Returning to Ireland can look straightforward from the outside. You know the place, you may have family here, and there is often a comforting idea that moving home should be easier than moving away. As Sarah Owen explains in this episode, that is not always how it works in practice.

Stephanie Wickham speaks with Sarah Owen from Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project about the real-life issues facing Irish citizens and their families when they are emigrating or returning to Ireland.

Sarah explains why planning a return should include more than flights and shipping boxes. It highlights the importance of checking housing options, PPS numbers, school places, healthcare access, social welfare eligibility and local supports before the move, especially where the return is happening quickly.

For anyone also dealing with foreign income, foreign savings, foreign assets, tax residency or cross-border tax questions, this episode is a useful reminder that the practical and financial pieces often overlap. Personalised tax advice may still be needed where the timing of the move affects Irish tax resident status, worldwide income, Irish-source income or future tax compliance.

About the Guest

Sarah Owen is Project Leader with Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project, a Dublin-based nonprofit funded by the Government of Ireland. Crosscare provides information and advocacy assistance to Irish citizens moving abroad and returning to Ireland, with a particular focus on people who are marginalised or in crisis.

Sarah is a dual Irish and French citizen with lived experience of migration. She has worked in Irish diaspora support and engagement for almost 15 years, across frontline support, policy, research and outreach. Her work is grounded in helping people make informed migration decisions, rather than pushing them towards or away from returning.

Website: https://diasporasupport.ie/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahelisabethowen/

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If you loved this episode or have a similar story, we'd love to hear from you! You can get in touch with us directly at info@expattaxes.ie or leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Taxbytes for Expats is brought to you by ExpatTaxes.ie. If you're considering moving to or from Ireland and would like support with your taxes, book a consultation today: https://expattaxes.ie/book-a-consult/.

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Chapters:

(00:00) Welcome to Taxbytes for Expats
(00:30) Introducing Sarah Owen and Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project
(02:01) Sarah’s background and lived experience of migration
(03:59) How Crosscare supports Irish citizens abroad and returning home
(07:37) Recent trends in Irish emigration and return migration
(09:46) Sponsor Message: Currencies Direct
(10:32) Why returning to Ireland is not always straightforward
(12:40) Information, advocacy and making an informed return
(13:59) Social welfare, housing supports and habitual residence
(15:45) Red tape, GP access, schools and family supports
(16:52) Reverse culture shock, identity and belonging
(18:44) How long it can take to feel settled back in Ireland