Visa Requirements for Irish Citizens

Visa requirements for Irish nationals are the rules and regulations regarding the visas or travel authorizations that citizens of Ireland need to meet to travel to each country around the globe.

The Irish passport is currently tied 6th in the world with regards to travel freedom by the Henley Passport Index. It allows nationals of the Republic of Ireland to enter over 180 different countries and territories without applying for a visa in advance.

Different countries have different visa requirements for Irish citizens. The visas and travel authorizations needed can also vary according to the length of time the visitor intends to stay and the purpose of travel to the destination.

Online options for around 30 countries are available to Irish passport holders for short visits. These take the form of either electronic visas (eVisas) or electronic travel authorizations (ETAs). The latter are digital visa waivers.

ETAs and eVisas for citizens of Ireland utilize similar online application systems, which involve a quick and simple process to obtain permission to visit the destination country, without having to go to an embassy beforehand.

In order to live, work, or stay in the majority of countries in the long term, nationals of Ireland must apply for the relevant visa or permit at an embassy, such as a residence visa, work visa, or long-stay visa.

There are a number of countries that Irish nationals can only visit by applying for a visa from an embassy beforehand.

Holders of Irish passports may enter around 110 different sovereign states and territories visa-free. In some cases, this visa exemption includes the right to live and work in the destination.

Fewer than 30 countries have a visa on arrival for citizens of Ireland. This is a visa that can be applied for and obtained at the border of the state or territory.

Visas on arrival are generally only recommended if they are the only option, as there are frequently long lines to submit an application, which can cause the Irish visitor to spend a lot of time waiting at border control.

List of Visa Countries for Irish Passport Holders

Irish passport holders are required to obtain a visa in order to enter over 130 countries around the globe.

Some destinations have multi-purpose visit visas, while others have a separate tourist visa, business visa, transit visa, etc. Irish nationals must apply for the correct type of travel authorization for the purpose of their trip.

A number of countries have either an eVisa or ETA available for visitors from Ireland. These digital visas and visa waivers generally grant Irish nationals entry for short stays.

They are typically valid for the purpose of tourism and, in some cases, may also allow business trips and transit through the country, among other purposes.

Irish nationals must apply in person at an embassy to visit over 70 countries regardless of the purpose and length of visit.

There are also a number of countries that permit holders of Irish passports to obtain a visa on arrival, although this can involve a lot of waiting at the international border.

Below is a complete guide to every country for which citizens of Ireland must apply for and obtain a visa or travel authorization before visiting.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization

There are 2 types of digital entry authorizations available to travelers from Ireland, depending on the destination country: the electronic visa (eVisa) and the electronic travel authorization (ETA), which is a visa waiver.

Irish passport holders can obtain an eVisa or ETA for around 30 countries around the world.

Depending on the country, an ETA or eVisa for Irish citizens may be valid for a single entry or multiple entries.

The maximum length of time that an Irish citizen can spend in their destination country with an eVisa or ETA varies from 28 days to 3 months, depending on the state or territory.

Both eVisas and ETAs are obtainable via streamlined online systems. Irish nationals can complete an application form, submitting basic personal data, passport details, and a current email address, to receive an approved eVisa or ETA.

Online eVisa or ETA application forms for some countries also ask for the applicant’s travel details and require them to answer security and health-related questions.

Once approved, an eVisa or ETA is often electronically linked to the passport registered in the online application. For some countries, a paper copy should also be printed.

If the passport used in the application is lost, damaged, stolen, or otherwise becomes invalid, the Irish national will have to reapply for the eVisa or ETA with their new passport.

Find below the list of countries that citizens of Ireland can travel to with an eVisa or ETA.

Visa On Arrival

A visa on arrival for Republic of Ireland passport holders is a type of visa that may be applied for and granted at the border of a destination country.

Fewer than 30 countries have a visa on arrival option available for Irish citizens.

The maximum length of time that an Irish visitor can spend in their destination with a visa on arrival varies between 7 days and 3 months, depending on the particular state or territory. In some cases, a visa on arrival may permit multiple entries, whereas others are single-entry visas.

Visas on arrival can be acquired at certain airports, seaports, and land border crossings. In some cases, it may be necessary to pay the visa on arrival fee in the local currency.

It is common for there to be long lines to apply for a visa on arrival, leading to travelers spending a lot of time waiting at immigration before being allowed into the country.

Consult the list below for all the countries for which nationals of Ireland can apply for a visa on arrival.

Bangladesh
Burkina Faso
Comoros
Gabon
Guinea-Bissau
Lebanon
Mauritania
Mozambique
Palau
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Somalia
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
Zimbabwe

Get Embassy Info

Embassy Visa Required

An embassy visa for Irish passport holders is any of a number of types of visa that must be obtained from an overseas diplomatic mission (e.g. an embassy or consulate) before traveling to the destination country.

Most sovereign states require citizens of Ireland to apply for an embassy visa in order to move to or work in the country. This is because in most cases, only embassies issue residence visas, work visas or permits, and long-stay visas.

There are also over 70 countries that require Irish nationals to apply in person at an embassy for a visa for any type and length of visit. This includes short-stay tourist visas.

Tourist visas granted by embassies can vary in terms of how long they permit an Irish visitor to stay in the country and how many entries are allowed.

To apply for an embassy or consular visa, travelers from the Republic of Ireland must complete an application form and provide supporting documents, such as a valid passport. Applying well in advance is advised, as it may take several weeks to receive embassy visa approval.

Check the list below for countries that require Irish passport holders to apply for an embassy visa in order to cross their borders.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Anguilla
Antarctica
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guernsey
Iraq
Isle of Man
Jersey
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Montserrat
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Pitcairn Islands
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Tokelau
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required

Irish passport holders enjoy visa exemption for a large number of destinations, which means that they may visit these locations without a visa or travel authorization.

There are currently over 110 different countries and territories that Irish nationals may enter visa-free.

As it forms part of the European Union (EU), the Republic of Ireland shares a policy of freedom of movement with the other member states, as well as with the 4 countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

This means that Irish passport holders can travel to, live, and work in any of these countries without a visa.

The Republic of Ireland has a similar agreement with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK), known as the Common Travel Area. This enables Irish citizens to visit, live, and work in any of the constituent countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) visa-free.

Other visa-exempt destinations have a maximum length of time that a visitor from Ireland can stay visa-free, which varies from 15 days to one (1) year, depending on the country.

Many of these countries only permit visa-free entry for tourism, leisure, transit, and, in some cases, business. A residence visa or long-stay visa will be required if the Irish citizen intends to stay longer, and a work visa or permit will be needed to legally obtain employment in the destination state or territory.

Consult the list below for all countries for which Irish passport holders are visa-exempt.