Visa policy of Ireland

Visitors to Ireland must obtain a visa from one of the Irish diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.

It is one of the visa policies in the European Union, the others being the visa policy of the Schengen Area, the visa policy of the United Kingdom, the visa policy of Gibraltar and the visa policies of the French outermost regions. While Ireland is a member of the European Union, it has an opt-out from the Schengen border-free area, maintaining instead a Common Travel Area with the United Kingdom.

Citizens of the following countries and territories can enter Ireland without a visa:

Under a Visa Waiver Programme introduced in July 2011, citizens of the following 18 countries who hold a valid UK 'C' visa (including Electronic Visa Waiver and excluding the following kinds: "Visitor in Transit" and "Visitor seeking to enter for the purpose of marriage or to enter a civil partnership") and who have cleared immigration in the United Kingdom can visit Ireland visa-free for up to 90 days (or until the current permission to enter/remain in the UK, whichever is shorter). The programme is being run on a pilot basis and was originally due to expire on 31 October 2012 but was extended to 31 October 2016 and then again to 31 October 2021.

Citizens of the above 18 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.

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).

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