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British-Irish Visa Scheme

If you’re a citizen and resident in China or India, you may be eligible for the British-Irish visa scheme that lets you visit both countries without a single visa.

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When it comes to obtaining an Ireland visa or permit, IAS Ireland immigration lawyers are well-equipped to help you.

With IAS’ track record of successfully helping clients visit or immigrate to Ireland successfully, we can help you achieve your goal.

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What is the British-Irish Visa Scheme?

This is a reciprocal agreement and memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was launched in June 2014. The aim of the British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) is to foster tourism in both countries.

It follows the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver program that permits nationals of 18 countries to enter Ireland with UK visas. The difference is that the British-Irish Visa Scheme allows travel in two directions: into Ireland and the UK.

As a reciprocal agreement, it means that the UK will recognize Ireland’s short-stay visas and vice versa. Hence, an Irish short-visa holder won’t need to get a British visa to enter the UK. The scheme is open to nationals of particular countries and allows applicants to travel freely through the Common Travel Area (CTA).

The scheme also allows free travel to Northern Ireland. However, it restricts access to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. China and India are currently the only countries the scheme supports.

Irish and UK Visas Eligible for British-Irish Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme only recognizes short-stay visas. As mentioned earlier, the scheme is only open to Chinese and Indian nationals. They also must be residing in China or India, respectively.

If you meet these conditions, you can enter the UK under the British-Irish Visa scheme if you have:

• An Irish Family/Friend Visa
• An  Irish Tourist Visa
• An Irish Conference/Event Visa
• An  Irish Business Visa

In the same vein, you can enter Ireland under the British-Irish Visa Scheme if you have:

• A UK  Standard Visitor Visa
• A UK  Business Visitor Visa
• A UK  Child Visitor Visa
• A UK Prospective Entrepreneur Visitor Visa
• A UK Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
• A UK  Student Visitor Visa
• A UK  paid engagement visa

If you possess any other Irish or  UK visa  that doesn’t fall into the above categories, you’ll need to apply for a separate visa to enter Ireland or the UK. For example, you cannot enter the UK under the British-Irish Visa Scheme with an Irish work or study visa.

A UK visit visa that are valid for more than six months are not eligible for this scheme as they’re not short-stay visas. Also, children under 18 years cannot travel between Ireland and the UK under the British-Irish Visa Scheme unless they are in the company of an adult.

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to receive assistance with your Irish visa application.

The UK Immigration rules and requirements of the British-Irish Visa Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme requires all participants to be more than 18 years old. Also, they must have any of the Short Stay/visit visas listed above. Several other rules and visa requirements apply to this scheme.

If you have an Irish short-stay visa, for instance, you must first travel to Ireland before you can enter the Common Travel Area (CTA) in the UK. The rule states that you must first visit the country whose visa you’re carrying. When you want to return to Ireland or the UK, you won’t need a re-entry visa.

Another rule to note is that you can only engage in the activities your visa allows. If you’re carrying an Irish short-stay family/friend visa, for instance, you cannot engage in business or paid work of any kind. In addition, there are limits to the duration of your Irish/UK visa depending on the issuing country and the country you’ll be entering. They include:

• With an eligible UK visa, you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 180 days.
• With an eligible Irish visa, you can only stay in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days.
• With an eligible UK visa, you can only stay in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days. Also, it could count as the remaining validity period of your visa.
• With an eligible Irish visa, you can only stay in the UK for the remaining validity period of your visa. For example, if you have an Irish visa that’s valid for 90 days and stay in Ireland for 30 days before entering the UK, you can only reside in the UK for 60 days.

Required documents for British-Irish Visa Scheme

Eligibility for the British-Irish visa scheme depends on the visa you’re carrying. Hence, the required documents are different for each visa type and country. The required documents for a short stay business visa will be different from that of a family/friend visa. Also, Irish and UK embassies may have different required documents.

Nevertheless, the submission of documents is an important part of the Irish and UK visa process. Documents are reviewed with scrutiny to ensure an applicant is qualified before they get their visa.

Therefore, you must make sure you provide all necessary documents as requested by the embassy or consulate. Generally, you would need to have a visa application summary sheet, international passport, proof of fees payment, and proof that you’ll return home when your visa expires.

How to apply

First, you have to acquire an eligible visa. You must apply for your visa from your home country and with the embassy of the country you intend to travel to first. If you’re an Indian or Chinese national not living in India or China, respectively, you can’t apply for this visa.

If all your documents are intact, it’ll take a few weeks to get a decision on your short-stay visa. Once you have your visa, you can apply for the British-Irish Visa Scheme. There are joint application centers in India and China. You just have to find somewhere closest to you. You can either submit your application after getting your visa or apply while your visa application is processed.

How to re-enter the country

As mentioned earlier, you don’t need a re-entry visa if you enter the UK from Ireland and wish to re-enter Ireland. This is true as long as you travel within the CTA.

If you leave the common travel entry area, you can no longer enter Ireland or the UK if you have a single entry Irish visa. For that, you’ll have to apply for a new visa. If you have a multi-entry Irish visa, you can re-enter Ireland if you leave the CTA and then subsequently enter the UK so long as your visa is still valid.

UK visa holders that leave the CTA, can re-enter the UK and then enter Ireland if your visa is still valid.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

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1420 86579 1 Ireland Visas

Written by Immigration Advice Service

Editorial team.

This content was developed by a team of writers, SEO specialists, editors, and lawyers who provide valuable information to those with immigration queries.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the british-irish visa scheme (bivs) different from the irish short stay visa waiver programme.

The British-Irish Visa Scheme is only for Chinese and Indian citizens and residents. Meanwhile, the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme is for citizens of certain Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. It allows eligible persons with short-stay UK visas to visit Ireland without obtaining a separate Irish visa.

How long is the BIVS visa valid for?

The validity of your BIVS-endorsed visa varies depending on the issuing country and where you visit. For example, a short-stay Irish visa is limited to 90 days, while that of the UK is 180 days.

Even if you hold a six-month UK visa, you can only stay in Ireland for 90 days. Likewise, if you have a 90-day Ireland visa and spend half of it in Ireland before visiting the UK, you can only stay in the UK for the number of days left on your Irish visa.

I do not require a visa to enter Ireland; can I still visit the UK?

Only Chinese and Indian nationals can apply for the British-Irish Visa Scheme. Even if you are a citizen of a country that does not require a visa to enter Ireland, you may still need one to enter the UK. Similarly, those who do not require a visa to enter the UK may require one to enter Ireland.

Which country do I travel home from?

You can travel back to China or India from the UK or Ireland. What’s important is that you must travel before your visa validity expires.

What if I just want to go to the UK or just Ireland?

You should apply for the usual UK or Irish visa. If you don’t want to visit both countries. As a national and resident of China and India, it’s not compulsory that you partake in the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

Note that if you obtain a UK Visa without the BIVS endorsement, you will not be permitted to enter the Republic of Ireland. If you want to visit Ireland, you may need to reapply in your home country or obtain a second Irish Visitor Visa.

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Can I Travel to Ireland With UK Student Visa?

Ireland is a beautiful country, with a lush green landscape, a long history of the arts and music, and plenty of great food and drink. So if you’re staying in the UK, you should definitely try to visit Ireland while you’re so close.

But when you travel, wherever it is in the world, your passport is the most important document, and any visas you have are usually irrelevant. However, the island of Ireland is divided into two: the Republic in the South and the State of Northern Ireland in the North. So can you visit any of Ireland with a UK student visa, and if so, which part?

Let’s take a look now.

Who Can Enter Ireland without a Visa

Ireland is a part of the EU and is part of the Common Travel Area with the UK, so some citizens can enter Ireland without needing a visa for up to 90 days, including:

• Liechtenstein
• Switzerland

Citizens of the UK can go to Ireland indefinitely, living, working and studying without the need for a visa or residence permit. Since 25 February 2022, Ukrainian citizens can also travel to Ireland without needing a visa.

Citizens from other nations will have to apply for some kind of visa to visit Ireland. To visit for less than 90 days, you can apply for a Short Stay Type C visa online. Once you have applied, pay the 60€ or 100€ application fee (depending on if you are applying for a single or multi-entry visa) and submit your travel documents to the address given to you at the end of your application. It usually takes up to 8 weeks to receive your visa or a rejection letter.

If successful, your passport will be sent back to you with a certificate indicating the type of visa you have to visit Ireland, which you will need to present at passport control.

Travelling to Ireland with a UK Visa

You need to have a British passport, i.e. be a British citizen to be able to move freely to and from Ireland or move there to work or study. If you have a foreign passport and British residency, it’s your passport that counts when you apply for an Irish visa. However, if you have a Standard Visitor visa for the UK, if your visa is marked with BIVS, you can enter Ireland for up to 90 days without needing a separate visa.

The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) allows citizens from certain countries to get a short-stay visit visa for either Ireland or the UK and visit both countries without needing to get a visit visa for the other. So if you apply for a Standard Visitor visa for the UK and indicate in your travel plans you wish to visit Ireland, you may receive a visa with BIVS, allowing you to also visit Ireland, and vice versa.

A UK Student visa is a long-term visa , usually given from 2 years to 5 years depending on the course , so it is not applicable in this scenario, and foreign students in the UK would need to apply for an Ireland visit visa to be able to travel to the country, unless they are from the EU or EEA.

However, as the island is split between two countries, foreign nationals with a visa in the UK can visit Northern Ireland without needing an extra visa.

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

In the 1500s, Great Britain ruled over the whole island of Ireland, but due to the religious divide between the large population of Catholics and the Protestant King Henry VIII, there were several centuries of power struggles on the island. Great Britain divided the country in two in 1920 , with a predominantly Protestant North and a predominantly Catholic South and finally became a republic in 1949.

Although there were many years of violence following the division of Ireland, the country is now rather peaceful and a popular place to visit for tourists from all over the world.

There is a border between the countries, although it’s known as a ‘soft border’. If you’re from the UK or EU, you can pass the border easily by showing your ID. However, if you’re from another country, you should have your passport and Irish visa ready to show at the border. You cannot cross the border without the appropriate visa.

Travelling with a UK Student Visa

If you are staying in the UK with a Student visa, you cannot enter the Republic of Ireland without a visa, unless you are from one of the exempted countries. You can travel to Northern Ireland with a UK Student visa , as it is part of the UK, however, you may not cross the border into Ireland.

If you wish to travel while staying in the UK as a student and have the appropriate visas for the countries you wish to travel to, you can leave and reenter the UK with a Student visa. However, you are only permitted to travel with a UK Student visa during vacation periods. Any absence from your course should be approved by your educational institution before you travel so you have a document to show to avoid problems at UK border control.

Different UK institutes have different term times and vacation periods, so it’s advisable to keep an official copy of your term dates on you as well as your student ID and a letter from your institution’s principal or your personal tutor to prove you have permission to travel even outside of term time.

You can also travel when your course has finished if you still have time left on your UK visa, but you may also need to provide evidence that you have finished your course when passing border control.

If you need to travel to Ireland as part of your course, for example as a school trip, your principal needs to apply for permission to bring a school group, and you can apply for a visa waiver so you may travel to Ireland with your school group.

Applying for a UK Student Visa

When you apply for a Student visa, you need to gather the right documents to prove you meet the eligibility requirements , submit your application online, pay the application fee and IHS fee and wait for 3 to 8 weeks for the Home Office to process your documents.

It may seem easy to get a Student visa when the steps are listed as such, but securing a place at a UK institute can be a difficult first hurdle. Before submitting your application, you need an offer from an eligible educational institute to sponsor you to the UK. For this, you’ll need excellent grades, attendance and potential.

Another key factor affecting your ability to get a Student visa is your finances. You need to show:

• £1,334 per month for courses in London
• £1,023 per month for courses outside London

This must be in your account for at least 28 consecutive days before you start your application, as well as enough money to cover your course fees, or a letter from a loan company or sponsor, indicating your course fees will be paid.

As of January 2024, you may also only bring close family members if you are studying an eligible course .

Your Rights as a UK Student Visa Holder

Student visas can be refused , but if your application is successful, you’ll receive your permit to enter the UK with the length of your permission to stay. You may extend the visa if necessary to complete your studies.

While studying in the UK, you may also work , however, the number of hours is determined by your age, qualification level, and term dates. No student can work more than 20 hours a week during term time, and you may work full-time during the holidays. Full-time is no more than 48 hours a week for over 18-year-olds and 40 hours a week for under 18-year-olds.

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UK-Ireland Travel: A Guide for Visa Nationals

In two previous posts, we explained the impact of the Common Travel Area (CTA) on travel between the UK and Ireland. In our first post , we explained how non-visa nationals may automatically benefit from  “deemed leave” when travelling within the CTA – for example, from London to Dublin and back. In our second post , we explained how travel works for British citizens and their family members going to Ireland, and for Irish citizens and their family members coming to the UK.

As explained in our previous post, “visa nationals” – i.e. nationals of countries listed in the visa national list of Appendix Visitor to the Immigration Rules – do not benefit from deemed leave. As such, this post provides an overview of how travel between the UK and Ireland works for visa nationals who are in the UK with some form of permission to be in the UK. It will explain how travel works for those in the UK with a short-term visa, and for those with longer term forms of permission, including indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

As with our previous posts, please note that we are only able to advise on UK immigration law, and we cannot advise on Irish immigration law. Any references to elements of Irish law are only intended as a starting point, and do not constitute advice on Irish immigration law. For further information on Irish immigration law, you may wish to consult the Irish Immigration Service webpage , or a lawyer qualified to advise on Irish immigration law.

I Have a Short-Term UK Visa – How Does Visiting Ireland Work?

If you are a visa national in the UK on a short-term visa (e.g. a six-month UK Visitor visa), the default position is that you still need to apply for an Irish visa to visit Ireland . 

However, there are a number of exceptions to this. You do not need a visa to enter Ireland as a Visitor if:

• You have a valid Irish residence permit, or a travel document issued by Ireland;
• You are a citizen of a country in Ireland’s list of non-visa-required nationalities ;
• You have a residence card issued by an EEA country or Switzerland, as you are a family member of an EEA/Swiss citizen who is living in the EEA/Switzerland but outside of their home country (e.g. you are an Egyptian national with a French residence card, because you normally live in France with your Swedish spouse);
• You are a Ukrainian citizen ; or
• You have a short-term UK visa, and you qualify for either Ireland’s Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British-Irish Visa Scheme (see below).

Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme

If you are a national of an eligible country (in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America), and you entered the UK on an eligible short-stay visa, you may benefit from Ireland’s Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme.

According to the Irish Immigration Service webpage , the UK visas that are eligible for the Programme are “UK short-stay visit visas”, except for those issued to “visitors in transit” or “visitors seeking to marry or to enter a civil partnership”. The webpage also states that “long-term visitors” to the UK – including those on long-term Student visas and persons seeking to join a spouse or for family reunification (though none of these entail true “Visitor” visas in UK immigration law) – are not eligible for the Programme.

While the concept of “UK short-stay visitor visas” is not fully defined on the webpage, there are references to periods of leave to remain in the UK for “up to a maximum of 180 days each time”. As such, it would appear that qualifying UK visas are those granted for up to 180 days.

However, given the webpage’s rather flexible use of the word “visitor”, it is slightly unclear whether the excluded category of “visitors seeking to marry or to enter a civil partnership” includes those in the UK on Fiancé visas , as well as those in the UK on Marriage Visitor visas . Further, unlike other pages on the site, the webpage does not specify whether Permitted Paid Engagement visas are eligible or ineligible. If either of these situations is applicable to you, please consult a lawyer qualified to advise on Irish immigration law for further clarification.

If you are eligible for this Programme, you can travel from the UK into Ireland without applying for an Irish visa. You can then stay in Ireland as a Visitor for the shorter of: (i) the length of permission remaining on your short-stay UK visa, or (ii) 90 days. For example, if you had 20 days remaining on your UK short-stay visa, you would only be able to stay in Ireland under this Programme for 20 days. By way of further example, if you had 100 days remaining on your UK short-stay visa, you would only be able to stay in Ireland for 90 days, in line with the Programme’s overall time limit.

Note that the Programme only applies if you first use your short-stay UK visa to lawfully enter the UK, and then travel on to Ireland. However, this also includes the scenario where you enter the UK using your UK short-stay visa, travel elsewhere, but still have time remaining on your UK permission. In this case, you can travel directly to Ireland from the third country, and stay in Ireland for the length of permission remaining on your UK short-stay visa.

British-Irish Visa Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) allows eligible Indian and Chinese nationals to visit both the UK and Ireland using a single Irish short-stay visa or a single UK Visitor visa.

You are eligible for BIVS if, at the time of application, you are an Indian national living in India or a Chinese national living in China (including those living in Hong Kong and Macau).

As an eligible person, the Scheme applies to you if:

• You hold an eligible Irish visa (visit (family/friend), visit (tourist), conference/event, business); or
• You hold an eligible UK visa (all standard Visitor visas where the maximum period for a single visit is 6 months, and Permitted Paid Engagement visas – but not visas for “visitor in transit” or “visitor for marriage or civil partnership”).

Please note that, similarly to the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, the BIVS only operates if you first travel to whichever country issued your short-stay or Visitor visa before travelling on to the other country. For example, if you hold an Irish short-stay visa, you must first travel to Ireland before coming to the UK. Likewise, if you hold a UK Visitor visa, you must first come to the UK before travelling on to Ireland.

In addition, in order to avail of the BIVS, your visa must be endorsed by an immigration officer with the letters “BIVS”. Please note that there is no right of appeal against a decision not to endorse a visa in this way.

As with the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, the maximum period of time you will be able to remain in Ireland under the BIVS is the shorter of: (i) the length of permission remaining on your UK Visitor visa, or (ii) 90 days.

Given that Irish short-stay visas are only granted for up to 90 days, the maximum period of time you will be able to remain in the UK under the BIVS will be the length of permission remaining on your Irish short-stay visa, which will at most be 90 days.

I Have a Long-Term UK Visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – How Does Visiting Ireland Work?

If you do not have a valid UK short-stay visa (as discussed above), and you do not qualify for any of the other exceptions listed above (e.g. Irish residence permit or travel document, non-visa required national, relevant EEA/Swiss residence card, Ukrainian citizenship), you must apply for an Irish visa to visit Ireland .

Entering Ireland for a Longer Period

If you are a visa national in the UK with permission (whether on a short-term visa or long-term visa), and you want to enter Ireland for longer than 90 days, you must normally apply for the Irish visa or preclearance relevant to your reason for entering Ireland (e.g. work, study, joining family). 

Though having a long-term UK visa or ILR will not exempt you from the requirement to apply for an Irish visa, it may mean that you are exempt from paying the visa fee. 

For more information on applying for Irish visas, please see the Irish government website .

Contact our Immigration Barristers

Please note that the information in this blog post is current at the time of writing, and is subject to change, particularly in relation to the full roll-out of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements.

For expert advice regarding travel and entry to the UK, or regarding your immigration status in the UK, contact our immigration barristers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

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Visas for tourists visiting Ireland

Who needs a short-stay visa for ireland, how to apply for a short-stay visa, documents to send for a short-stay visa, decisions and appeals, can i stay longer than 3 months, further information.

If you plan to visit Ireland, you should check if you need a visa .

This page has information on how to apply for a short-stay visa. This is also called a ‘C’ visa and is usually valid for up to 90 days from the issue date of the visa. You apply for a C visa if you plan to come to Ireland:

• For tourism
• To visit family or friends
• To get married
• For medical treatment
• For short-term study

If you are not a citizen of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or UK and you do not need a visa to come to Ireland, you still need to have documents with you to show the reason for your visit. You must present yourself at immigration when you enter Ireland.

Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Ireland .

You apply for a visa online. You complete a separate application for each person travelling, including children. After you have submitted the visa form, you have 30 days to send the supporting documents. It’s a good idea to prepare your documents before completing the form.

You pay a fee of €60 for each application. A multiple entry visa costs €100.

When you have submitted the form, you will get a summary of your application. This includes:

• Your visa application transaction number
• Your application summary sheet
• Details of the application office where you should send your documents

You send the signed summary sheet with your documents.

You must send documents in support of your application. This section has information on the main documents you need to send. You can get more information about documentation on the Irish Immigration Delivery website.

You must send original documents (not photocopies). If your documents are not in English, you must send a certified translation and the original document.

Birth, marriage and death certificates will be returned to you. If you want other pages returned to you, you should include a note with your application that says this. Send a photocopy (in addition to the original) of the page you want returned to you.

If your visa is approved, you must get travel insurance before you travel to Ireland.

Letter of application

You must write a letter that explains why you want to come to Ireland. You should give the details of your trip, including the dates you plan to be here, where you will stay and how you will pay for things while you are here.

You must say in your letter that you will:

• Obey the conditions of your visa in full
• Leave Ireland before your visa expires
• Not rely on public services or become a burden on the State

If you are visiting friends or family your letter should also have:

• Their names and addresses
• The names and addresses of any of your family who live in Ireland or another country in the EEA or Switzerland, even if you do not plan to visit them

Letter of invitation

If you are visiting someone in Ireland, you should send a letter of invitation written by them. The letter should have information about how they know you, the dates you are visiting them and why they are inviting you to Ireland.

They should include a colour copy of their passport or national identity card. If they are from outside the EEA, Switzerland and UK, they must include a copy of their Irish Resident Permit and the current immigration stamp in their passport.

The letter must also say that they understand you must:

Information about where you will stay

You must include the details of where you will stay. You should include printouts of your booking confirmations. If you are staying with friends, family or colleagues, see ‘letter of invitation’ above.

You must send your current passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland. You must also send a photocopy of each page of all of your previous passports.

Proof of finances

You must show that you have the money you need for your trip. If someone else is paying for your visit (for example a family member), you should send documents to show that they can afford to pay for you.

You don’t need to have a particular or set amount of money to qualify for a short-stay visa.

Passport photos

Include 2 passport photos. You must sign your name and put your visa application transaction number on the back of each photo.

Show that you must return home

You must show that you have strong ties to your home country and that you must return home. This could be family responsibilities, work, education or something else. You should send proof of these responsibilities. For example, if you are working you should send a letter from your employer and recent payslips.

You can read more details of the documents you need on the Immigration Service Delivery website.

If you sent your application to Dublin, you can check visa decisions and waiting times . If you sent your application somewhere else, you can contact the embassy or consulate you sent your documents to for updates on your application. Applications take around 8 weeks, but may take longer.

If your visa application is successful, the visa office will post your passport back to you with the visa attached. The visa will be valid for a particular period. Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Ireland .

You will get a letter that says why your visa application was refused. You can appeal this decision within 2 months.

You are expected to leave the State on or before the date which has been stamped on your passport by the Immigration Officer when you entered.

You can only extend your visa if there is an unexpected change in your circumstances since you entered Ireland.

You cannot get an extension if:

• There is no change in circumstances from the time you entered Ireland
• There is no change in circumstances from the time you were granted a travel visa
• You are in Ireland to seek medical attention
• You are seeking a permission to marry in Ireland
• You are in Ireland to provide childcare facilities
• You wish to live in Ireland full time

Some people do not have to pay the visa fee .

A visa costs:

Single-journey visa : €60

Multiple-journey visa : €100

If you require a visa in order to visit Ireland, your application must be made online .

Irish embassies and consulates

Visa Office

Immigration Service Delivery Department of Justice 13-14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 D02 XK70 Ireland

Related documents

• Visas for people visiting Ireland on business Certain people who wish to travel to Ireland for business purposes require visas. Find out more. 1932.2957
• Student visas to study in Ireland People from certain countries who wish to study in Ireland require visas. Find out more. 1061.2756
• Working Holiday Visas in Ireland Ireland has working holiday agreements with a number of different countries. 958.8812

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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Do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?

Mar 30, 2024 • 4 min read

Ireland offers visa-free travel to citizens of many countries © David Levingstone / Getty Images

Visiting Ireland is a cinch if you’re visiting from a country that requires no visa or with whom Ireland has a visa waiver agreement. If you are visiting from a country with a visa requirement, then things can get a little more complicated, but here’s what you need to know to get you started.

Ireland is a small island, but it is home to two jurisdictions – which means two sets of immigration laws. Let us talk you through how it works.

Do you need a visa to visit the Republic of Ireland?

If you are from the EEA (the EU plus Norway , Iceland and Liechtenstein ) or Switzerland , you don’t need a visa to visit or work in the Republic of Ireland which is part of the EU.

British citizens in Ireland and Irish citizens in the UK (including Northern Ireland) hold a unique status under each country's national law courtesy of the long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement, which allows them to travel and work freely within the CTA. 

US citizens can visit Ireland for tourism or business without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for the duration of their stay, but there is no requirement for it to be valid for any longer than that. For longer stays or to work or study, Americans will need to apply for a visa, which they can do through the official website of the Irish Embassy in Washington, DC.

Ireland has a visa waiver agreement with 56 other countries, including Australia , Canada , New Zealand and South Africa . A complete list of the exempted countries is available on the Citizens Information website.

Visa requirements for the rest of the world

Citizens of all other countries require a short stay "C" visa if they want to visit Ireland for any reason including tourism, visiting family, getting married or even if they wish to transit through Ireland.

The application process is laid out in detail by the Irish Immigration Service , and must be completed before travelling to Ireland. Families travelling together need to fill out applications for each individual as there’s no family visa option.

What you need to know about working holidays visas 

Citizens of Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States may be able to apply for a Working Holiday Authorisation through the Irish embassy in your country. This allows you to come to Ireland to work for a certain period, but it’s only available to applicants aged between 18 and 30 (35 in some cases).

No matter where you are coming from you will have to register for an Irish Residence Permit as soon as possible after you arrive in Ireland if you intend to stay more than 90 days.

How much will a visa cost?

There are three kinds of short stay visas. A single entry visa is €60, while a multi-entry visa – where you wish to come in and out of the country on multiple occasions over the course of the visa validity period – costs €100. Transit visas are €25.

The fee covers only the administrative cost of processing the visa; it does not cover the cost of submitting any additional documents. For specific information on any additional charges or costs, refer to the website of the Irish embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

The Irish Immigration Service has a dedicated page on how to pay the visa fee.

Visiting Northern Ireland

Although Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and therefore not part of the EU, there is no physical border between the Republic and the North, which means frictionless travel between the two jurisdictions.

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, visas are generally not needed for stays of up to six months for tourism or visiting friends and family – if you are a citizen of the EEA nations, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, South Africa and the USA.

However, since 2022 citizens of countries that do require a visa are covered under the terms of the British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) , which allows for mutual recognition of short-stay visas between the UK and Ireland. This means that a British short-stay visa will be valid for travel onward to Ireland, and an Irish short-stay visa will be valid for travel onward to the UK. Visas that are valid for use under this scheme will have "BIVS" endorsed on them.

Citizens from countries requiring a visa should apply for a visa from the country in which you will arrive first. The vast majority of international arrivals to Ireland are through Dublin, but if you are arriving into Belfast first, you will need to apply for a visa from the UK Home Office, where you will also find a full list of those countries that require one.

A visa for the UK lasts six months and costs £115.

Ready to plan your trip to Ireland? Here are your next steps:

• Plan your trip to Ireland with this guide to top things to do . 
• Read on for the best time to go to Ireland .
• Save this transportation guide on the best ways to get around.
• These road trips will take you to all the highlights in Ireland. 
• Get into the great outdoors in Ireland with these top hikes to tackle.

This article was first published Mar 23, 2021 and updated Mar 30, 2024.

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