Practical advice for your trip to Ireland

Before you travel to Ireland you should check that all of your documents are in order for your trip. For entry to both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland you will need a passport that is valid for at least six months after you leave the country.

Residents of the United Kingdom and the European Union can enter and leave Ireland freely. However, residents from other countries must have proof of onward travel when entering the country. United States and Canadian citizens can holiday in Ireland for up to three months without a visa. However, visas are required for longer stays or if you plan to study or work in Ireland. Contact the Irish Embassy in your country for more information.

Once your documents are in order you should not have any problems entering the country. You do not have to have any vaccinations and passing through customs is generally a straightforward procedure.

However, certain items are forbidden, most of which are fairly obvious. They include indecent material, firearms, explosives, animals (dead or alive), plants and meat. There are also limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco you  can bring into the country. You are limited to 200 cigarettes per person, and one litre of spirits or two litres of wine. The amount of perfume that you can bring into Ireland is limited to 60 millilitres.

As you pass through customs you will notice three channels – blue, green and red. The blue channel is only for travel within the EU. If you are traveling from anywhere else do not use this one. The green channel should be used if you have nothing to declare, and use the red channel if you do have something to declare and speak to customs agents there.

If you have any questions about travelling to Ireland or about our Ireland Car Rental service, please do not hesitate to contact us.