Exempt
Irish citizens do not need a UK ETA
Common Travel Area — no ETA
Irish citizens are not required to obtain a UK ETA. The Common Travel Area and the Immigration Rules treat Irish citizens differently from other EU nationalities. Travel on your Irish passport. You do not pay the £20 ETA fee. French, German and other EU friends on the same trip still need ETAs unless they have UK permission. Legal residents of Ireland who are not Irish citizens may have a CTA-related ETA exception when travelling within the Common Travel Area if they can prove Irish residence — that is a narrow GOV.UK rule, not a blanket waiver. When in doubt, check GOV.UK rather than copying this page.
Irish travel facts
| Passport | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Roll-out | Common Travel Area — no ETA |
| What you need | Nothing extra |
| Stay | As a British or Irish citizen |
| Work | Not allowed on visit permission |
| Landside transit | Not applicable |
Mistakes irish citizens make
- Non-Irish housemates in Dublin assuming they are exempt because they live in Ireland.
- Irish citizens applying for an ETA ‘to be safe’ and confusing the airline.
London notes for Irish arrivals
Dublin–London is a domestic-style air/rail market: Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Stansted, Luton, plus the train via Holyhead. No ETA check for Irish passports. Contactless on TfL as usual. Congestion Charge still applies if you drive a car into the zone — citizenship does not waive it.
FAQs
- Do Irish citizens need a UK ETA?
- No.
- My spouse is French and we live in Dublin.
- You do not need an ETA. They might, unless a specific CTA residence exception on GOV.UK applies. Check the official tool.
Other passports
Bodhixt is not affiliated with UKVI. Confirm on GOV.UK before you book. Apply via https://www.gov.uk/eta only.