Visa Free Countries for Irish Citizens

According to the Henley report, Ireland has one the most powerful passport, ranked 6th. For this reason, Irish citizens can travel without a visa, get an eVisa or a visa on arrival to more than 180 countries in the world. 

Where Can Irish Citizens Travel Without a Visa?

You can visit any of the countries listed below visa-free with an Irish passport:

In countries where you have freedom of movement, you need to have a valid ID card with you while you travel. However, for any other visa-free country, you must have a valid passport, between three and six months, in addition to valid travel health insurance. 

eVisa Countries for Irish Passport Holders 

If you are an Irish citizen, you can get an eVisa for the following countries:

To get an eVisa, you don’t have to visit an embassy or consulate; you can complete the entire application online- including the visa payment. But, you have to prepare digital files of your documents to attach them to your application; you will receive step-by-step instructions on how to submit your documents when you begin your application. 

Where Can Irish Passport Holders Get a Visa on Arrival?

With an Irish passport, the countries listed below will grant you a visa on arrival:

This type of visa is issued at the airport once you enter your destination country. There is usually a separate booth for the visa, and there you will receive the visa application form. However, you must have some documents with you that include the following: 

• Passport
• Travel health insurance 
• Evidence of hotel reservation
• Proof of purchased round-trip flight ticket 
• Proof of financial means. 
• Passport photos 
• Visa fee (you can pay at the border)

Visa Requirements for Irish Citizens

You must apply for a visa before visiting any of the following countries if you hold an Irish passport:    

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Bhutan
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Chad
• China
• Cuba
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Ghana
• Iraq
• Liberia
• Libya
• Mali
• Nauru
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Korea
• Republic of the Congo
• Sudan
• Syria
• The central African Republic
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Turkmenistan
• Yemen

The process of obtaining a visitor’s visa may differ from country to country, but you must usually go through the following steps: 

• Find a visa office. Visas are issued mainly by consulates or embassies, but sometimes there might be another official visa office representing your destination country. So, make sure you locate the appropriate visa authority and then make an appointment to submit your application.
• Prepare your documents. Along with the application form, you have to provide several documents, including your passport, photographs, financial statements, proof of accommodation, etc. Once your documents are assembled, you can submit them to the embassy/consulate.
• Pay the visa fee. To process your application, you will need to pay the visa fee, the amount of which varies depending on your destination country. Some embassies require you to pay the fee when you attend your appointment. 
• Get your visa. Once you submit your application, it will take a few weeks up to months until it’s finished processing. After receiving your visa, you can freely enter the country you want to visit, but you must stay only while your visa is valid. 

Please note that if you want to visit some of the countries above, you may do so only through a group visit. For example, if you want to visit North Korea, you must find an authorized travel agency that will apply for your visa on your behalf— the same applies to Bhutan as well.