An Irish passport basic information Ireland has high mobility score. According to the global passport index (Henley's index), this country ranks 6th for the number of visa-free countries available. Irish nationals possessing a valid passport may travel visa-free to most Schengen area countries and numerous other destinations in different parts of the world. There are 109 Ireland passport visa-free countries. The traditional Irish visa is also unnecessary when traveling to 42 countries with a visa on arrival accepted and 32 where an electronic visa is available. Irish nationals can see new places and interesting people with visa-free travel Traveling with only a passport allows both professional and amateur travelers to meet interesting people when exploring new places. The only needed travel document, the passport, is not limited by the number of entries to the country. You can come back to your favorite destination as often as you want. It is helpful, especially when you return to people you met during your journeys. Check the visa-free countries list you are eligible for and explore new places. How to obtain an Irish passport  To obtain an Irish passport, you must be a country citizen. The easiest way of becoming a citizen is to be born in Ireland. If you do not meet this requirement, you must choose another way. Possible options for applying for citizenship are: marrying an Irish citizen having Irish parents that were born before 2005 having grandparents with Irish citizenship by naturalization (people living in Ireland for 5 within the last 9 years are eligible to apply for Irish citizenship) The Irish Authorities responsible for the passport issue procedure suggest applying for this document 8 weeks before the travel at the latest. Online application is the fastest and most comfortable way to obtain a passport. What are the benefits of traveling to visa-free countries for Irish citizens? To apply for a visa, you need time, money, and vast reserves of patience. The application process may be time-consuming and stressful, especially when you need the document to be approved fast. That is why visa-free traveling may be a great alternative to traditional visa-required trips. You may decide on the journey in minutes without hours spent on visits to embassies and no complicated procedures. You will not be limited by travel permit validity duration. Your trips may become more flexible and thus more attractive, not to mention the money saved for the visa fees. Visit the embassy's website and check what destinations you may travel to with only a passport. 109 visa-free countries open to Irish passport holders Irish passport visa-free countries Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belize Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Canada Cape Verde Chile Colombia Costa Rica Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Eswatini Fiji Gambia Georgia Grenada Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Indonesia Israel Jamaica Japan Kazakhstan Kiribati South Korea Kyrgyzstan Lesotho Malaysia Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Montenegro Morocco Namibia Nicaragua North Macedonia Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Qatar Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Serbia Singapore South Africa Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Ukraine Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Venezuela Zambia Austria Belgium Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Malta Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom There are also 42 countries with a possible on-arrival visa and 32 where an electronic visa is accepted. Visa on arrival countries Jordan Bangladesh Burkina Faso Comoros Iran Iraq Mauritania Mongolia Mozambique Nepal Sierra Leone Somalia Tajikistan Timor-Leste Togo Tuvalu Bahrain Benin Cambodia Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Guinea-Bissau Kenya Kuwait Laos Madagascar Malawi Rwanda Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Tanzania Zimbabwe Papua New Guinea Seychelles Solomon Islands Lebanon Maldives Palau Tonga Uganda United Arab Emirates Electronic visa countries Pakistan Bahrain Benin Cambodia Egypt Ethiopia Gabon Guinea-Bissau Kenya Kuwait Laos Madagascar Malawi Rwanda Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Tanzania Zimbabwe Papua New Guinea Angola Azerbaijan Côte d'Ivoire Djibouti Guinea Myanmar Oman Russia Suriname Vietnam South Sudan New Zealand India FAQ How to check if your destination is a visa-free country? To check the most actual visa-free countries available with your passport, check the embassy's website or go to the embassy in person. If your country is eligible for visa-free travel, you may enter the desired destination with only one travel document (the valid passport). What to do if your destination is not a visa-free country? If a country you want to visit requires a visa, you have no choice but to apply for it in person or online (provided an electronic visa is available). Remember, a valid passport is obligatory to have a successful visa application process. Tips for preparing for travel to non-visa-free countries First, make sure what visa types you are eligible to apply for. If an electronic travel permit is available, choose this option as it is the most convenient application method. The online visa approval usually comes within 3 business days. Is it necessary to research the visa requirements before going to a travel destination? To most foreign destinations, you will need a visa. It is crucial to check visa requirements before leaving for a journey. The application process takes a while. That is why an early application for a travel permit will reduce stress and save time. On the other hand, if a country has visa-free travel possibilities, you may avoid unnecessary formalities and organize your trip even in a few hours.