
The visa policy of Ireland is similar to the visa policy of the Schengen Area
Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European states that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders. The area mostly functions as a single jurisdiction for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. The area is named after the 1985 Schengen Agreement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina, abbreviated BiH or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeastern Europe, located within the Balkan Peninsula. Sarajevo is the capital and largest city.
Micronesia
Micronesia; from Greek: μικρός mikrós "small" and Greek: νῆσος nêsos "island" is a subregion of Oceania, composed of thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a close shared cultural history with two other island regions: Polynesia to the east and Island Melanesia to th…
Republic of North Macedonia
North Macedonia, officially the Republic of North Macedonia, is a country in the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in September 1991 under the name Republic of Macedonia. A landlocked country, No…
Palau
Palau, officially the Republic of Palau, is an island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The country contains approximately 340 islands, forming the western chain of the Caroline Islands in Micronesia, and has an area of 466 square kilometers. The most populous island is Koror. T…
Peru
Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is a megadiverse country with habitats ranging from …
Is Ireland a Schengen visa destination?
Although Ireland is a member of the European Union, it has an opt-out from the Schengen Area and is therefore able to set its own visa policy.
Is Ireland a member of the Schengen Area?
Éire, or simply Ireland, is a member of the European Union, but it has not joined the Schengen Area. Currently, Ireland and the UK maintain a Common Travel Area with passport-free travel for their citizens and the three British Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, which are not part of the European Union.
What is the open visa policy of Ireland?
Visa policy of Ireland is similar to the visa policy of the Schengen Area. It grants visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palau, Peru, Serbia,...
Who is responsible for Immigration and visa in Ireland?
In Ireland, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) is primarily responsible for dealing with immigration and visa matters. Whether you need a visa to enter Ireland depends on what country you're from, see Schedule 1. S.I. No 473 of 2014 groups countries into five different categories (schedules).

Is Ireland visa a Schengen visa?
Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, which means that if you travel to the Schengen Area from Ireland, you pass through an immigration checkpoint and have to show your passport or national identity card. The following European Union countries are not part of the Schengen Area: Bulgaria. Croatia.
Can I travel to Ireland with a Schengen visa?
Note: A Schengen visa or UK visa is not valid for travel to Ireland. For exceptions to this, please see Schedules 2 and 3 below. If you're a citizen of a non-EEA country, whether you need a visa or not, you will be subject to immigration control when you enter Ireland.
Why Ireland is not Schengen?
In conclusion, the main reason Ireland did not join the Schengen Agreement is because they wish to control the immigration status of non EU citizens. Ireland is not part of mainland Europe, and it made sense for the country to control their borders the way they see fit.
Which countries can I visit with Irish visa?
It grants visa-free entry to all Schengen Annex II nationalities, except for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Georgia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Palau, Peru, Serbia, Timor-Leste, and Venezuela.
Can I visit UK with Ireland visa?
You can also use your Irish visa to travel to the UK. Your visa must be endorsed with 'BIVS'.
Which visa is required for Ireland?
The Irish visa is a pre-entry requirement, which people from certain countries have to get in order to be allowed to travel to Ireland. In addition, after arriving, they have to get permission to stay from an Immigration Officer before they can enter Ireland.
Which EU country is not in Schengen?
The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom are EU members who opted out of joining the Schengen Area. Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Cyprus are also EU members who plan to become Schengen countries but are not at present. Four non-EU states form part of the Schengen Area: Iceland.
How long can Irish citizens stay in Schengen zone?
90 daysYou can stay 90 days in any 180-day period within the Schengen area.
Is Irish part of Europe?
Ireland (Irish: Éire [ˈeːɾʲə] ( listen)), also known as the Republic of Ireland (Poblacht na hÉireann), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island.
Can I visit France with Ireland visa?
Holders of valid Irish Travel Documents (Convention of 28 July 1951) are permitted to enter France for a short stay purpose, without requesting a Schengen visa. Holders of a valid Irish Travel Document must request a visa to enter France.
Can I travel in Europe with Ireland student visa?
If you choose to study at Ireland, you can easily travel to any country in Europe, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and Turkey in just a few hours. However, you will need a schengen visa for the travel.
Can I travel to UK with an Irish student visa?
Students entering the UK with a valid Student visa can choose to travel via the Republic of Ireland, but please be aware that your passport will not be date stamped on entry to the UK. You will be required to submit evidence of your travel to the UK (ie. your boarding pass) at matriculation.
Can I go to UK with Schengen visa?
There is no link between a Schengen Visa and admittance to the UK. The only issue around you entering the UK is your own nationality, which we do not know. No, the UK has never been in Schengen. You need to get a visa in advance of your journey.
Do I need a visa to travel to Ireland?
You must have a valid passport to enter Ireland. U.S. citizens can enter visa-free for tourism or business stays of up to 90 days. There is no minimum passport validity requirement for U.S. citizens entering Ireland.
Can I go to Switzerland with Schengen visa?
To the OP : Yes you can travel to Switzerland with the Schengen Visa. You need not declare any itinerary since you may have provided sufficient documentation when you applied for the Visa. Once you are in the Schengen area which also includes Switzerland you can travel freely.
Which countries do not need visa for Ireland?
Countries who are exempt from an Ireland visaAndorraAntigua and BarbudaAustraliaChileCosta RicaEl SalvadorFijiGuyanaHong Kong (Special Administrative Region)IsraelJapanLesothoMacau (Special Administrative Region)MalaysiaMexico9 more rows
Is Schengen Visa valid for Ireland?
No, Schengen Visa is not valid in Ireland. You need to apply for the Ireland Visa.
Why the Schengen Visa is not valid for Ireland?
Ireland does not come under the Schengen and so, the Schengen Visa cannot be used to enter Ireland. The Ireland Visa Policy is different from the V...
What visa is needed for Ireland?
You can apply for any kind of visa depending upon your purpose of arrival in Ireland. You can apply for the Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Transit Vi...
Can I travel to the Republic of Ireland with the United Kingdom(UK) Visa?
Both the United Kingdom(UK) and Ireland have different visa requirements. You cannot enter Ireland with the UK Visa. Although according to the Brit...
Is it necessary to apply for the Irish Visa?
People who are eligible for Visa-Free entry to Ireland only don�t need to apply for any kind of visa. But, for others, it is a Mandatory Requiremen...
What to do if my Visa Application gets rejected?
After applying for the visa online through the Official Irish Government Website if your visa gets rejected you would receive the Letter of Refusal...
What is a visa for Ireland?
A visa is a form of pre-entry clearance which allows for travel to Ireland. It does not guarantee permission to enter Ireland. Permission to enter Ireland is granted by an Immigration Officer at the port of entry.
What happens if you stay in Ireland longer than your permission to remain permits?
Overstaying your visa. If you stay in Ireland longer than your permission to remain permits, you could be liable for prosecution and/or deportation. Change of activity. If you want to undertake any activity in Ireland other than that for which your visa was granted you must leave the county and apply for a new visa.
Do non-EEA citizens need a visa?
All non-EEA citizens, whether they need a visa or not, will be subject to ordinary immigration controls at the port of entry.
Is there a scam with the Department of Foreign Affairs?
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is warning of the existence of a fraudulent telephone phishing visa scam purporting to come from this Department seeking personal information and requesting significant cash amounts to process visas. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not seek funds additional to the typical fee when processing visas. You will find advice on phishing scams on the website of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission . If you are a victim of such a crime report it to your local Garda Station and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. January 2018
How many countries can a Schengen visa travel to?
A holder of a Uniform Schengen visa can travel to all 26 member countries of the Schengen Area:
When did Belgium join the Schengen?
Belgium is one of the five first countries that signed the Schengen agreement on 14 June 1985 and started its implementation on 26 March 1995. It is a small and densely populated country, with an area of 30,528km2 and a number of 11,358,379 residents.
How many countries are members of the Schengen Agreement?
22 members fully implement the Schengen acquis, Four of them – members of the EFTA, implement Schengen acquis through specific agreements related to the Schengen agreement. Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are associate members of the Schengen Area but are not members of the EU.
How long is the Schengen border?
The external borders of the Schengen Zone reach a distance of 50,000 km long, where 80% of it is comprised of water and 20% of the land. The area counts hundreds of airports and maritime ports, many land crossing points, an area of 4,312,099 km2, and a population of 419,392,429 citizens.
What countries are in the Schengen zone?
Slovenia. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland. The Essential Features of The Schengen Zone. The Criteria to Become a Member Country. Non-Schengen Countries in Europe. Schengen Area signifies a zone where 26 European countries, abolished their internal borders, for the free and unrestricted movement of people, in harmony with common rules for controlling ...
Which countries are not in the visa free zone?
Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City have opened their borders with, but are not members of the visa-free zone. The Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands are special members of the EU and part of the Schengen Zone even that they are located outside the European continent.
Is Ireland a member of the Schengen Area?
Schengen Area covers most of the EU countries, except Ireland and the countries that are soon to be part of Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Cyprus. Although not members of the EU, countries like Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Lichtenstein are also part of the Schengen zone.
How to check Irish visa decision?
If you applied directly to an Irish Immigration Service Visa Office or if your application was referred to the Irish Immigration Service for a decision, you can check the Irish Immigration Service Visa Decision Weekly Listing using your reference number.
What happens if a visa is refused?
If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the visa office telling you why it has been refused and if you can appeal the decision.
Is Ireland accepting visa applications?
1. Ireland is now accepting all categories of visa application (short- and long-stay).
Is Ireland a member of the Schengen Agreement?
2. Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement. A Schengen visa or French residence permit does not entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.
What is a visa in Schengen?
The Visa Information System (VIS) allows Schengen member states to share visa information. Each Schengen country has the same rules about entry and short stay visas. If you are not a citizen of an EEA member state, you may need a visa to travel to Ireland, even if you have a Schengen visa.
How many visas do I need to get a Schengen visa?
Where do I apply for a Schengen visa? You only need to make one visa application for your visit, even if you plan to travel to more than one country in the Schengen Area. There are rules about which country’s embassy you should make your visa application to: If you are visiting one country in the Schengen Area, ...
What is the Schengen Convention?
The Schengen Convention, which followed in 1990, set out more details on the operation of the borderless area. Ireland takes part in some of the policing co-operation agreements that are part of the Schengen Agreement. Ireland takes part in some aspects of SIS II, which is the second generation of the Schengen Information System - see ‘Policing ...
What is the name of the region of Europe where there are no border checks between countries?
The Schengen Area is the name given to a region of Europe where there are no border checks between countries .
What is the purpose of SIS II alerts?
These alerts are used to help trace missing people, people who are wanted by the police in a member state, and/or objects that are missing or stolen.
What is the Schengen system?
Schengen Information System (SIS) EU member states use the Schengen Information System (SIS) to share information about security and border management. Countries can issue a SIS alert about a person or object, which also includes information about what to do if that person or object has been found. Ireland is connected to SIS II, which is ...
Where do you pass through border checks?
You only pass through border checks at the external border of the Schengen Area. For example, if you are traveling from Romania (which is outside Schengen) to Hungary (which is inside Schengen), you will be checked by border officials at the border. You could then travel from Hungary to Austria, and on to Germany and France without passing ...
When will Ireland join the Schengen system?
Ireland has finally gained full access to the Schengen Information System (SIS II) on March 15, 2021, after the EU Council approved the Irish government’s request to join the system on December 10, 2020.
What is the Schengen system?
The Schengen Information System is the most commonly used IT system to control public security in Europe, which enables law enforcement agencies to check and share data on banned, missing, and wanted individuals as well as lost, stolen, and misappropriated objects or vehicles. “The Schengen Information System is the largest law enforcement database ...
Does Ireland have Schengen?
Previously, Ireland and the United Kingdom did not have full access to the Schengen Information System before, limiting them to use it for law enforcement purposes only.
Why is Ireland not part of the Schengen Area?
Éire, or simply Ireland, is a member of the European Union, but it has not joined the Schengen Area.
Why did the UK decline to sign up to the Schengen Agreement?
The UK declined to sign up to the Schengen Agreement arguing that for an island nation, frontier controls are a better way to prevent illegal immigration than other measures.
What is ETIAS visa?
ETIAS is a visa waiver for citizens of countries that are currently exempt from visa requirements to the Schengen Area.
What group wanted Northern Ireland to remain in the UK?
Unionists and loyalists, mostly Protestants, wanted Northern Ireland to remain in the UK. Irish nationalists and republicans, mostly Catholics, wanted Northern Ireland to join a united Ireland.
When will Ireland have SIS 2?
From 15th March 2021, Ireland has access to SIS II, Europe’s largest and most widely used IT security system. An Garda Síochána, the national police service of the Republic of Ireland, will share information on missing persons and stolen or lost objects and vehicles with 30 participating countries.
Does ETIAS include Ireland?
The ETIAS travel authorisation only grants entry to Schengen member countries. This does not include Ireland. However, non-EU citizens who wish to make the most of their trip and visit other European nations such as Italy, Spain, or France, will need to acquire an ETIAS permit. Citizens of over 60 countries will be eligible for ...
Is the Northern Ireland border a sticking point?
The border has once again been the focus of political negotiations, this time with regards to Brexit. The Northern Ireland border proved a sticking point for former Prime Minister Theresa May and has continued to cause issues for current PM Boris Johnson.
What is the visa policy for 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. 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.
When did Ireland start requiring visas?
In 1975, Ireland published its first list of visa-exempt nationalities and also removed the special provisions from Commonwealth citizens under Irish law. 1999 was the first development of a comprehensive list of countries which required visas.
How many egates are there in Dublin Airport?
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, 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.
What countries are included in the Irish visa list?
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. Zimbabwe was added on 8 November 2002, as were Georgia and Ukraine (9 June 2017).
How long do you have to hold a visa for a Swiss family member?
A family member of an EEA/Swiss citizen who is in possession of a residence permit indicating their status is exempt from the requirement to hold a visa for up to 90 days when entering the European Economic Area or Switzerland when they are accompanying their EEA/Swiss family member or are seeking to join them.
When did Ireland change its definition of alien?
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.
Which countries did not recognise aliens?
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.
Does Ireland have borders?
Ireland has no borders with anything else -- it is surrounded by sea. Personally I cannot think of any Irish or British person (whether Nationalist. Unionist or Indifferent) background that would ever write something that implied Ireland stops at the border with the Province. I know what you MEANT, of course.
Do you need a passport to fly into Dublin?
The Gardai have checks on persons for ALL arriving flights into Dublin -- but if you are British or Irish, and you are travelling from the UK, under the Common Travel Area agreement you don't need a passport to go through.
Which countries did not sign the Schengen Agreement?
It was signed by most countries in the European Union (EU) and it is expected that the remaining nations will sign it eventually. However, Ireland is the exception to that rule and has made it abundantly clear that it will not sign the Schengen Agreement.
When will the European travel information and authorization system take effect?
At the end of 2022, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will take effect, requiring visitors from over 60 nations to acquire a visa waiver before they can visit countries in the Schengen Zone.
Is Ireland a member of the Schengen zone?
However, there are a few exceptions to the rule and the Republic of Ireland is one of the most complicated.
Is Ireland a member of the European Union?
Furthermore, Ireland is bordered by Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom and is not in the European Union. The Schengen Agreement was considered to be too much of a risk by the Irish authorities and so they didn’t sign on the dotted line.
Will Ireland Join the Schengen Area?
It is unlikely that Ireland will ever be part of the Schengen Area. However, Irish citizens still have a lot of freedom if they wish to travel to the European Union.