Perth is where I landed when I moved to Australia in 2013. If you’re thinking about moving to Perth from Ireland, here’s what you need to know in 2026: the weather, visas and the 88 days, jobs, rent, getting around, and where to find the Irish.
The key figures below link to their sources, all checked in October 2026. Only just arrived? Start with our first week in Australia checklist.
Short version
- Perth is 7 or 8 hours ahead of Ireland. Sydney is 9 to 11.
- Rent is the hard part: a median $750 a week for a house and $700 for a unit (REIWA, September 2026 quarter). Plan on sharing.
- Mining is huge, with more than 136,000 full-time equivalent jobs on WA mine sites in 2025.
- For your 88 days, WA postcodes 6200 to 6799 (plus a few outer-Perth ones) count as regional. Most of metro Perth doesn’t.
- Join the Irish Around Perth Facebook group and get in touch with a GAA club.
Why Perth?
The weather. Bureau of Meteorology figures for the Perth Metro station show an average top of 31.4°C in January and 31.7°C in February. July averages 18.5°C by day and 8.1°C at night. The rain comes in winter: July averages 14.6 days with at least 1 mm of rain, January just 1.6.
The time difference. Perth runs on UTC+8 and doesn’t change its clocks, so it’s 8 hours ahead of Ireland in the Irish winter and 7 hours ahead in the Irish summer. A 7pm call from Perth lands at 11am at home in winter, which makes ringing the Mammy a lot easier.
The size. Greater Perth had about 2.45 million people in June 2025, according to the ABS, less than half the size of Sydney. It was also the fastest-growing capital city in 2024-25.
The Irish. At the 2021 Census, 16,412 people born in Ireland lived in Greater Perth. That’s more than Greater Melbourne (14,742), a city more than twice the size.
Visas and the 88 days in WA
Most of us come over on the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417). Irish passport holders can apply from age 18 to 35, and Home Affairs says you’ll usually need about AUD 5,000 for your stay, plus the fare out. See our working holiday visa guide, or Australian visas for Irish people for the other options.
For a second year you need 3 months of specified work, which Home Affairs counts as at least 88 calendar days. A third year needs 6 months (179 days). You can split it across employers and stints.
Which WA postcodes count?
This is where Perth catches people out. The specified work page (updated 12 October 2026) lists these WA postcodes as regional Australia:
6041 to 6044, 6055 to 6056, 6069, 6076, 6083 to 6084, 6111, 6121 to 6126, and 6200 to 6799.
Most of metro Perth sits outside those ranges, so a normal job in the city or inner suburbs won’t count. Always check the postcode where the work actually happens before you start.
| Type of work | Where it counts in WA |
|---|---|
| Farm work, fruit picking and packing, fishing, pearling, tree farming | Regional postcodes above |
| Mining and construction | Regional postcodes above |
| Tourism and hospitality | Only a separate, shorter list of northern and remote WA postcodes |
| Bushfire or natural disaster recovery | Declared areas only, including some Perth postcodes |
Two more rules. On rosters like two weeks on and two weeks off, your rostered days off can count if the roster is standard in the industry and you’re paid for the whole period, so keep your contract. And you can generally only work for the same employer for 6 months, with some exceptions such as farm work. More in our regional work guide.
Jobs in Perth for Irish people
Start with our own Irish Around Oz job board, then look at the big sectors below.
Mining and FIFO
WA’s mining sector had more than 136,000 on-site full-time equivalent jobs in 2025, according to the state’s mines department. Much of it is FIFO (fly-in fly-out). As WA’s migration site puts it, you’re flown to a remote site for a set roster, such as seven days on and seven off, then flown home, and the employer typically covers travel and site accommodation. Mining in a regional postcode counts as specified work too.
Construction and trades
Construction work in WA needs general construction induction training, the card previously called the White Card. WA accepts cards from other Australian states, but WorkSafe WA only lets providers issue a WA card to people located in WA at the time of assessment. So you can’t do the WA one from Ireland. Book it once you land.
Nursing
Since 23 April 2025, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has a streamlined registration standard for nurses from approved comparable jurisdictions, and Ireland is on the list. It’s for nurses with at least 1,800 hours of practice in a comparable jurisdiction since 2017. The Board said eligible nurses may finish registration in 1 to 6 months, compared with 9 to 12 months the standard way.
Hospitality
Anyone selling or serving alcohol in WA needs the nationally accredited RSA course. If you haven’t done it before you start, WA’s liquor regulator gives you 28 days. An RSA card from another state isn’t accepted, so keep your RSA certificate and give your employer a copy.
Pay and tax
From the first pay on or after 1 July 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour for adults working for businesses in the federal system, such as Pty Ltd companies. WA’s state system (sole traders, some micro businesses and unincorporated partnerships) has an adult minimum of $26.27 an hour.
Apply for your Tax File Number online once you’re in Australia. It’s free, and the ATO says it should arrive by post within 28 days. When you’re heading home, our tax refund guide and super guide show you how to get your money back.
Cost of living and rent in Perth
Rent is the biggest cost of living in Perth. REIWA’s figures for the September 2026 quarter put Perth’s median weekly rent at $750 for a house and $700 for a unit. House rents are up 7.1% since December 2025, the vacancy rate was 1.7%, and homes were leasing in a median of two weeks. The realestate.com.au September report says Perth rents grew the most over the past five years and are now 60% higher than in September 2021.
So it pays to share. Ask in the Irish Around Perth group and check Flatmates. WA’s Consumer Protection rules are on your side:
- A bond can be no more than 4 weeks’ rent, unless the rent is over $1,200 a week.
- It must be lodged with Bonds Administration within 14 days, even when you pay it to a head tenant in a share house.
- Rent bidding is banned, so places must be advertised at a set price.
- Never hand over money for a room you haven’t seen.
| Perth costs (October 2026) | Price |
|---|---|
| Median house rent (REIWA) | $750 a week |
| Median unit rent (REIWA) | $700 a week |
| Transperth Go Anywhere fare (3 hours) | $2.80 SmartRider with Autoload, $3.15 SmartRider, $3.50 cash or contactless |
| Daily fare cap (DayRider) | $7.00 |
| SmartRider card | $20, including $10 of travel |
| Adult minimum wage (federal system) | $26.44 an hour |
For groceries, phone plans and a sample weekly budget, see our cost of living in Australia guide and the moving to Australia financial checklist. To move your savings over, Wise suits everyday amounts and TorFX is worth a look for bigger transfers. Full comparison: cheapest way to transfer money from Ireland to Australia.
Getting around: Transperth and SmartRider
Transperth runs the buses, trains and ferries on one flat-fare system. A Go Anywhere fare covers three hours on the whole network, and SmartRider and contactless fares are capped at the $7 DayRider rate.
- SmartRider: $20 with $10 of travel loaded, from a Transperth InfoCentre, a retail outlet or a SmartRider Hub at some stations. Set up Autoload for 20% off.
- Contactless: tap on with a Visa, Mastercard or phone wallet, at the cash fare. Tag on and off with the same card.
- Free travel: all buses, trains and ferries are free on Sundays with a SmartRider or contactless. The city’s CAT buses are free, and so are trains inside the city Free Transit Zone when you tag on and off.
- From the airport: the Airport Line runs to Airport Central, linked to T1 and T2 by a Skybridge. From T3 or T4, the free Route 292 shuttle goes to Redcliffe Station, 15 minutes from the CBD.
Driving? WA’s Department of Transport says visitors, including people working temporarily in WA, can drive on a current overseas licence. Carry it with you.
The Irish community in Perth
For the Irish in Perth, the Irish Around Perth Facebook group is the place to start. Ask about rooms, jobs, a five-a-side team or a good GP. Moving on later? Here’s our list of Irish groups in Australia.
GAA clubs in WA
A GAA club is one of the easiest ways to make friends. These are the WA clubs listed by Australasia GAA in October 2026:
- Gaelic football: Greenwood, Morley Gaels (founded 1975), Na Fianna Catalpa, Southern Districts, St Finbarr’s (founded 1976) and Western Shamrocks, all in Perth, plus Bunbury Gaels in Bunbury.
- Hurling: Perth Shamrocks and Sarsfields.
- Hurling and camogie: St Gabriel’s and Western Swans.
- Youth: Tír Rua Perth.
Irish pubs
All checked against their own websites in October 2026. Hours change, so check before you go.
- Fenians Irish Pub, 221 Adelaide Terrace, Perth (at the Novotel Perth Langley). Open since 1986, with quiz nights on Tuesdays and live music on Fridays.
- Durty Nelly’s, Shafto Lane, 397 Murray Street, Perth. An Irish pub since 1998, with GAA hurling and football on its live sport list.
- JB O’Reilly’s, 99 Cambridge Street, West Leederville. Live music and live sport.
- McNally’s Irish Pub, 88 Rokeby Road, Subiaco. A newer Irish pub with spice bags and a Sunday roast.
- Molly’s Irish Pub, 488 Beaufort Street, Highgate, and a second Molly’s at 774 Albany Highway, East Victoria Park, which opened in February 2026.
- Mons O’Shea, 6 South Terrace, Fremantle. Irish pub and shop on the Cappuccino Strip, with live music and trad sessions.
- The Galway Hooker, 148 The Esplanade, Scarborough. Live music and live sport.
Note: older guides still send people to the Irish Club of WA in Subiaco. Its website now says it “is closed until further notice”, and the 61 Townshend Road building was sold in September 2025.
Support if you’re struggling
The Claddagh Association has supported Irish people in WA through hard times since 1997. It’s based in Morley and also runs a seniors group and community events, including a céilí and the Irish choir in its October 2026 news. Office: (08) 9249 9213, weekdays 8am to 4pm. Crisis line: 0403 972 265. Lifeline is on 13 11 14.
Your first week in Perth
- Get a SmartRider, or just tap your bank card.
- Apply for your Tax File Number online.
- Open a bank account and move money over with Wise.
- Sort your insurance. We recommend True Traveller for Irish working holiday makers. More in our travel insurance guide.
- Start the room hunt, and check your bond is lodged with Bonds Administration.
- Book your White Card or RSA in WA if your job needs one.
- Read up on the spiders in Australia. You’ll be grand.
FAQ
Is Perth a good place for Irish people to live?
It suits plenty of us. It’s only 7 or 8 hours ahead of Ireland, there are 12 WA clubs on the Australasia GAA list, and 16,412 Irish-born people lived in Greater Perth at the 2021 Census. Rent is the catch.
Does work in Perth count towards my 88 days?
Usually not. Most of metro Perth isn’t on the regional list. WA postcodes 6200 to 6799 are, along with a few outer-Perth ones. Check the Home Affairs list before you take the job.
What’s the time difference between Perth and Ireland?
Perth is 8 hours ahead from late October to late March and 7 hours ahead the rest of the year, because Ireland uses daylight saving and Perth doesn’t.
Does mining work count for my second-year visa?
Yes, if the mine is in an eligible regional postcode. Mind the 6-month limit with one employer, and ask what tickets and inductions they need before you pay for any course.
How do I meet other Irish people in Perth?
Join the Irish Around Perth group, get down to a GAA club, and catch the live music or a trad session at Mons O’Shea in Fremantle.
☘️ Moving to Perth?
Join the Irish Around Perth group, say hello, and see who’s hiring. Someone in there has made the move before you.
Heading somewhere else? Read our guides to the Irish in Sydney, the Irish in Melbourne and the Irish in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Spotted a pub that’s closed, or a club we missed? Tell us in the Irish Around Perth group.
Last checked October 2026. Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you use them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.