Ireland Tourist Visa Requirements for UK Citizens
Last checked: 18 March 2026
Planning a holiday to Ireland with a full British citizen passport?
This guide explains the current tourist entry rules for UK travellers, including whether you need a visa, passport and ID expectations, how the Common Travel Area affects British citizens, any electronic systems in use or coming soon, costs, and the official government links to check before travel.
This article is restricted to tourist entry for UK citizens. It does not cover work, study, long-term relocation, or residence options except where needed to explain what does not apply to a normal holiday.
Ireland uses the euro (€) and is not part of the Schengen area. Travel by British citizens is instead affected by the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the UK and Ireland.
Index
- 1. Quick answer
- 2. Passport and ID rules for British travellers
- 3. Visa and stay rules under the Common Travel Area
- 4. Electronic systems in use, or coming soon
- 5. Costs for UK tourist entry
- 6. Official UK and Irish government links
- 7. Frequently asked questions
1. Quick answer
No tourist visa is required for a UK citizen visiting Ireland.
For most British tourists, the key points are:
- You do not need an Irish tourist visa.
- British citizens can visit and remain in Ireland under Common Travel Area rules.
- Ireland is not in the Schengen area, so the usual Schengen 90 days in 180 days rule does not apply to entry into Ireland.
- British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland, but it is useful to carry one or other acceptable identification in case you need to prove your identity or nationality.
- Irish immigration officers can ask for proof of British nationality.
- Airlines and ferry companies may ask for ID, so you should always check your carrier’s conditions before you travel.
- There is no Ireland-only tourist ETA, and Ireland is not affected by EES or ETIAS for entry into Ireland.
In practical terms, Ireland is one of the simplest destinations in Europe for a British tourist. There is no tourist visa application, no Schengen-style short-stay calculation for entry into Ireland, and no Ireland-only pre-travel authorisation system currently in force.
2. Passport and ID rules for British travellers
This is the part that is most different from Schengen countries such as France, Spain, Germany, or Italy.
According to GOV.UK, British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland. However, the same official guidance says it may be useful to carry a passport in case you need to prove your identity, and that Irish immigration officers are entitled to ask for proof of British nationality.
There is also a practical travel point that catches people out. Even though Irish law does not require British nationals to show a passport at the border in the way Schengen countries do, airlines and ferry operators may still require ID. That is why you should always check the specific conditions of travel set by your airline or ferry company before departure.
Because Ireland is outside Schengen, the official UK entry page for Ireland does not set out the usual Schengen passport rules about issue date within the last 10 years and 3 months’ validity after departure. The practical focus for British tourists is instead on being able to prove British nationality and satisfy your carrier’s ID rules.
3. Visa and stay rules under the Common Travel Area
British citizens travel to Ireland under the Common Travel Area, not under Schengen rules.
GOV.UK says that British nationals can visit and remain indefinitely in Ireland under CTA rules. It also says British nationals do not need a visa or a residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland.
For a tourist blog, the key message is simple: a normal British holidaymaker does not need to apply for a tourist visa for Ireland and is not limited by the Schengen 90 days in 180 days rule when entering Ireland.
This is different from most of continental Europe. Time spent in Ireland does not count as Schengen time for the purposes of Schengen tourist travel limits.
4. Electronic systems in use, or coming soon
Ireland does not currently require a separate Ireland-only tourist eVisa or Ireland-only tourist ETA for a British citizen travelling under the Common Travel Area.
There are three important points to understand here:
AVATS online visa system
Ireland does operate the Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS). This is the official online system used by travellers who need an Irish visa or preclearance. It is not used by ordinary British citizen tourists, because British citizens do not need an Irish tourist visa.
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
EES does not apply to entry into Ireland. GOV.UK explicitly says Ireland is not part of the Schengen area and is therefore not affected by the new Entry/Exit System when you are entering Ireland.
European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)
ETIAS does not apply to entry into Ireland. ETIAS is the future EU travel authorisation for the participating European countries in that system. Ireland is outside Schengen, so a British tourist travelling to Ireland does not need ETIAS for entry into Ireland.
So the current position for UK tourists is:
- No Irish tourist eVisa requirement for British citizens
- No Ireland-only tourist ETA requirement
- AVATS exists, but only for people who actually need an Irish visa or preclearance
- EES does not apply to entry into Ireland
- ETIAS does not apply to entry into Ireland
5. Costs for UK tourist entry
Ireland uses the euro (€). For a normal UK tourist visit, the official entry costs are simple because no tourist visa is required.
Approximate pound conversions below use the European Central Bank reference rate of €1 = £0.86408, checked for 16 March 2026.
| Item | Does it apply to a normal UK tourist? | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ireland tourist visa | No | €0 (£0) |
| Ireland-only tourist ETA / pre-travel authorisation | No official system identified | €0 (£0) |
| EES registration | No, EES does not apply to entry into Ireland | €0 (£0) |
| ETIAS | No, ETIAS does not apply to entry into Ireland | €0 (£0) |
| Irish short-stay ‘C’ visa, single entry | Not applicable to a normal British citizen tourist, shown here only for background on Ireland’s visa system | €60 (about £51.84) |
| Irish short-stay ‘C’ visa, multiple entry | Not applicable to a normal British citizen tourist, shown here only for background on Ireland’s visa system | €100 (about £86.41) |
Important: the €60 and €100 short-stay visa fees above are part of Ireland’s general visa system and do not apply to an ordinary British citizen tourist travelling under the Common Travel Area.
6. Official UK and Irish government links
Use these official pages before booking, before travel, and again shortly before departure:
- UK Government travel advice for Ireland
- UK Government Ireland entry requirements
- UK Government foreign travel checklist
- Embassy of Ireland in Great Britain, visas for Ireland
- Irish Immigration Service, coming to visit Ireland
- Irish Immigration Service, Visit Ireland travel path
- Irish Immigration Service, AVATS guide
- Irish Immigration Service, visa and preclearance fees
- Irish Immigration Service, visa and non-visa required nationalities
If your circumstances are unusual, for example dual nationality, non-standard travel documents, or family members who are not British citizens, rely on the official pages above rather than third-party websites.
7. Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a visa for Ireland?
No. A British citizen does not need a tourist visa to enter Ireland.
Can British citizens stay in Ireland for more than 90 days?
Yes. Ireland is not part of Schengen and British citizens can visit and remain in Ireland under Common Travel Area rules.
Do I legally need a passport to enter Ireland from the UK?
GOV.UK says British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland. However, it may be useful to carry one, Irish immigration officers can ask for proof of British nationality, and airlines or ferries may ask for ID.
Does the Schengen 90 days in 180 days rule apply to Ireland?
No. Ireland is not part of the Schengen area, so Schengen short-stay rules do not apply to entry into Ireland.
Do British tourists need EES for Ireland?
No. GOV.UK says Ireland is not affected by EES when you are entering Ireland.
Do British tourists need ETIAS for Ireland?
No. ETIAS does not apply to entry into Ireland.
What is AVATS?
AVATS is Ireland’s online visa and preclearance application system. It is for travellers who actually need an Irish visa or preclearance, not for ordinary British citizen tourists.
How much is the Ireland tourist visa for a UK citizen?
For an ordinary British citizen tourist, the cost is €0 (£0) because no Irish tourist visa is required.
Final check before travel
For most UK holidaymakers, Ireland is one of the simplest destinations to enter. The main things to get right are carrying suitable ID for your carrier, understanding that travel is under Common Travel Area rules rather than Schengen rules, and checking the official UK and Irish links again before departure in case anything changes.
