husband and I decided that SA was just not enough for my then 2 year old. We wanted a better future for her, better education and travel opportunities. The uphill battle started with getting information and home affairs. Well! Thanks to the admin for SA2EIRE Website the information was easy, so easy everything was there all I had to do was read. Home affairs on the other hand was awful. My husband, daughter and I took a day trip to HA Edenvale to apply for 2 x Birth cert (husband and I - we already had my daughters), 3 x SA Passports and 1 x Marriage certificate.
The SA passports were easy all applied and received with in 2 weeks. As everyone struggled we decided to use a few different companies to assist us with birth and marriage certificate.
Come March 2019 my husband and I decided to go check Ireland out before we commit any more money to see if Ireland was for us. 1st June we landed in Ireland for 8 days and as im sure everyone would know we made our decision then and there, Ireland is amazing!
Once we were back home we started preparing all documents to get my British passport.
We received my passport in Jan 2020 (we had delays getting my marriage certificate).
Once I got home the day I held my BP in my hands we set a date 30th April, we were so ready!
We send out all notices to give notice to school, swim lessons, resigned from my job, our rental, looked at selling our bigger car to save on insurance and gas. Started selling our furniture that took us 9 years to collect. We were going to live with my dad for 3 weeks and then my mom for 4 weeks. Everything was planned to the last detail. Then THAT speech came, Lockdown. We were stuck! No jobs, no fridge, no nothing. The tears, I just couldn’t stop.
After 2 weeks I managed to pull myself together and told myself that we had spent to much money and time to not get to Ireland. I was so desperate to get my family there. We decided to move out our rental into my late mom in laws flat in Pretoria (not so great, especially for my hubby) but we didn’t have to pay rent.
Then my knight in shinning amour arrived. Adriaan from Jenny’s Travel. He got us on a flight on the 14th July. We were saved. The flights were double the price double but so worth it.
7 days before our flight we sold our last belongings and moved in with my mom.
My mom, step dad and sister watched my daughter so my husband and I could run around and get everything done.
Before we knew it we were at the Hilton hotel. We got our little green sticker to check us on the bus and got our luggage marked as well and then we waited for the buses. We were on the bus a few hours later and heading to the airport. When we arrived at the airport there were 5 buses ahead of us and we waited for 2 and half hours…… It was awful!
We finally got off the bus and unpacked our luggage onto the road in a long line so the dogs could do what they do - Sniff.
Once inside the airport the queues were long but we had made it onto our flight. At 10pm we were given our dinner on the flight and finally ate for the first time that day.
Our flight was great but long, we landed at Dubai airport and we were late, they had already started with Final call and we were not even close to our gate to get on the next flight.
We ran! Kid, bags, extra food we kept on the flight and we RAN! They were waiting for us!
The flight from Dubai to Dublin was great. As we flew over UK I saw Ireland and I could show my daughter what Ireland looked like I cried so hard. After all the worry, delays wasted money because of HA? It was there and real and no longer a dream.
We had arranged for a taxi to collect us from the airport and guess what, he was Afrikaans! LOL. He took us to a Tesco’s to get sim cards as the SPAR in Dublin was closed.
He dropped us in our student complex (Renting student accommodation for 2 months)
We had a friend get us bedding, food and few odd and ends to help us. (We owe her and her family a huge, huge favour!)
The next day we woke up in Ireland, in our home in Ireland. Living in Ireland. Still doesn't feel real. Okay, maybe a little as the sun doesn't set and its always raining :)
For those of you still waiting back home. Push! Fight! Save to get here!
A few side notes: Immigration at Dublin was easy for us but we did see a lady struggling.
Be nice to them. They owe us nothing.
Don’t forget to check if your full furnished apartment has pots and pans and bedding.
Ask for help with setting your geyser (took us 2 days to learn to set it to get hot water)
RESEARCH - ITS ALL ON SA2EIRE
Don’t be stupid. Over budget with everything!
Learn how to recycle (all food items bought in Ireland tell you what is or isn't recyclable)
We still have a long way to go but I hope my story can give others hope to make this long trip and make Ireland their home.
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
Home Affairs Agents and Contacts
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