irish travel document visa free countries

Irish Passport

The Irish passport grants access to 120 countries without a visa. Additionally, it allows for 39 e-visas and 17 visas upon arrival. However, a visa is required in 17 countries.

Ireland, home to the Irish passport, has a population of approximately 5 million people. This makes it a smaller European country in terms of population.

Despite its size, the Irish passport is a powerful travel document. It ranks among the top 10 most powerful passports in the world. This is due to its extensive visa-free access to various countries.

Visa-free map

Nearby countries.

The nearest visa free countries to visit for Irish passport holders are United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Portugal, Spain and Andorra .

Visa free countries

So, where can Irishs travel without a visa? We have listed all the countries where Ireland citizens can travel visa-free, eliminating the hassle of visa paperwork.

• 🇦🇱 Albania (90 days)
• 🇦🇩 Andorra (N/A)
• 🇦🇹 Austria (N/A)
• 🇧🇾 Belarus (30 days)
• 🇧🇪 Belgium (N/A)
• 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina (90 days)
• 🇧🇬 Bulgaria (N/A)
• 🇭🇷 Croatia (N/A)
• 🇨🇾 Cyprus (N/A)
• 🇨🇿 Czech Republic (N/A)
• 🇩🇰 Denmark (N/A)
• 🇪🇪 Estonia (N/A)
• 🇫🇮 Finland (N/A)
• 🇫🇷 France (N/A)
• 🇩🇪 Germany (N/A)
• 🇬🇷 Greece (N/A)
• 🇭🇺 Hungary (N/A)
• 🇮🇸 Iceland (N/A)
• 🇮🇹 Italy (N/A)
• 🇱🇻 Latvia (N/A)
• 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein (N/A)
• 🇱🇹 Lithuania (N/A)
• 🇱🇺 Luxembourg (N/A)
• 🇲🇹 Malta (N/A)
• 🇲🇩 Moldova (90 days)
• 🇲🇨 Monaco (N/A)
• 🇲🇪 Montenegro (90 days)
• 🇲🇰 North Macedonia (90 days)
• 🇳🇴 Norway (N/A)
• 🇵🇱 Poland (N/A)
• 🇵🇹 Portugal (N/A)
• 🇷🇴 Romania (N/A)
• 🇸🇲 San Marino (N/A)
• 🇷🇸 Serbia (90 days)
• 🇸🇰 Slovakia (N/A)
• 🇸🇮 Slovenia (N/A)
• 🇪🇸 Spain (N/A)
• 🇸🇪 Sweden (N/A)
• 🇨🇭 Switzerland (N/A)
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine (90 days)
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (N/A)
• 🇻🇦 Vatican City (N/A)
• 🇦🇴 Angola (30 days)
• 🇧🇼 Botswana (90 days)
• 🇨🇻 Cape Verde (30 days)
• 🇸🇿 Eswatini (30 days)
• 🇬🇲 Gambia (90 days)
• 🇱🇸 Lesotho (90 days)
• 🇲🇼 Malawi (30 days)
• 🇲🇺 Mauritius (90 days)
• 🇲🇦 Morocco (90 days)
• 🇲🇿 Mozambique (30 days)
• 🇳🇦 Namibia (3 months)
• 🇸🇹 São Tomé and Príncipe (15 days)
• 🇸🇳 Senegal (90 days)
• 🇸🇨 Seychelles (3 months)
• 🇿🇦 South Africa (90 days)
• 🇹🇳 Tunisia (3 months)
• 🇺🇬 Uganda (N/A)
• 🇿🇲 Zambia (30 days)
• 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda (3 month)
• 🇦🇷 Argentina (90 days)
• 🇧🇸 Bahamas (3 months)
• 🇧🇧 Barbados (6 months)
• 🇧🇿 Belize (N/A)
• 🇧🇴 Bolivia (90 days)
• 🇧🇷 Brazil (90 days)
• 🇨🇦 Canada (6 months)
• 🇨🇱 Chile (90 days)
• 🇨🇴 Colombia (90 days)
• 🇨🇷 Costa Rica (90 days)
• 🇩🇲 Dominica (6 months)
• 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic (N/A)
• 🇪🇨 Ecuador (90 days)
• 🇸🇻 El Salvador (3 months)
• 🇬🇩 Grenada (3 months)
• 🇬🇹 Guatemala (90 days)
• 🇬🇾 Guyana (3 months)
• 🇭🇹 Haiti (90 days)
• 🇭🇳 Honduras (3 months)
• 🇯🇲 Jamaica (90 days)
• 🇲🇽 Mexico (180 days)
• Netherlands (N/A)
• 🇳🇮 Nicaragua (90 days)
• 🇵🇦 Panama (90 days)
• 🇵🇾 Paraguay (90 days)
• 🇵🇪 Peru (183 days)
• 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis (3 months)
• 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia (6 weeks)
• 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (3 month)
• 🇸🇷 Suriname (90 days)
• 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago (N/A)
• 🇺🇸 United States (90 days)
• 🇺🇾 Uruguay (90 days)
• 🇻🇪 Venezuela (90 days)
• 🇦🇲 Armenia (180 days)
• 🇧🇳 Brunei (90 days)
• 🇹🇼 China (15 days)
• 🇬🇪 Georgia (1 year)
• 🇮🇱 Israel (3 months)
• 🇯🇵 Japan (90 days)
• 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (30 days)
• 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan (60 days)
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia (3 months)
• 🇲🇳 Mongolia (30 days)
• 🇴🇲 Oman (14 days / 30 days)
• 🇵🇭 Philippines (30 days)
• 🇶🇦 Qatar (30 days)
• 🇸🇬 Singapore (90 days)
• 🇹🇯 Tajikistan (30 days)
• 🇹🇭 Thailand (30 days)
• 🇹🇷 Turkey (90 days)
• 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (30 days)
• 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan (30 days)
• 🇫🇯 Fiji (4 months)
• 🇰🇮 Kiribati (30 days)
• 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands (90 days)
• 🇫🇲 Micronesia (30 days)
• 🇼🇸 Samoa (60 days)
• 🇻🇺 Vanuatu (30 days)

This data has been sourced from Wikipedia and was last updated on 6/1/2024.

• United Kingdom visa free countries
• Belgium visa free countries
• France visa free countries

Ireland passport visa free countries 2024

What are the visa-free countries for ireland passport holders, what countries provide visa on arrival for ireland passport holders.

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Countries for Ireland Citizens

Which countries do ireland citizens need to apply for an e-visa, list of countries requiring visas for ireland citizens, explore more, check if you need a visa for your next destination, latest news and articles.

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• Ireland Passport Visa-Free Countries

• Evisa.Express
• Requirements
• Visa Free Countries

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.

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• South Korea
• Marshall Islands
• North Macedonia
• Philippines
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• South Africa
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vatican City
• Czech Republic
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• 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

• Burkina Faso
• Sierra Leone
• Timor-Leste
• Guinea-Bissau
• Saudi Arabia
• Papua New Guinea
• Solomon Islands
• United Arab Emirates

Electronic visa countries

• Côte d'Ivoire
• South Sudan
• New Zealand

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.

France Passport Visa-Free Countries READ MORE

El Salvador Passport Visa-Free Countries READ MORE

Japanese Passport Visa-Free Countries List READ MORE

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Ireland Passport Visa Free Countries List 2024

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Visa requirements for entering Ireland

Introduction, do i need a visa, types of visa, visa waivers for uk visa holders, school student visa waiver, do i need preclearance, how to apply for a visa orpreclearance, further information and contacts.

If you are travelling to Ireland and you are not a citizen of the UK, Switzerland, or a country in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein), you may need to apply for a visa.

An Irish visa is a certificate placed on your passport or travel document that allows you to travel to Ireland. You still have to present your passport and documents to immigration control when you arrive at the airport or port, and an immigration officer may still refuse you entry to Ireland .

If you are travelling with children , you have to apply for a visa for your children too.

You may also have to register with immigration authorities .

Ukrainian citizens

From 25 February 2022, citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa to travel to Ireland . Read information for people who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine .

You do not need a visa to land in Ireland if you:

• Are a citizen of the EU or the EEA (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein) or Switzerland
• Have a residence card issued by an EEA country or Switzerland because you are the family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen living in a country outside of the EEA/Swiss family member’s home country (for example, you live in Germany with your French spouse)
• Have a UK short-stay visa and qualify for the short-stay visa waiver or the British-Irish Visa Scheme (see ‘Visa waivers for UK visa holders’ below)
• Are a school student who lives in an EU/EEA country and you are travelling as part of a school trip (see ‘School Student Visa Waiver’ below)
• Are a citizen of a country listed in the table below.

Note Visa free travel also applies to the following types of British nationality:

• British national (overseas)
• British overseas territories citizen (previously called ‘British dependent territories citizenship)
• British overseas citizen

Visa free travel does not apply to people who have a British passport as a ‘British protected person'.

If you are moving to Ireland to live with your Irish de facto partner, a spouse or partner who holds a Critical Skills Employment Permit, or your UK spouse or partner, you have to apply for preclearance even if you are from one of the countries listed above (this does not apply to citizens of Switzerland or the UK). See ‘Do I need preclearance’ below.

If you have a short stay visa for the UK and are an Indian or Chinese citizen, you can travel to Ireland without a visa. See ‘Visa waivers for UK visa holders’ below.

Travelling with a refugee travel document

If you have a refugee travel document issued by a country outside Ireland, you must apply for a visa to enter Ireland. Visa free travel for travel document holders is suspended until further notice.

Family members of EEA/Swiss citizens

If you are coming to Ireland to join or accompany your EEA family member , you must apply for a visa if you are from a country that is not in the list above. If you are already living in another EEA country or Switzerland because you are the family member of an EEA or Swiss citizen who is exercising their free movement rights, you do not need a visa to travel to Ireland.

If you plan to stay in Ireland for more than 3 months you must apply for residence after your arrival.

The type of visa you need depends on the purpose and length of your stay in Ireland.

Short stay visas

If you want to come to Ireland for less than 3 months, you should apply for a short stay ‘C’ visa . You should apply for this type of visa if you want to come to Ireland as a tourist or to visit someone, for a business meeting, or to attend a short course.

You cannot stay for longer than 3 months on a ‘C’ visa. You must leave Ireland and apply for another visa if you want to return.

Long stay visas

If you want to come to Ireland for more than 3 months, for example to study, for work or to settle permanently in Ireland with family members who live in Ireland, then you can apply for a long stay ‘D’ visa .

If you are granted a long stay ‘D’ visa and wish to remain in the State for longer than 3 months you must register and get an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).

You can read more information about different types of visa available on the ISD website .

Re-entry multiple entry visas

The first visa issued to you is valid for a single entry to the State. If you leave Ireland, you must apply for another visa to travel to Ireland again.

If you have had single entry visas in the past and you have obeyed the conditions of those visas, you can apply for a multiple entry visa. You can also apply if you need to come to Ireland frequently for business. A multiple entry visa allows you to travel to Ireland on more than one occasion during the period that the visa is valid.

Re-entry visas for people who live in Ireland

If you have a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP), you no longer need a re-entry visa to re-enter Ireland when traveling abroad. Children under 16 do not get an IRP. They can return to Ireland without a re-entry visa if they are travelling with parents or guardians. The parents or guardians must have an IRP.

Transit visas

If you are travelling through Ireland on your way to another country, you may need a transit visa when arriving in Ireland on their way to another country. A transit visa does not permit you to leave the port or airport. If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, you will need a valid Irish transit visa when landing in the State:

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme allows nationals of a number of Eastern European, Middle Eastern and Asian countries who have a short-term UK visa, to come to Ireland without the need for a separate Irish visa. The countries included in the scheme are:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• North Macedonia
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia

Citizens of India and China , who have a short stay UK visa can travel to Ireland under the British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) without a separate Irish visa. You can also use your Irish visa to travel to the UK. Your visa must be endorsed with ‘BIVS’.

School students who are citizens of a country that would normally need a visa to enter Ireland can apply for a waiver if they live in an EU or EEA country and are travelling as part of a school trip.

The principal of the school must complete an application form and present this form to immigration upon arrival.

If you do not need a visa to come to Ireland, you may still have to apply for preclearance. Preclearance is permission to enter Ireland to apply to reside for certain reasons. You have to apply for preclearance if you want to come to Ireland:

• To volunteer
• As a minister of religion
• As the de facto partner of a Critical Skills Employment Permit or Hosting Agreement holder
• As the de facto partner of an Irish citizen
• As the family member of a UK citizen

A de facto partnership is when you are in a relationship with someone that is like a marriage.

You can apply for pre-clearance online. If you are approved, and you intend to stay in Ireland for more than 3 months, you have to register for an Irish Residence Permit after you arrive in Ireland.

You must apply for an entry visa or preclearance online .

There is information on how to complete an online application in English (pdf) as well as in Arabic (pdf) , Chinese (pdf) , Russian (pdf) , Hindi (pdf) , French (pdf) , Turkish (pdf) and Urdu (pdf) .

You should apply at least 8 weeks before you plan to come to Ireland. Details of the photographic requirements and current processing times are on the ISD website.

Biometric data : All visa applicants residing in Nigeria must provide biometric data . Applicants residing in Pakistan, India and China must provide fingerprints.

Appeals: If you are refused a visa you can appeal the decision by writing to the Irish Immigration Service Visa office .

The standard non-refundable visa application processing fees are:

Entry and re-entry visas

A single journey visa costs €60 and will be valid for one entry to the State up to a maximum of 90 days from the date of issue.

A multi journey visa costs €100 and will be valid for multiple entries to the State up to a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue.

A transit visa costs €25.

There may also be communications charges in some cases. Information about these charges, and on the fee in your local currency, is available from your local Irish embassy or consulate.

Who does not pay the fee?

Some applicants are not required to pay a fee . This includes visa-required spouses and certain family members of EEA citizens (including Irish nationals) provided that proof of the relationship is provided with the application. In addition, applicants from some countries are not required to pay a fee. As this can change from time to time, you should check with your local Irish embassy or consulate, or with the Visa Office.  

Information about visas is available from your nearest Irish embassy or consulate .

Visa Office

Immigration Service Delivery Department of Justice 13-14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 D02 XK70 Ireland

Re-entry Visa Processing Office

Immigration Service Delivery 13/14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 Ireland

Related documents

• Visas for tourists visiting Ireland Information about coming to Ireland for a short stay (less than 90 days). 2029.0166
• Visas for people visiting Ireland on business Certain people who wish to travel to Ireland for business purposes require visas. Find out more. 1893.375
• Student visas to study in Ireland People from certain countries who wish to study in Ireland require visas. Find out more. 1829.7308

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

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Countries that allow visa-free travel with Refugee Travel Documents

• Countries that require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• Countries that DO NOT require visas for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• European countries that you can travel visa free with a travel document
• European countries that require a visa to travel with a travel document
• List of countries that DO NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention
• List of countries that issue travel documents

How to Apply for a Visa

Please note that the information below changes regularly. For example, the UK leaving the EU may change the ability to travel visa-free to European countries. Therefore, you should always check the visa requirements of your country of destination before you travel.

This question comes up when you are considering travelling to one of the European or Schengen Countries or another country. Once you have obtained refugee status, you may wonder where you can travel without the need for a visa.

If you are a holder of a Refugee Travel Document issued by the United Kingdom under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , you can travel visa-free to a lot of countries. Different countries have their own travel restrictions and require you to have a visa even for short term visits like tourism, even if you have a Refugee Travel Document.

When you are travelling, you will need to make sure that you carry your valid UK residence permit confirming your refugee status together with the Refugee Travel Document.

N OTE: This list is subject to changes at any time . We recommend double-checking information on the current visa requirements with the embassy of your country of destination before making any travel arrangements or you can start an application with IaM and we can check for you. IaM is not liable for any immigration or other difficulties you may encounter based on the information on this page.

For countries with official sources, there will be a hyperlink, which will be highlighted in orange and underlined. You can click on it to view more information.

Countries that require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina  
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• Jamaica * (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Kazakhstan  
• Norway * (1951 Convention travel documents issued by Malta, Ireland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland have visa-free access to Norway )
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia 
• Thailand*  (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Turkey   (unless for official visit)
• United Kingdom

Countries that do not require visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• Liechtenstein 
• Netherlands* (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Switzerland
• Tunisia * (depending on the country of origin of the traveller)
• Vatican city

European countries that require a visa to travel with a travel document:

European countries that you can travel visa free with a travel document:.

• Liechtenstein
• Monaco* (To be confirmed after Brexit)
• Netherlands* (Depending on your nationality)

List of countries that DO NOT ALLOW ENTRANCE for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention:

• UAE – Dubai
• Qatar – Doha

List of countries that issue travel documents:

• Netherlands *
• Republic of Ireland
• United States of America

All the above countries issue refugee travel documents in one form or another. They allow you to leave the country that issued them and return with the same documents. Some countries allow you to travel to other countries without the need for a visa. Whereas, you may need to obtain a visa for other countries. These arrangements are usually due to agreements between countries.

Please note that in some instances, you may lose your refugee status if you travel to the country from which you sought refuge. You will need to check with the country that issued your travel documents.

Getting a Travel Visa

A travel visa is an official document, usually stamped or affixed into the bearer’s passport, that grants the right to legally enter, remain within, or leave a foreign country. A  Schengen visa , for example, allows you to travel to any of the  Schengen countries  as well as other  non-Schengen countries  that allow travellers to enter their countries with a Schengen visa.

Travellers without a valid travel visa will be refused entry into a country. And, if the individual enters the country through illegal means and is later discovered, may be punished and deported.

Each country has their own processes for applying for a visa. Generally, you will need to fill in an application form and submit any requirements that the consulate or embassy asks for, and some even require you to appear for an interview .

There are many factors that could add to your visa being approved or rejected by the consulate, and many find the process of applying for a visa stressful for this reason. You can choose to do this on your own, or get a service like IaM to help you either make the application or check the application that you filled out yourself.

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51 Responses

Great article Very informative Just one suggestion in title if you can add UK

Hello, Can I still travel to these countries visa free with a refugee travel document after brexit? Thanks

We are in the process of updating this post. Check with the embassy first to know where you want to go.

The French embassy has been ignoring my email enquiries and their visa centre as well. I am stuck and do not know if I can still travel to France visa free with my refugee blue travel documents with Brexit. Has anyone travelled during this year 2021? did you need to apply for a Schengen visa or did you travel visa free? That would help a lot if someone could share their experience. Many thanks

i tried to go to france but they send me back

Yes, on our list it says France requires visa.

Greece need a visa as the embassy confirmed

Hi all, I am currently stck in Georgia that entered the UK red list and in need for a buffer place to spend the ten days before flying back to the UK. I would appreciate any suggestions for a visa free destination.

Hi. You can check the UK amber list ( https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-uks-amber-travel-list/ ) or green list ( https://immigrationandmigration.com/uk-travel-update-new-countries-on-the-green-list/ ).

What type of visa do I need to visit a Switzerland for about 2 weeks to visit a friend. And can I travel to Switzerland from Sudan . I live in the uk and I have a refugee travel document. I’m traveling to Sudan in few days then if possible will travel to Switzerland.

You will need a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland to visit a friend. You can check the list above if you are required to apply for this visa.

Hi , I have a Uganda travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28 If I travel Europe I need visa or not

Read the blog post above.

Can I still travel to Malta with a refugee travel document from the UK without a visa? I have contacted the relevant embassies but have not had any replies yet.

Hi. We have updated our list. You can check which countries you can travel to visa-free.

Hi CHesca , thanks alot for this information so i have read that Malta does not require visa for Blue refuggee TravelDocument . just some one stuck in Istanbul and have to go to malta to do the 10 days there . thanks

You’re welcome. Glad to help.

Hi , I have a Japanese travel document the Geneva Convention 1951 July 28 If I travel Europe I need visa or not

Check the list above or contact the embassy for more info.

Hi , thank you for this helpful article but can you please confirm about Turkey and Tunisia as I can see them in countries DO NOT require visas for the visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention. do you have any link to show this new update I checked Turkish official website and I think they still ask Refugee travel document holders to apply for visa. please let me know!

many thanks

You can check with the embassy to be sure if you will need a visa or not.

I,m a refugee in Namibia. I have acceptance status and my traveling document. I would like to visit Canada or Austria. Please how will I get the Visa.

Hi. You can start your application with us here: For Austria: https://immigrationandmigration.com/schengen-visas/ For Canada: https://immigrationandmigration.com/canada-visas/

Hi, I been in Portugal in June 21, could I still travel to Portugal with my travel document from UK? Thank you very much.

Check the article above.

Hi I live in the UK having travel documents. Can I travel to paris without visa please let me know Thanks

You can check the list above for France.

Hi Juan, can I check if your comment means you travelled to Portugal in June 2021 visa free? I have a flight to Portugal tomorrow and I was under the impression that I could travel without a visa with the same travel document mentioned in the article. Thanks

I would also be interested in this question in regards Portugal.

Has anyone with refugee travel document indeed travelled to USA WITHOUT a visa or do we actually need a visa to get in?

According to our list, USA requires a visa.

My first inquiry: HI, my UK Refugee Travel Documents will expire in 14/11/2021 (that is bit less than 3 months from now). Can I still use it to travel to Europe (Greece or Lithuania)?

My second inquiry: about a week ago I contacted Lithuania (by email) asking if I could visit Lithuania using my Refugee Travel Document (above) visa-free. They confirmed that I COULD! However, in the list above Lithuania is under the “Countries that REQUIRE visas for visitors with the Refugee Travel Document (blue) issued under the 1951 UN Convention”. Can you explain how this works please?

You need to make sure that your travel document is valid if you plan to travel. As we have put up in the notice, these restrictions can change at any time so we recommend you check with the embassy.

I hold a UN Convention Refugee Travel Document issued in the UK, and I am preparing to visit a country that does not require visa from me. I wonder if I need to present my Biographic Residency Permit Card (BRP) at the custom alonsige the travel document?

Yes you will need that to enter the UK.

I have refugee uganda refugee i need to visit canda how will i go there please help me.

Hello, I have a blue passport (1951) issued by Belgium, I live with in Brussels, I would like to go to south Africa, I would like to know if I need or apply for a visa to go there some days of vacation?.. Thanks

You can check our list above and/or check with the embassy to be sure.

Just been to the Portugal Consulate, Refugees now need a Visa to travel to Portugal.

Hi Baba, is this with the 1951 travel document??

Is this with travel document and valid biometric card?

Hi I have Uk travel document (black) I want travel Eastern Europe do I need visa or just buy ticket and travel also if not which country accept it ?

Check the list above.

Do I Require visa with UK travel Document and biometric card for Portugal? I am Albanian citizen, but I reside in the UK.

Hi Eduart, Albanian citizens do not need a Schengen visa to travel to Portugal or any Schengen countries.

You forgot to mention Canada in your list of countries that issue travel documents. Here’s the details about how to get a Canadian travel document: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/travel-documents-non-canadians.html

Hi, Anyone been able to travel to Italy recently? I tried to go from Birmingham to Milan with Ryanair and they denied me boarding even though I printed embassy website and consulate email confirming that visa is not required. Ryanair’s handling agent at Birmingham Airport, Swissport use IATA TravelCentre to check for visas

Hi I am a Zimbabwean national who holds a UK refugee travel document and I just wanted to check if South Africa definitely does not require a visa as the last time a friend travelled there about ten years ago they did require one. At that time it did state that we needed one on their website but this is no longer stated so am guessing this has changed. Checked with the embassy but referred me to vfs global.

Regarding my earlier enquiry just got an email from VFS global South Africa desk and the agent stated that a visa would need to be applied for prior to travel if I hold a UK refugee travel document as a Zimbabwean national.

Hi , I have a uk travel document the Convention of 28 july 1951 and i wanted to check if i need a visa to travel to belguim. Thanks

Belgium is listed above in one of the countries that you need a visa. Check out how to apply for a Belgium visa .

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Travel Documents

If you have refugee status, subsidiary protection or have been granted residence based on being a family member of a refugee or a person with subsidiary protection status you may qualify for a travel document to allow you to travel outside of Ireland. If you have been recognised as stateless, you will also qualify for a travel document. In exceptional circumstances, migrants with other residency permissions may be granted a temporary travel document.

The application form and guidelines for applying for a travel document are available on the ISD website . The cost of a travel document is €55. The website notes that applications for Travel Documents are taking up to 22 weeks to process so please ensure that you apply well in advance of any planned travel.

The application form can be accessed  here .

1951 Convention Travel Documents - Refugees

If you have refugee status, you qualify for a 1951 Convention Travel Document. A 1951 Convention Travel Document gives you certain benefits including the ability to travel to certain countries without a visa. 

If you are travelling to Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland you should not need a visa for a short-stay (90 days or less). However, please contact the Embassy of the relevant country to clarify what the travel requirements are ahead of your journey, as they may change.

Please note that Ireland imposed a requirement for holders of Geneva Convention Travel Documents from these countries to enter Ireland to have visas for short stays of 90 days or less. 

You can find out more information on suspension of the operation of the Council of Europe Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees (Council of Europe) for a period of 12 months from July 2022 here .

Temporary Travel Documents

If you do not have refugee status or have been recognised as a person eligible for subsidiary protection and you do not have a national passport, the State may, in some very exceptional cases, issue you with a temporary travel document. This may be to allow you to access urgent medical treatment abroad or to help you apply for a national passport from your country of nationality. Many of Nasc’s clients experience difficulties if their passports expire as many countries do not have an embassy or a consulate in Ireland or, even if they do, they cannot print passports in Ireland. We strongly recommend ensuring that you make arrangements to have your passport renewed well in advance of its expiry.  

If you are applying for a temporary travel document, you will need to provide detailed reasons as to why you do not have a national passport and what efforts you have made to try to get a national passport. You will need to show that you have made efforts to obtain a national passport and that you has been formally and unreasonably refused by your country of origin.

Examples of the evidence that you should provide with your form includes:

• Details of the efforts you made to obtain a passport – letters/faxes/phone calls or emails to Embassy or relevant agencies seeking a passport;
• Evidence that the country you have requested the passport from will not issue you with a passport unless you present in person at an Embassy or at a passport office in your country of nationality – letters/faxes/emails from the Embassy addressed to you requiring you to travel to apply for a passport;
• Details of the efforts you made to obtain a temporary travel document or laissez-passer from your country of nationality and evidence that this request has been refused.

The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs publishes a Diplomatic List of all of the embassies and consulates accredited to Ireland. This list is updated regularly and is a useful resource to get information on where your nearest embassy is located. 

If you have been issued with permission to remain in the State on the condition that it will only be renewed once you can provide an up to date passport, we strongly recommend that you begin the process of applying for your passport as soon as possible. It may take a number of months for you to gather the relevant evidence and the application process for the travel document may also take several months.   

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Ireland: Visa requirement for refugees changes

Ireland has temporarily suspended visa-free travel for refugees traveling to the Republic from safe European countries. The temporary suspension will last 12 months, and does not include Ukrainians.

Ireland has decided to temporarily suspend its operation of the 1959 Council of Europe agreement, which allows visa-free travel for refugees, who have been granted protection in other European countries. Ukrainians are exempted from the temporary suspension .

Normally, countries within the EU, which are signatories to the Council of Europe Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, have to allow visa-free travel for holders of refugee travel documents. It allows holders of these travel documents to enter a signatory country for a maximum of three months without a visa or prior clearance.

At the moment, the visa exemption applies to holders of a Convention Travel Document issued by Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, as stated in the Irish government press release.

Change starts on July 19

The suspension came into effect at noon on Tuesday, 19 July. However, for Ukrainian nationals, who are also subject to a special visa-free travel arrangement within the block, free travel is still available.

The Irish government said the move was intended to "protect integrity of immigration and International Protection Systems." It said its International Protection Office had been "receiving applications from some people who already have granted refugee status by other states."

When a person applies for international protection, your fingerprints are checked on the Eurodac database. This tells a country if someone has already applied for this status elsewhere. The Irish press release said that between January 2021 and January 2022, their International Protection Office received "760 notifications on the basis that the person was [already] a beneficiary of international protection in another state."

System open to 'exploitation'

Of these 760 notifications, 479 -- or 63% -- had their protection status already granted in other EU Member States. Those 479 applications accounted for 7% of the overall applications for international protection in Ireland in that period, said the press release.

If you have been granted refugee status in another European country and would like to travel to Ireland, you can apply for a visa in order to do so.

Ireland's Minister of Justice, Helen McEntee, said that the government had not taken this decision lightly. However, she said there "is evidence that there may be abuse of such systems, [and so] the government must act swiftly to mitigate the risks to maintain the integrity of our immigration and international protection systems and uphold public confidence in those systems."

McEntee added that some had been exploiting the system. She said the suspension was "temporary and will be reviewed in a year's time."

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney added that Ireland's decision "will assist in the protection of Ukrainians, and those of other nationalities, who are fleeing conflict, as it will lessen the incidence of abuse of this system."

Run out of beds

Minster Coveney added that Ireland's decision was not "unprecedented" and that "other Council of Europe member states have taken similar action previously."

The news magazine Politico reported that the Irish government had come to its decision after it had reportedly run out of beds for Ukrainian arrivals because they "were being taken by refugees from other nations."

As a result, wrote Politico , "hundreds of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, who have landed in Ireland since Thursday have ended up sleeping on the floor of a disused Dublin Airport building."

On Tuesday, these people are expected to be rehoused in an Irish army-errected "tent village" north of the capital Dublin, reported Politico .

According to Politico , some of the increase in people coming to Ireland is because of the UK's threats to send people to Rwanda . However, it pointed out that this does not directly affect people traveling directly from the UK, as Britain and Ireland have a visa-free travel agreement in place already anyway.

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• France refuses visas to relatives of victims of Channel shipwreck

Asylum Information Database | European Council on Refugees and Exiles

• Travel documents

Republic of Ireland

According to Section 55 IPA, the Minister for Justice and Equality, on application by the person concerned, shall issue a travel document to a qualified person and his or her family member. The Minister for Justice may not, however, issue a travel document if the person has not furnished the required information as requested by the Minister, or the Minister considers that to issue it would not be in the best interests of national security, public health or public order or would be contrary to public policy.

Both refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection in Ireland are entitled to apply for travel documents, which is done by application form to the ISD Travel Document Section. The application requirements differ slightly between the two categories of applicant, in that the applications of subsidiary protection beneficiaries are subject to the Minster’s satisfaction that the applicant is “unable to obtain a travel document from the relevant authority of the country of his or her nationality or, as the case may be, former habitual residence.” [1] While this does not reflect an overt distinction in theory, in practice, it means that beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can be required to demonstrate that they have made every effort to prove that they are unable to obtain a travel document from another relevant authority before they are issued with an Irish travel document.

Beyond that, the travel document application process for both refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection is uniform. Applicants are required to fill out an application form, submit four passport-sized photographs, a copy of documentation from the Department of Justice issuing permission to remain in the state, a copy of the applicant’s Garda Naturalisation and Immigration Bureau registration card, and an €80 application fee. [2]

According to the ISD, the validity of travel documents for a holder of a “1951 Convention Travel Document” (person with refugee status ) is ten years, in line with the validity of Irish passports. [3]

Travel Documents granted on foot of subsidiary protection are issued for the duration of their permission to remain. This is generally for a period of three years from when status is granted under Section 23 of the European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013. [4] The travel document is renewed in line with the period of permission granted after that by the person’s local Registration / Immigration Office. [5] Furthermore, Schedule 3 of the Subsidiary Protection Regulations states that the “maximum validity of a travel document is 10 years.”

The primary limitation on use of travel documents is that the country of origin/persecution of the holder is not permitted for the purposes of travel. [6] Other than that, beneficiaries of refugee or subsidiary protection status in Ireland are both equally entitled to travel in or out of the State with their respective travel documents. While this enables travel to most EU Member States without a visa, it is impressed upon document holders to enquire with the embassy of their intended travel destination in advance, in order to ascertain the necessity to obtain a visa as each State may have individual requirements based on nationality, etc.. [7] Holders of Irish refugee and subsidiary protection documents do not require a re-entry permit upon return to Ireland. [8]

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government advised against all travel outside of Ireland for non-essential purposes. In February 2021, following a significant increase in the infection rate in Ireland, new restrictions targeting non-essential travel overseas were announced by Government. These included fines for those leaving the country for non-essential purposes, as well as mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival from certain destinations. [9] Following a reduction in the number of COVID-19 cases in summer 2021, restrictions on travel abroad were eased. Persons travelling abroad were advised to check the public health advice, document requirements and COVID-19 restrictions that are in place in the country to which they were travelling. Additionally, on return to Ireland, individuals were required to complete a passenger locator form and show proof of being fully vaccinated or having recently recovered from COVID-19. Where a passenger could not demonstrate vaccination status or proof of having recovered from COVID-19, they were required to have a PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival.

Following the announcement of further restrictions on travel, the Irish Refugee Council wrote to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee and the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, outlining the importance of ensuring continued access to the protection process and raising issues with regard to mandatory hotel quarantine. It was emphasised that access to the protection process at Irish airports should not be affected or curtailed by any of the changes made as a result of banning non-essential travel. Moreover, particular concern was raised in relation to the cost of mandatory quarantine for individuals arriving under family reunification procedures of the International Protection Act 2015 or to seek international protection under the Act. It was requested that both categories of individuals be considered in the bracket of travellers who cannot afford hotel quarantine costs. In addition, it was noted that individuals seeking protection may require particular services, including medical assistance and legal advice and that special supports were likely to be needed for asylum seekers in circumstances where they were required to isolate for 14-days alone in a hotel room. [10]

In July 2022, the State suspended for a period of 12 months visa-free entry for individuals with refugee status traveling on Convention Travel from 20 so-called ‘safe’ European countries. Previously, pursuant to the European Agreement on the Abolition of Visas for Refugees, those with refugee status could travel to and within Ireland for up to 90 days without requiring a visa or prior clearance. Following the suspension, those seeking to travel to Ireland are now required to apply for a visa in order to enter Ireland, facing processing times of approximately 8-14 weeks. [11] The measure has been implemented with a view to protecting the ‘integrity’ of the immigration system, according to the government, who cited an increase in those who had already received refugee status in another European country travelling to Ireland applying for asylum. [12] According to statistics released by the Department of Justice, 479 such applications were made, representing 7% of the overall applications for international protection during that period. [13]

[1] Regulation 24(2) European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013.

[2] Department of Justice and Equality, Travel Document Application Form , available at: https://bit.ly/2MgK7DY ; INIS, Travel Document Photo Requirements , available at: https://bit.ly/2pNZUhK ; INIS, Travel Document Information Note , available at: https://bit.ly/2Ib8miT .

[3]   Ibid.

[4] Regulation 23 European Union (Subsidiary Protection) Regulations 2013.

[5]  Information provided by INIS, March 2018.

[6] Information provided by INIS, March 2018.

[7] Citizens Information, Travel documents for people with refugee or subsidiary protection status , available at: https://bit.ly/2GjMhlN .

[8] INIS, Travel Document Information Note , available at: https://bit.ly/2Ib8miT .

[9] Irish Times, ‘Covid-19: New restrictions to target foreign travel’, 10 February 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3qsoJ16 .

[10] Irish Refugee Council, Letter to Government on access to protection process and hotel quarantining recommendations, 12 February 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/2OCOAoO .

[11] European Commission, Suspension of Visa-free Movement Programme for Refugees, 18 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3wjqJNu.

[12] Government of Ireland, Government agrees to temporarily require refugees travelling to Ireland from safe European countries to hold visas, 18 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3XlNtZc .

[13] European Commission, Suspension of Visa-free Movement Programme for Refugees, 18 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3wjqJNu.

Table of contents

• Overview of the legal framework
• Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
• Types of Procedures
• List of authorities intervening in each stage of the procedure
• Number of staff and nature of the first instance authority
• Short overview of the asylum procedure
• Access to the territory and push backs
• Registration of the asylum application
• Regular procedure
• Admissibility procedure
• Border procedure (border and transit zones)
• Accelerated procedure
• Identification
• Special procedural guarantees
• Use of medical reports
• Legal representation of unaccompanied children
• Subsequent applications
• Safe country of origin
• Safe third country
• First country of asylum
• Information for asylum seekers and access to NGOs and UNHCR
• Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure
• Criteria and restrictions to access reception conditions
• Forms and levels of material reception conditions
• Reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions
• Freedom of movement
• Types of accommodation
• Conditions in reception facilities
• Access to the labour market
• Access to education
• Health care
• Special reception needs of vulnerable groups
• Provision of information on reception
• Access to reception centres by third parties
• Differential treatment of specific nationalities in reception
• Grounds for detention
• Alternatives to detention
• Detention of vulnerable applicants
• Duration of detention
• Place of detention
• Conditions in detention facilities
• Access to detention facilities
• Judicial review of the detention order
• Legal assistance for review of detention
• Differential treatment of specific nationalities in detention
• Residence permit
• Civil registration
• Long-term residence
• Naturalisation
• Cessation and review of protection status
• Withdrawal of protection status
• Criteria and conditions
• Status and rights of family members
• Social welfare
• ANNEX – Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation

For Ireland’s “Second-Class” Refugees, Travel to Other Countries in Europe Is Much More Difficult

Refugees, Categorised

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