This guide covers the UK visa from Ireland in 2026, and the headline is reassuring: Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA to enter the UK. The Common Travel Area, in place since 1922, gives Irish and British citizens near-identical rights to live, work, and travel between the two countries. The rules only get complicated for non-Irish nationals living in Ireland — and that is where this guide focuses, alongside the CTA rights Irish citizens keep after Brexit.
Source: gov.uk Common Travel Area guidance and Home Office entry clearance visa fees, 2026.
Irish citizens are exempt from the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme and do not need a visa — the Common Travel Area continues unchanged after Brexit. Irish nationals can travel, live, and work in the UK freely. Only non-Irish, non-British nationals resident in Ireland need permission to enter: an ETA if their nationality is visa-exempt, or a Standard Visitor visa (€152) otherwise.
UK Visa from Ireland: The Common Travel Area in 2026
Ireland and the UK share the oldest free-movement arrangement in Europe. The Common Travel Area predates both countries' EU membership and survived Brexit intact, protected by a 2019 bilateral agreement. For Irish citizens it means no passport-control friction, no ETA, and no visa — rights closer to those of British citizens than to any other nationality. The questions that remain are about non-Irish nationals who live in Ireland and want to visit the UK.
Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA to enter the UK — the Common Travel Area gives them the right to travel, live, and work freely. Non-Irish residents of Ireland are treated by nationality: visa-exempt nationals need an ETA (€19), while visa nationals need a Standard Visitor visa (€152). An Irish residence permit does not by itself grant UK entry.
The Common Travel Area Explained
The Common Travel Area is a long-standing arrangement between the UK, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies allowing free movement of British and Irish citizens. It is not part of EU law, which is why it was unaffected by Brexit. According to the official gov.uk Common Travel Area guidance, Irish citizens can enter and live in the UK without any form of permission, and vice versa for British citizens in Ireland.
Because of the CTA, Irish citizens were never brought into the ETA scheme that now applies to other European nationals. Where travellers from France and other EU states need an ETA before boarding, Irish citizens simply travel — there is nothing to apply for.
Do Irish Citizens Need a Visa or ETA?
No. Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA for the UK, for any length or purpose of stay. They can visit, work, study, and settle without applying for anything, and they are not subject to the six-month visitor limit that applies to other nationals. These rights flow from the Common Travel Area, not from EU membership, so Brexit did not change them.
Irish citizens travelling to the UK do not pass through a visa or ETA process at all. They can take up employment without a sponsor, enrol in study without a Student visa, and remain indefinitely without applying for settlement. In practice their position mirrors that of British citizens far more closely than that of other EU nationals, who since Brexit need an ETA for even a short visit.
Because Irish citizens can live in the UK under the Common Travel Area, they do not need to apply for status. They can, if they wish, apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after meeting residence requirements, as set out in the gov.uk guidance on the rights of Irish citizens, but there is no obligation to regularise their stay first — their CTA rights are sufficient on their own.
Non-Irish Residents of Ireland
Non-Irish nationals living in Ireland are treated by their own nationality. If they hold a visa-exempt passport — an EU state, the US, Australia, and similar — they need an ETA (€19) to visit the UK. If they hold a visa nationality, they need a Standard Visitor visa (€152). An Irish Residence Permit does not remove the need for either; only Irish citizenship does.
Ireland is home to large communities from outside the EU, many of whom travel to the UK for work or family. Their requirement depends entirely on passport nationality, not on their Irish residence. A US or German national resident in Ireland needs an ETA; an Indian or Nigerian national needs a Standard Visitor visa. The Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card proves status in Ireland but carries no UK travel rights of its own.
| Your Status | What You Need for the UK | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Irish citizen | Nothing — CTA applies | Free |
| EU/US/Australian national in Ireland | ETA (UK ETA App) | €19 |
| Indian passport holder in Ireland | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Nigerian passport holder in Ireland | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
| Other visa-national in Ireland | Standard Visitor visa | €152 |
There is one important practical point: travel within the CTA does not normally involve routine passport checks, but non-Irish nationals must still hold the correct UK permission before crossing. Carriers and Border Force can require it. For the full list of who needs an ETA, see our guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Those holding visa nationalities should prepare with our supporting documents checklist.
UK Visa Fees from Ireland 2026
Irish citizens pay nothing — no visa, no ETA. For non-Irish residents of Ireland, the ETA is €19 and a six-month Standard Visitor visa is €152. Work visas run from €924, the Student visa is €671, and a partner visa is €2,481. These fees apply by nationality, not residence, and are paid in euros for applicants in Ireland.
The fees below apply only to non-Irish nationals who need UK permission. Irish citizens never pay them. The figures are the official Home Office fees current in 2026, shown in euros for applicants in Ireland.
| Visa Type | Fee (EUR) |
|---|---|
| ETA (visa-exempt nationals) | €19 |
| Standard Visitor (6 months) | €152 |
| Long-term Visitor (2 years) | €569 |
| Long-term Visitor (5 / 10 years) | €1,015 / €1,268 |
| Student | €671 |
| Skilled Worker (up to / over 3 years) | €924 / €1,825 |
| Health and Care Worker (up to 3 years) | €365 |
| Partner / Family visa | €2,481 |
| Priority / Super Priority | +€597 / +€1,194 |
Any visa over six months also carries the Immigration Health Surcharge, charged in pounds at £1,035 a year (students and Youth Mobility participants pay £776). It is paid on top of the visa fee and is not converted to euros. Health and Care Worker visa holders are exempt, and it does not apply to Irish citizens at all.
Working and Studying in the UK
Irish citizens can work and study in the UK with no visa, no sponsor, and no salary threshold — the CTA gives them the same access as British citizens. Non-Irish residents of Ireland need the relevant route: the Skilled Worker visa (€924–€1,825) with sponsorship and a £41,700 general salary threshold, or the Student visa (€671) for courses over six months.
For Irish citizens the work and study routes simply do not apply — they are free to take employment or enrol in study without any immigration permission. The position is unique among European nationals and, again, stems from the Common Travel Area rather than EU rules.
For Non-Irish Residents
A non-Irish national living in Ireland who wants to work in the UK uses the same routes as anyone else. The Skilled Worker route needs a job offer from a licensed sponsor and a salary meeting the £41,700 general threshold, leading to settlement after five years. For study over six months, the Student visa applies; shorter courses need only an ETA where the nationality is visa-exempt. Family routes follow the standard partner visa rules.
How to Apply for a UK Visa from Ireland
Irish citizens have nothing to apply for. Non-Irish residents follow the route their nationality requires — an ETA in the app, or a visa with biometrics.
- Visa-exempt nationals: apply for an ETA in the UK ETA App — minutes, no appointment
- Visa nationals: complete the online application and pay the fee at gov.uk
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationals: give biometrics via the UK Immigration: ID Check App
- Other visa nationals: book biometrics at the Dublin visa centre
- Upload supporting documents and await the decision
- Receive your eVisa or a vignette in your passport
If a visa decision runs late, our guide on UK visa delays explains how to chase it, and priority and super-priority services can speed things up where available. You can track timelines with our guide to processing after biometrics. If a visit was refused before, our guide on the odds of success when reapplying sets out the options.
- Irish citizens need neither a visa nor an ETA — the Common Travel Area applies
- CTA rights are bilateral, not EU-based, so Brexit left them unchanged
- Irish citizens can work, study, and settle in the UK with no permission
- Non-Irish residents are treated by nationality: ETA (€19) or visa (€152)
- An Irish Residence Permit does not grant UK entry on its own
- Visa nationals resident in Ireland apply through the Dublin visa centre
For official confirmation, use the gov.uk visa checker. Neighbouring guides cover the UK visa from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and the UK visa from Switzerland.
No. Irish citizens are exempt from the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme. Unlike other European nationals, who have needed an ETA since 2025, Irish citizens travel under the Common Travel Area and apply for nothing. This applies regardless of how they travel or how long they intend to stay.
No. Irish citizens need no visa for any purpose — visiting, working, studying, or settling. The Common Travel Area, in place since 1922 and reaffirmed in 2019, gives them rights close to those of British citizens. Brexit did not change this, because the CTA is a bilateral arrangement separate from EU law.
Yes. Irish citizens can take employment in the UK without a visa, a sponsor, or a salary threshold, and without the Skilled Worker route that other nationals must use. They can also study without a Student visa and remain indefinitely without applying for settlement, all under the Common Travel Area.
It depends on your nationality, not your Irish residence. If you hold a visa-exempt passport such as an EU state, the US, or Australia, you need an ETA (€19). If you hold a visa nationality, you need a Standard Visitor visa (€152). An Irish Residence Permit does not grant UK entry on its own.
No. The Irish Residence Permit proves your immigration status in Ireland but carries no UK travel rights. You still need the UK permission that matches your nationality — an ETA if visa-exempt, or a visa if you are a visa national. Only Irish citizenship removes the need for UK entry permission.
Indefinitely. Irish citizens are not subject to the six-month visitor limit that applies to other nationals, because they enter under the Common Travel Area rather than as visitors. They can live in the UK for as long as they wish and are free to work and study throughout.
Visa nationals resident in Ireland apply online at gov.uk and give biometrics at the Dublin visa centre. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals can instead verify identity through the UK Immigration: ID Check App from home. Visa-exempt nationals skip all of this and apply for an ETA in the app.