Ireland and Schengen: Do you need ETIAS to travel to Ireland?

The new European Travel and Information Authorization System, ETIAS, will be in place by Spring 2025. ETIAS will be required to enter the Schengen area for citizens of more than 50 nations.

If you are looking to travel to Ireland, there may be questions about the requirement for an ETIAS. Does Ireland belong to the Schengen area? Are they EU members? Is Ireland not part of the UK?
ETIAS is a way to travel to any country in the Schengen Area. Ireland is not a member of the Schengen area, but it is an EU member.

Keep in mind the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Only the latter is part of the UK. As a result, many issues concerning the border between Ireland, the UK, and Northern Ireland have arisen in the Brexit negotiations. More information can be found below.
This article will provide all the information travelers need about Ireland and its relationship to the Schengen Area.

What’s the difference between Ireland and Northern Ireland?

The Republic of Ireland is Ireland’s official title. It is not part of the UK. The Republic of Ireland, however, is a member of the European Union.
Northern Ireland forms part of the UK. Officially, it is the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland. The UK also includes England, Scotland, and Wales.

Even if the UK had not voted to leave the EU, ETIAS wouldn’t have been valid to travel in the UK because the UK didn’t sign the Schengen Agreement. ETIAS is required to travel to the Schengen area.
Northern Ireland is separate from Ireland. Northern Ireland will still be part of the United Kingdom, while Ireland will remain part of the EU.

Recent history of the Irish border

It is helpful to understand the history of the Irish border to better understand the current situation. Internationally known as the Northern Ireland Conflict (or simply the Conflict), this political and nationalist conflict began in the late 1960s and was fueled by historical events.
The constitutional status of Northern Ireland was a critical issue. Most Protestants supported the UK Northern Ireland being a part of the Unionist and Loyalist movement, while most Catholics supported Northern Ireland joining a united Ireland.

The conflict started during a campaign to end discrimination by the police force against the Catholic minor and the Protestant/unionist governments. The police were accused of using brutality to suppress the movement.
The violence between the groups resulted in riots that culminated in the August 1969 deployment of British troops and riots. Paramilitary organizations also emerged, and these events eventually led to three decades of troubles.

Political negotiations have again focused on the border, this time concerning Brexit. Former Prime Minister Theresa May could not resolve the Northern Ireland border issue, and it continues to be a problem for Boris Johnson, the current PM.

After years of negotiations, the EU and UK have just created rules to prevent border checks between Northern Ireland (and the Republic of Ireland) starting January 1, after much discussion.

Why is Ireland not a member of the Schengen Area

Eire (or simply Ireland) is a member of the European Union but has not joined Schengen Area.
The UK and Ireland have a Common Travel Area that allows passport-free travel to their citizens, as well as the three British Crown Dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey, which are not members of the European Union.
Gibraltar will be included in the Schengen Scheme following the agreement reached by the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union for a post-Brexit period.

The UK refused to sign up for the Schengen Agreement, arguing that frontier controls are better than other methods to stop illegal immigration in an island country.
Ireland refused to sign the Schengen Agreement for its own reasons. It said that it was not in Ireland’s best interest to do so. Ireland would also impose exit and entry controls on people traveling between Ireland and Britain, as well as on the frontier.

Ireland didn’t join the Schengen Agreement mainly because it wanted to control non-EU citizens’ immigration status. Ireland does not belong to mainland Europe. Therefore, it makes sense for Ireland to manage their borders in the way they choose.

Schengen visa and ETIAS

The Schengen Agreement was created to establish uniform border rules across its member countries. For example, Schengen visa holders can stay up to 90 days within the region. A Schengen Visa is valid to travel within the countries that have signed the agreement. It can be used for up to 90 days during a period of 180 days.

ETIAS does not replace the Schengen visa. ETIAS refers to a visa waiver available for citizens of countries currently exempted from visa requirements in the Schengen Area.

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Ireland?

The simple answer is no. You will not require an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to Ireland. ETIAS travel authorization only allows entry to Schengen member countries. This excludes Ireland. ETIAS can also be used for countries in the process of joining Schengen: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

Non-EU citizens who want to make the most out of their trip and visit European countries such as Italy or Spain will need an ETIAS permit.

ETIAS will be available to citizens of more than 50 countries when it is released in 2025.

Check the entry requirements for travelers going to Ireland based on their nationality. You may need additional permits to enter Northern Ireland or any other country in the United Kingdom.

Ireland and the Schengen Information System

Recently, the EU approved Ireland’s access to the Schengen Information System. Ireland now has access to SIS II – Europe’s most popular and widely used IT security system.

An Garda Siochana is the Irish national police force and will share data on missing persons as well as stolen or lost objects and cars with the 30 other participating countries.

This is a significant security boost because the data can be used to detect potentially dangerous persons trying to enter Ireland and locate people and objects elsewhere within Europe.

The An Garda Siochana PULSE and Garda National Immig Bureau databases will be integrated with SIS II to detect and prevent serious crimes. Even though Ireland will not be included in the Schengen common travel area, it will receive the safety and security benefits of sharing knowledge.
looking to travel to Germany or Ireland should look into the new ETIAS visa waiver system requirements and eligibility to understand whether they need one.