Do I need ETIAS to visit Ireland?

ETIAS will be in place in 2023. ETIAS will be required to allow citizens of more than 50 countries to visit the Schengen Zone.

• Ireland is an EU member but not part of the Schengen Zone.
• Learn why Ireland is still outside the standard travel zone and what this means for your ability to visit Ireland in 2023.

If you plan to travel to Ireland in the future, there may be questions about the requirement for an ETIAS. Is Ireland a member of the Schengen area? Is it a member of the EU? Isn’t Ireland a part of the UK? ETIAS can be used for travel to any country in the Schengen Zone. Ireland is an EU member, although it is not part of the Schengen Zone. Remember that there is a difference between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The former is not part of the United Kingdom. As a result, many issues concerning the border between Ireland, the UK, and Northern Ireland have arisen in the Brexit negotiations. This article will provide all the information travelers need about Ireland and its relationship to the Schengen Area.

Northern Ireland and Ireland

Ireland is officially called the Republic of Ireland and is not part of the United Kingdom. However, Ireland is a member of the EU even though it’s not part of the Schengen Zone. Officially, Northern Ireland is part of the UK. The UK also includes Scotland, England, and Wales. Even if the United Kingdom had not voted to leave the European Union, ETIAS wouldn’t have been valid for visiting the UK because the UK hasn’t signed the Schengen Agreement. ETIAS must visit the Schengen area and countries in the process of joining the Schengen Zone. In other words, Northern Ireland is distinct from Ireland. Ireland will be part of the EU, while Northern Ireland will remain part of the United Kingdom.

Recent history of the Irish border

It is helpful to understand the history of the Irish border to understand the current situation better. 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 constitution of Northern Ireland was a critical issue. Most Protestant unionists and loyalists wanted Northern Ireland to remain within the UK. Most Catholics supported Northern Ireland joining a united Ireland. The conflict started during a campaign by the police and the Protestant/unionist government to end discrimination against Catholic minorities. The authorities were accused of police brutality as they tried to suppress this campaign. 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-decade-long disturbances. Political negotiations have again focused on the border, this time about Brexit. Former Prime Minister Theresa May could not resolve the Northern Ireland border issue, which continues to be a problem for Boris Johnson, the current PM.
After years of negotiations, the European Union and the UK have only recently formulated rules to prevent border checks between Northern Ireland starting January 1.

Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area.

Eire (or Ireland) is a member in good standing of the European Union but has not joined the 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. After the agreement reached by the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Gibraltar for the post-Brexit period, Gibraltar will become part of the Schengen system. The UK refused to sign up for the Schengen Agreement, arguing that frontier controls were better than other methods to stop illegal immigration in an island country. Ireland refused to sign the Schengen Agreement for its reasons. It said 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 and the frontier. Ireland didn’t join the Schengen Agreement mainly because it wanted to control non-EU citizens’ immigration status. It is not part of mainland Europe, so it makes sense for Ireland to be able to manage its borders in the way that they choose.

What’s the difference between a Schengen Visa and ETIAS

The Schengen Agreement was created to ensure that all member countries have the same border rules. For example, the Schengen visa grants holders a 90-day stay in the region. A Schengen visa is valid for travel within the area of the countries that have signed the agreement. It can be used for up to 90 days during 180 days.
ETIAS does not replace the Schengen visa. ETIAS is a visa waiver available to citizens of countries exempted from visa requirements for the Schengen Area.

Do I need ETIAS to travel to Ireland?

No, an ETIAS visa waiver is not required to travel to Ireland. ETIAS travel authorization only allows entry to Schengen countries. This does not apply to Ireland. ETIAS can also be used for countries joining Schengen: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania. Non-EU citizens will require an ETIAS permit to travel to Europe and visit countries such as France, Spain, and Italy. ETIAS will be available to citizens of more than 50 countries when it is released in 2023. 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 has access to SIS II from the 15th of March, 2021. This is Europe’s most popular and widely used IT security system. A Garda Siochana is the Irish national police service. It will share information about missing persons, stolen or lost objects, and vehicles with the 30 other participating countries. This data can be used to locate people or objects in Europe and identify potentially dangerous persons trying to enter Ireland. The An Garda Siochana PULSE and Garda National Immig Bureau databases will be integrated with SIS II to detect better and prevent serious crimes. Ireland will not be included in the Schengen common travel area, but it will receive the safety and security benefits of sharing knowledge.