What you must do
You must:
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Irish Government and your local authority. You can also read our Ireland travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Ireland see our coronavirus travel advice.
Stay up to date
You should:
You can also read the Irish government’s website for UK citizens living in Ireland.
Visas and residency
UK citizens do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland. Under the Common Travel Area (CTA), UK and Irish citizens can live and work freely in each other’s countries and travel freely between them. Both the UK and Irish governments are committed to protecting the CTA. Read our guidance on the CTA.
Ireland’s Citizens Information service has advice about moving to and living in Ireland.
You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) has advice on the requirements for non-EU/EEA family members of UK citizens.
Passports and travel
Your travel rights for Ireland continue through the Common Travel Area. Travel between the UK and Ireland has not changed.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Ireland.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including travel between the UK and Ireland).
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
Entry requirements
You can travel to Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This is a rolling 180-day period.
To stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit. Travel to the UK will not change.
Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Healthcare
Read our guidance on how to access healthcare in Ireland.
Under the CTA, UK citizens who live in Ireland have the right to access healthcare in Ireland. When visiting, UK citizens also have the right to access medically necessary healthcare.
Find a list of hospitals and doctors in Ireland.
Paying for healthcare
You may need to pay a fee to access public healthcare in Ireland on the same basis as Irish citizens. However, you may be eligible for a means tested medical card. If you do not qualify for a medical card on income grounds, you may qualify for a GP Visit card.
Read the Irish government’s guidance on how to apply for medical and GP cards.
You can also take out private health insurance.
You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if you live in Ireland and get an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit. You will usually need to show some evidence of your entitlement to healthcare in Ireland, such as proof of property rental or ownership. If eligible, you’ll need a medical card that entitles you to receive certain health services free of charge.
Working in Ireland
Under the CTA, UK citizens do not need a visa or residency permit to live, work or study in Ireland.
Some jobs may require a UK criminal records check. You can also get a police certificate from the GardaÃ.
Read the Irish government’s Citizens Information on employment.
Professional qualifications
If you had your qualifications recognised by the relevant regulator before 1 January 2021, there will be no change and you can continue to practise in Ireland or elsewhere in the EU.
If you have not yet had your professional qualifications recognised, you should contact the competent authority for that profession in Ireland to find out if you need to take any action.
For help with this:
Money and tax
UK bank cards are widely accepted for transactions in Ireland.
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Ireland.
Read the Citizens Information tax guidance and the Revenue.ie guidance on tax in Ireland.
National Insurance
The UK and Irish governments have a bilateral agreement to ensure that social security rights, including existing arrangements for social insurance contributions continue to be protected.
Banking
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.
Pensions
You must tell the UK government offices that deal with your pension if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you are a UK national living in or working in Ireland, working in both the UK and Ireland, or working across the border, you are subject to only one state’s social security legislation at a time. This means you can access your pension from whichever state you are subject to the social security legislation of, regardless of where you are living.
See State Pension if you retire abroad and new State Pension.
If you have worked in Ireland, you can apply to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. If you have not worked in Ireland, you can claim your UK State Pension by contacting the International Pension Centre. If you have worked in several EU countries, see state pensions abroad.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you are getting a UK State Pension and receive a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you do not.
The UK and Irish governments have a bilateral agreement to ensure social security rights, including access to pensions. This agreement means that there will be no change to the payment of your UK State Pension in Ireland. UK State Pensions will continue to be paid, including upratings.
Benefits
If you are living in or working in Ireland, working in both the UK and Ireland, or working across the border, you are subject to only one state’s social security legislation at a time. This means you can access social security benefits from whichever state you are subject to the social security legislation of, regardless of where you are living.
You also have the right to access social security benefits on the same basis as citizens of the state you are in.
Read our guidance on:
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Irish benefits
The criteria to claim certain Irish social security benefits differ from those in the UK. If you meet Ireland’s 5 requirements for determining habitual residence then you may be eligible to claim some Irish social security benefits.
Read the Irish Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection guidance and the Irish government’s guidance on Irish social welfare payments.
The UK and Irish governments have a bilateral agreement to ensure that social security rights, including access to social security benefits and entitlements continue to be protected.
Driving in Ireland
You should exchange your UK driving licence for an Irish one.
If you are visiting Ireland, you can drive with your existing UK driving licence.
Read the Irish government’s guidance on driving licences and FAQs.
See driving abroad and Irish guidance on British driving licences.
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Ireland
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
Pets
Pet travel rules for taking your pet to Great Britain, Europe and Northern Ireland have not changed.
If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time, you must visit your vet to get a pet passport.
Read our guidance on pet travel to NI and Europe.
If you are travelling to Great Britain with your pet and are planning on re-entering Ireland afterwards, you should contact your vet to make sure your animal has all the health preparation it needs.
Read our guidance on bringing your pet to Great Britain and the Irish government’s guidance on pet travel.
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
Voting
Upon reaching voting age you can register with the relevant authorities to vote in local and national parliamentary elections.
Read the Irish government’s guidance on voting and how to register.
You cannot vote in European parliamentary elections.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Ireland, you will need to register a birth abroad.
If someone dies in Ireland you can:
Find out how to get married abroad.
You may also need to find a lawyer in Ireland.
Emergencies
You can dial the European emergency number on 112, or the national emergency number on 999. Find a list of Irish security and emergency services.
If you are the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact your nearest British embassy or consulate.
Accommodation and buying property
Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.
For information on housing in Ireland, including renting and owning a home, you can look at Citizens Information on housing.
Returning to the UK
Look at the Citizens Information on leaving Ireland.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.
Disclaimer
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Irish authorities. The FCDO will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
