Do Australians need a visa for Ireland?
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Australian passport holders do not need a visa for Ireland and can normally stay up to 90 days as a visitor. Ireland is not in the Schengen Area, so time spent here does not count against your Schengen 90/180 allowance, and ETIAS will not apply. Ireland is also outside the UK, so a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation does not cover it.
Entry requirements for Ireland at a glance
Length of stay
Up to 90 days, granted at the discretion of the immigration officer
Onward ticket
Immigration officers frequently ask for a return ticket and proof of accommodation, and they are more thorough than most European borders.
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What it costs
| Fee | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | None | All visitors |
How to get sorted, step by step
- Check your passport is valid for the whole of your stay.
- Have your return ticket and first night's accommodation details ready - Irish immigration asks for these more often than most.
- If your trip also takes in Great Britain, apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation separately - it does not cover Ireland and Ireland does not cover it.
- If you plan to drive, note that Ireland drives on the left, the same as Australia.
What catches Australians out
Ireland is not in the Schengen Area. Days here do not use up your Schengen 90/180 allowance, and ETIAS will not apply when it launches.
Crossing into Northern Ireland means entering the United Kingdom. There is no border checkpoint, but the currency changes to pound sterling and your Irish eSIM may stop working.
A UK ETA does not admit you to Ireland, and Irish entry does not admit you to the UK - they are separate systems.
Irish immigration officers grant a specific period on arrival rather than an automatic 90 days. Be able to explain your plans.
Health cover for Australians in Ireland
Australia has no reciprocal health care agreement with Ireland. You pay for treatment up front, and an air ambulance home is the cost that turns a bad week into a bad decade.
Vaccinations: No vaccinations required. Routine Australian immunisations recommended.
Medications: Carry prescription medicines in their original labelled packaging with a copy of the script. Some codeine-based painkillers sold over the counter in Australia are prescription-only in Europe.
Compare travel insurance for IrelandMore Ireland essentials
Further reading: Do Australians need a visa? A country-by-country guide
How these comparisons are made
Entry rules on these pages come from the destination's own immigration authority first, Smartraveller second, and the destination's embassy in Australia third - each page links the exact sources it used. An automated job re-reads those government pages every day and moves the review date only when a person or the checker has confirmed the page still says what we say it says. Read the full editorial policy.
Ireland entry requirements FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for Ireland?
No. Australian passport holders can visit Ireland without a visa and are normally granted up to 90 days on arrival. There is no arrival card and nothing to apply for in advance.
Does a UK ETA cover Ireland?
No. The UK Electronic Travel Authorisation admits you to the United Kingdom only. Ireland is a separate country with its own rules and requires no authorisation from Australians. If your trip includes both Britain and Ireland you need the UK ETA for the British portion.
Planning Ireland?
We will send you the Ireland guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.