Visa policy of Ireland

Ireland's visa policy has been amended since its inception through primary legislation and statutory instruments. The Aliens Act of 1935 confers the power of deportation and the power of immigration control to the Minister for Justice of the Irish Free State. On 12 April 1935, the Irish Free State exempted citizens of the United Kingdom, Canada, Commonwealth of Australia, Dominion of New Zealand, Union of South Africa, Dominion of Newfoundland and British India from the Aliens Act and therefore did not recognise those citizens as aliens.[3] The 1946 Aliens Order requires all aliens to present a passport to an immigration control officer for inspection within 24 hours if not arriving from Great Britain or Northern Ireland. The maximum stay for aliens was one month.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Ireland had concluded bilateral visa exemption agreements with countries of Western Europe.

In 1962, Ireland changed the definition of alien and now included those countries named above, with the exception of those born in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.[4] The 1962 Aliens Amendment Order exempted citizens of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, West Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, Tunisia, Turkey and the United States from visas for three months. It also gave special provisions to citizens of the British Commonwealth,[n 1] whereby they are exempted by the Aliens Order of 1946, although they may be refused leave to land unless they comply with certain conditions. A 1966 amendment gives rights of admission to those states of the British Commonwealth, which is later revoked in 1972. In 1972, aliens were required to seek work permits from the Minister for Labour to work in the state. In 1975, Ireland published its first list of visa-exempt nationalities and also removed the special provisions from Commonwealth citizens under Irish law.[5] 1999 was the first development of a comprehensive list of countries which required visas.[6]

On 29 March 1988, the first Irish transit visa requirement was announced for Iran. Requirements for transit visas were announced for Poland, Bulgaria and Sri Lanka on 26 February 1988, for Moldova (3 February 1993), Cuba (1 November 1994), Iraq (19 July 1996). On 8 October 1996, Irish transit visa requirements were extended and included the countries currently listed as of January 2018, with the addition of Nigeria, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Zaire.[7] Zimbabwe was added on 8 November 2002, as were Georgia and Ukraine (9 June 2017).

In terms of visa exemptions, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were exempted on 30 April 1996, followed by Hong Kong (25 June 1997), Brunei (17 February 1997), Croatia (26 January 1999). On 13 February 2001, Ireland exempted the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Dominica, Fiji, Gambia, Guyana, Kiribati, Maldives, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. Macau was exempted on 27 April 2002, Slovakia (18 December 2003), Bulgaria and Romania (18 December 2006), Taiwan (1 July 2009) and United Arab Emirates (31 January 2018).

In terms of countries removed from the list of visa-free nationalities, Sierra Leone was removed (4 October 1994) and Kenya (15 March 1996). On 3 April 1996, Fiji (later restored), Guyana, Mauritius (later removed), Tanzania and Zambia were removed, followed by Ecuador (29 August 1997), Slovakia (14 October 1998, later restored) and Croatia (26 January 1999).[8][9][10] Bangladesh, Ghana, India, Nigeria and Pakistan (1 January 1988); Turkey (19 November 1989); Uganda (12 August 1993); Bolivia (later restored), Colombia, Peru and Tunisia (1 April 1990) were all removed, as were Gambia (June 2001), Jamaica (18 December 2003), Mauritius (1 January 2010), Venezuela (29 April 2014) and Malawi (12 November 2015).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Irish government implemented a series of measures regarding entry into Ireland.

Visa-free travel from South Africa and Brazil is temporarily suspended.[11]

All arrivals from South Africa and Brazil must go into mandatory quarantine at their own expense for 14 days in a hotel designated by the state.

The Irish government advises against all travel to and from all South American countries. Any arrival from South America (excl. Brazil) must quarantine at home for 14 days.[12]

Anyone planning on entering Ireland from any country regardless of nationality must provide a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours. Failure to produce such test upon arrival in Ireland means that the individual must go into mandatory quarantine at their own expense for 14 days in a hotel designated by the state.

All arrivals above the age of 16 in Ireland must complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form online before arrival and must restrict their movements for 14 days from the date of entry into Ireland.[13] There are some exemptions to the 14 day self isolation rule:

• International Transport Workers, including workers in aviation, maritime and road haulage sectors.
• Passengers arriving from an “orange” region within the EU’s traffic light system, who have received a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken during the 3 days before arrival in Ireland.
• Passengers arriving from “red” regions within the EU and all passengers from non EU/EEA countries who receive a negative result from a COVID-19 test that has been taken a minimum of 5 days after arrival in Ireland.
• Foreign diplomats.

All passengers arriving from Great Britain and any South American country by law must self isolate for the full 14 day period even if they receive a negative result from a COVID-19 test on day 5 of arrival. By self isolating they must stay in their room and not leave unlike other arrivals who only have to restrict their movements which is not as restrictive.[14]

Citizens of the following countries and territories can enter Ireland without a visa:[15][16]

As of right

• Irish citizens
• British citizens under the Common Travel Area arrangement[17][Note 1]
• All European Union citizens [Note 2]
• Citizens of EFTA member states [Note 2]

Visa-exempt

• Holders of a Residence Card of a family member of a Union citizen

The following persons do not require an entry visa and are granted permission to enter for 3 months when they arrive in Ireland:[18]

• British Overseas Territories citizens
• British National (Overseas)
• British Overseas citizens
• Holders of a red United Nations laissez-passer
• Citizens of the following 56 countries and territories holding valid passports:

Andorra  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina  Australia  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Bolivia  Botswana  Brazil  Brunei  Canada  Chile  Costa Rica

Dominica  El Salvador  Eswatini  Fiji  Grenada  Guatemala  Guyana  Honduras  Hong Kong[19]  Israel  Japan  Kiribati  Lesotho  Macau[20]

Malaysia  Maldives  Mexico  Monaco  Nauru  New Zealand  Nicaragua  Panama  Paraguay  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Samoa  San Marino

Seychelles  Singapore  Solomon Islands  South Africa  South Korea  Taiwan  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Tuvalu  United Arab Emirates  United States of America  Uruguay  Vanuatu   Vatican City

• Holders of a valid refugee travel document issued by one of the following countries:[58]

Short stay visa waiver programme

The Irish short stay visa waiver programme was introduced in July 2011 and allows citizens of the below 17 countries to enter Ireland if they are holders of a valid UK 'C' visa (short stay visa). The scheme is not applicable to those who are "Visitors in Transit" and "Visitors seeking to enter for the purpose of marriage or to enter a civil partnership". The visa waiver is only for those who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom and have been granted leave for up to 180 days in the UK. Participants can enter Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days or until the end of their current permission to remain in the UK, whichever is shorter. They may enter Ireland from a country other than the UK as long as both their visa and their permission to remain in the UK have not expired.[59] The scheme also applies to citizens from Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar who have entered the UK with an Electronic Visa Waiver as long as those citizens have arrived in Ireland directly from the UK. The scheme was initially set to run until 31 October 2012 but was extended for four years until 31 October 2016. It was extended again until 31 October 2021.[60]

Citizens of the above 17 countries who hold a UK or Schengen long-term visa or residence permit still need to apply for an Irish visa, but will have the application fee waived.

British-Irish Visa Scheme

Ireland and the United Kingdom have agreed on a joint British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) in 2014. Under the agreement between Ireland and United Kingdom, citizens of the following countries who hold a valid UK visa endorsed with BIVS and who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom can visit Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days (or until their current permission to enter/remain in the UK, whichever is shorter). Similar to those eligible under the Visa Waiver Programme, they may enter Ireland from a country other than the UK as long as both their visa and their permission to remain in the UK have not expired.[61]

Non-ordinary passport waiver programme

Visa is not required by nationals of  China holding diplomatic, service and public affairs passports for accompanying a Minister or above for the purpose of an official visit.[62]

Irish visa specimen

A traveller who does not qualify for one of the visa exemptions above is required to apply for an Irish visa in advance at an Irish embassy or consulate.

A single entry visa costs €60, whilst a multiple entry visa costs €100. However, spouses and certain family members of EEA and Swiss citizens are issued Irish visas free of charge.[63]

In addition, visa applicants who are the nationals of following countries and territories are exempt from paying a fee:[64]

All visa applicants aged 6 years and over, residing in Nigeria (irrespective of nationality) are required to submit their fingerprints as part of the visa application process.[65]

In general, a passenger who transits through an Irish airport to a destination in another country while remaining within the airport does not require a visa.[67]

However, citizens of the following 17 countries are required to apply for a transit visa at a cost of €25 in advance from an Irish embassy or consulate:

Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 recognises the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States[68][69][70] defines the right of free movement for citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the European Union (EU) and the three European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. Switzerland, which is a member of EFTA but not of the EEA, is not bound by the Directive but rather has a separate bilateral agreement on the free movement with the EU.

Citizens of all European Economic Area (EEA) member states and Switzerland holding a valid passport or national identity card enjoy freedom of movement rights in each other's territory and can enter and reside in the each other's territory without a visa.

If EU, EEA and Swiss nationals are unable to present a valid passport or national identity card at the border, they must nonetheless be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain the necessary documents or have them brought to them within a reasonable period of time or corroborate or prove by other means that he/she is covered by the right of free movement.[71][72]

However, EU, EEA member states and Switzerland can refuse entry to an EU/EEA/Swiss national on public policy, public security or public health grounds where the person presents a "genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society".[73] If the person has obtained permanent residence in the country where he/she seeks entry (a status which is normally attained after 5 years of residence), the member state can only expel him/her on serious grounds of public policy or public security. Where the person has resided for 10 years or is a minor, the member state can only expel him/her on imperative grounds of public security (and, in the case of minors, if expulsion is necessary in the best interests of the child, as provided for in the Convention on the Rights of the Child).[74] Expulsion on public health grounds must relate to diseases with 'epidemic potential' which have occurred less than 3 months from the person's the date of arrival in the Member State where he/she seeks entry.[75]

eGates as a form of automated border control system were first introduced at Dublin Airport in December 2017. There are currently 10 eGates in each of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals with an additional five eGates in the Transfers Facility. European Union citizens and EEA citizens over the age of 18 may use eGates upon arrival to Dublin Airport,[77] while the Transfer Area also facilitate US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese citizens (in addition to EU & EEA citizens), if they are not transferring to the UK.[78]

Of the 58 countries and territories outside the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland whose citizens are entitled to exercise free movement rights in Ireland, the following offer full reciprocal treatment to Irish citizens (i.e. visa-free access of at least 3 months): Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Lesotho, Macao, Malawi, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and the Vatican City. However, the United States requires Irish citizens to obtain an ESTA (at a cost of US$14) in advance if entering the US by air or by sea, whilst Australia requires Irish citizens to obtain an eVisitor authorisation online in advance free of charge (Ireland does not require Australian and US citizens to obtain an authorisation prior to arriving in Ireland).

Other countries and territories only offer partially reciprocal treatment to Irish citizens (i.e. visa-free access that is less than 3 months). The following countries permit Irish citizens to stay without a visa for up to 30 days (or 1 month) only: Belize, Kiribati, Maldives, Nauru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles (1 month, extendable to 12 months), Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Also, the following countries permit Irish citizens to stay without a visa for less than 3 months: Mauritius (60 days for tourists, 90 days on business), Saint Lucia (6 weeks), Samoa (60 days) and Eswatini (60 days).

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ireland.

• Common Travel Area
• Visa requirements for Irish citizens
• Visa requirements for European Union citizens
• Visa policy of the Schengen Area

• Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2012
• Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service - Visas