If I hold a Dutch residence visa (note: NOT a permanent residence, just a year-valid residence card that enables me to work), and am married to a Dutch citizen, is it true (as I've heard from my Mother and Sister in law) that I am legal to live in Ireland (so long as the visa is valid for) and need only apply for a work permit in order to work there?

Thanks in advance

No. You can travel freely there, but you cannot RESIDE (although no one will check normally, they will in order to issue you with a work permit). It is easy though to get residence there, since your spouse is a EU citizen, but he/she will need to get residence in Ireland too first...

Thanks for the response. If you're willing to answer a bit further?

"but he/she will need to get residence in Ireland too first..."

Alright, do you mean a residence permit, or an actual roof? xD Sorry about that, just wish to be as positive about this as possible before making any concrete plans.

I do not know how it works in Ireland precisely.. In other EU countries, they simply ask you for an ADDRESS (could be a friend's); in some countries they actually ask you to provide a rental agreement, and in other countries again, they may check if you actually live there... A residence permit is usually something handled by the local administrations/police. A work permit is handled by different ministries perhaps.

You'd better ask your spouse to check out Ireland's regulations with a local attorney, if that is important.

All I know for sure is that as a non-EU citizen, you can work only in the country where you are a resident and gave you a work permit via your spouse. If your EU spouse moves to another EU country, of course you can apply and automatically get your residence/work permit, but you'll have to apply and wait for it a bit...

Another option would be to look into Ireland's immigration laws. It could be that if you have a job offer, you can get a fast residence permit irrespective of your present status in the NL and/or your spouse...

From a technical point of view, being both countries Schengen members, you will be able to travel freely between the two; some employers might even offer you employment (although I doubt it..) and you could live there without problems most likely. The problems would arise if you need to have for example health care, or for whatever needs a local residence permit...

For further info, check out the EU website and Ireland's website.. Hope this helps.

Thanks a lot for your help and advice I will check it out, for sure.