Entry rules
Irelandentry requirements
U.S. citizens don’t need a visa or any travel authorization to visit Ireland. The immigration officer stamps your passport with permission to stay, up to 3 months. Ireland isn’t in the Schengen area, so days there don’t count toward the Schengen 90 days, but going on to the UK, including Northern Ireland, needs a UK ETA.
Checked against official sources Oct 29, 2026 · Sources
Do you need a visa or travel authorization?
| Passport | What you need | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. citizens | No visa needed Going on to the UK, including Northern Ireland, needs a UK ETA unless you live in Ireland legally. | Up to 3 months (the officer decides) |
| British citizens | No visa (EU free movement) British citizens can live, work and study in Ireland under the Common Travel Area. A passport isn’t legally required, but airlines and ferries may ask for one. | No limit |
| Canadians | No visa needed Going on to the UK, including Northern Ireland, needs a UK ETA unless you live in Ireland legally. | Up to 3 months (the officer decides) |
| Australians | No visa needed Going on to the UK, including Northern Ireland, needs a UK ETA unless you live in Ireland legally. | Up to 3 months (the officer decides) |
| EU citizens | No visa (EU free movement) EU free movement: a passport or national ID card. | No limit |
Passport rules
No specific Irish validity rule for visitors was found; the Government of Canada says your passport should be valid for your whole stay, and Smartraveller asks for a blank page.
Blank pages: 1.
- British citizens: British citizens don’t legally need a passport, but carriers may require one.
- EU citizens: Your passport must be valid when you arrive.
Airlines check this at check-in. If your passport is close to the limit, renew it first: see the 6-month passport rule explained.
Changing planes in Ireland
- U.S. citizens, Canadians and Australians: Nothing extra if you stay airside. No transit visa. Airside transit is only possible when both flights use Dublin Terminal 2 between 4 a.m. and 8 p.m. on the same day; otherwise you enter Ireland.
- British citizens and EU citizens: Nothing extra if you stay airside.
More: Do I need a transit visa?
Good to know
- Ireland doesn’t use ETIAS or the EU Entry/Exit System; passports are still stamped by hand.
Official links
Watch for look-alike sites. Use only the official addresses above. Sites that “process” your application charge extra for the same official form. How to spot a fake visa site.
Where official sources differ
- Length of stay: Irish Immigration says up to 3 months; the Canadian and Australian governments say 90 days.
Official sources
- List of Visa Required / Non-Visa Required Nationalities (May 2025), Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland ·
Visa Required Nationalities Non-Visa Required Nationalities
· checked 2026-10-30 - Entry requirements - Ireland travel advice - GOV.UK (updated 4 September 2026) ·
You can visit and remain indefinitely in Ireland under the Common Travel Area rules. British nationals do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Common Travel Area - Immigration Service Delivery (page last updated 25 January 2023) ·
The Common Travel Area (CTA) is comprised of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Ireland. Within the CTA, Irish and British citizens can travel freely.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Travel advice and advisories for Ireland - travel.gc.ca (last updated 26 May 2026) ·
Tourist visa: not required for stays up to 90 days
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry for non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss and non-UK nationals - Immigration Service Delivery (page last updated 27 June 2024) ·
The duration of stay permitted is at the discretion of the immigration officer, up to a maximum of 3 months.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA): When you do not need an ETA - GOV.UK ·
you live in Ireland and you’re travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
· checked 2026-10-29 - Ireland Travel Advice & Safety - Smartraveller (updated 19 February 2026) ·
You don't need to apply for a tourist visa before departing Australia. A tourist visa of up to 90 days will be issued on arrival, as determined by the immigration officer.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Entry for EU/EEA and Swiss Citizens - Immigration Service Delivery (page last updated 19 May 2023) ·
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss national you must produce your passport or valid national identity card to an immigration officer on arrival.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Documents you need for travel in the EU and Schengen countries - Your Europe (last checked by EU 16/06/2026) ·
You must also show a valid passport or ID card if you travel between a Schengen country and Cyprus or Ireland.
· checked 2026-10-29 - Transit (including Transfer Visa) Advice - Immigration Service Delivery (page last updated 24 July 2026) ·
If both your arrival flight and onward connecting flight are in Terminal 2 between the hours of 04:00 and 20:00 on the same day, you can use a transit visa in this case.
· checked 2026-10-29
If an official page says something different from this page, the official page is right. Tell us and we’ll fix it.
Get an email when these rules change
Only when an official entry rule we track changes: a new travel authorization, a fee, a start date or a passport rule. At most once a week, with the official source for every change.