Business rules for Irish passport holders going to United Kingdom are not verified yet. The holiday rules below are for tourism; they don't confirm whether business visits are allowed. Check the official United Kingdom visa information.
Work: see the verified work rules in the Work section. The holiday rules below are a different purpose of trip.
Transit: see the verified transit rules in the Transit section. The holiday rules below are a different purpose of trip.
Route summary
Visa-free
Irish citizens do not need a visa or an ETA for the UK.
Steps not published by the official source — use the official link to start.
Last checked 2 Nov 2026 against gov.uk · Gov.uk content API read 2026-10-04
Document list not published by the official source.
These notes may mention other charges that we have not yet separated into government and service fees. Visa-centre, service or other third-party charges are never official government fees.
Processing time, validity and maximum stay: not published by the official source.
A free PDF of this result with its official links, a checklist and space for notes. It is created in your browser; we don't receive or store it. Its QR link contains only this rule's status (visa type and check date), no personal data.
No visa or ETA – Irish citizens. Irish citizens do not need a visa or an ETA for the UK. Source: https://www.gov.uk/eta
The rules above are for a holiday: tourism and visiting family and friends. Business visits, paid work and transit are covered separately below.
Not verified yet (not yet covered). We haven't verified the business rules for Irish passport holders, and we don't publish rules we haven't checked against an official source. A rule that is awaiting verification or not yet covered is not a negative visa decision: it only means we haven't confirmed it on an official source yet. Until then, see gov.uk.
No work visa needed
No visa or work permit is needed.
Source: GOV.UK – Common Travel Area guidance (gov.uk).
"Under the CTA , British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections"
These are the main routes and what they require. Whether you qualify depends on your circumstances; the official page decides.
For: People with a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office
Source: GOV.UK – Skilled Worker visa (gov.uk).
"work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office" … "You’ll usually need to be paid the ‘standard’ salary rate of at least £41,700 per year, or the ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher." … "pay the application fee - the standard fee ranges from £819 to £1,865 depending on your circumstances" … "pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 per year" … "If you’re applying to switch from a different visa, you need level B2." … "Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it." … "3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK" … "After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK"
For: Doctors, nurses and other health or adult social care professionals with an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care
Source: GOV.UK – Health and Care Worker visa (gov.uk).
"A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care." … "up to 3 years - £324 per person" … "more than 3 years - £628 per person" … "If the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than £25,000, you’ll usually need to be paid at least the going rate." … "You can stay in the UK for as long as your employer is sponsoring you for, up to 5 years at a time."
For: Leaders or potential leaders in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology
Source: GOV.UK – Global Talent visa (gov.uk).
"You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:" … "It costs £766 to apply." … "If you’ve not won an eligible prestigious prize, you’ll need to get an endorsement first to prove that you’re a leader or potential leader in your field." … "Decisions are usually made within 8 weeks of your application date."
For: Students in the UK who have completed an eligible course on a Student visa
Source: GOV.UK – Graduate visa (gov.uk).
"To be eligible for a Graduate visa, you need to have successfully completed the course you took with your current Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa." … "2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026" … "18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027" … "If you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, it will last for 3 years." … "You cannot extend your Graduate visa. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa ."
For: Temporary work in horticulture (up to 6 months) or poultry (2 October to 31 December)
Source: GOV.UK – Seasonal Worker visa (gov.uk).
"The application fee is £340." … "horticulture for up to 6 months - for example, picking fruit and vegetables or flowers" … "poultry from 2 October to 31 December, in the same year" … "You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK."
Checked 16 Oct 2026. Overview: GOV.UK – Work in the UK. Requirements, fees and thresholds change; confirm on the official page before applying.
A free PDF of this result with its official links, a checklist and space for notes. It is created in your browser; we don't receive or store it. Its QR link contains only this rule's status (visa type and check date), no personal data.
If you change flights in the UK without going through UK border control (airside), you don't need an ETA. Nationals on the UK's Direct Airside Transit Visa list have their own rule and need a transit visa. If you pass through border control (landside), you need an ETA, or a Visitor in Transit visa if you are a visa national.
Conditions
Steps not verified yet — follow the official source below.
Document list not verified yet — check the official source.
✓ Checked on the live official page
“GOV.UK – Get an ETA: 'You do not need an ETA to travel to the UK if: ... you're transiting through a UK airport without passing through border control (airside)'; 'You need an ETA if you're passing through border control at a UK airport before continuing your onward journey.' UK Visa Requirements (Aug 2026): 'ALL visa nationals seeking to transit the United Kingdom AIRSIDE without a visa must: (i) arrive and depart by air; and (ii) have a confirmed onward flight departing the same day from the same airport; and (iii) hold the correct documents for their destination'”
A free PDF of this result with its official links, a checklist and space for notes. It is created in your browser; we don't receive or store it. Its QR link contains only this rule's status (visa type and check date), no personal data.
Get an email when we update the guidance for Irish passport holders going to United Kingdom, after we've checked the change against the official source. Nothing else.
Customs cash limits and the scams official travel advice warns about in United Kingdom.
Phone and bag snatching by bike or scooter
How it works: Thieves on scooters or bicycles grab phones and bags, increasingly in central London.
How to avoid it: Keep your phone away from the kerb and out of sight, and use bags that close.
Pickpocketing at landmarks and on transport
How it works: Pickpockets work crowds, public transport and landmarks, especially in summer.
How to avoid it: Do not keep valuables in pockets or open shoulder bags.
Card and PIN theft
How it works: Thieves watch you enter your PIN at ATMs and card machines.
How to avoid it: Keep the card in sight, cover your PIN and check your statements.
Other traps paraphrased from official travel advice: smartraveller.gov.au · Last checked 4 Oct 2026.
Planning more than the paperwork? Our United Kingdom guide picks out places to visit, things to do and where to shop, with a source for every tip.
Irish passport: of the 156 destinations with a rule verified from an official source, 110 visa-free, 18 visa on arrival, 25 eVisa or travel authorisation, 3 embassy visa.
United Kingdom: rules verified from an official source for 198 of 198 passports. United Kingdom guide and every passport →
Where else can Irish passport holders travel? See every destination we cover →
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Verify with the embassy before you book. Visa rules change without notice. We link every rule to its official source and last checked it on 2 Nov 2026, but the embassy, official e-visa portal and your airline have the final say. MyVisaPort is not a visa agent and is not affiliated with any government.