IrelandUnited Kingdom

Irish passport · policy checked 11 Jul 2026

No visa

Freedom of movement - live, work and travel. CTA.

∞

stay

no time limit

0

visa fee

free entry

1

document

your valid passport

0

forms

no application, no appointment

Entering United Kingdom on an Irish passport

    United Kingdom visa types

    Standard Visitor Visa (private medical treatment)Medical

    335 days15-21d processing~$297valid 335donline

    Receiving private medical treatment in the UK for longer than 6 and up to 11 months

    An extended Standard Visitor route for private medical treatment lasting up to 11 months. Fee £234 (June 2026). Requires evidence from a UK doctor/consultant, treatment details and ability to pay. Private treatment of up to 6 months uses the ordinary Standard Visitor visa (£135).

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    Family Visa (spouse/partner/parent/child)Family

    multiple entryup to 84d processing~$2621valid 1005donline

    Joining a spouse, partner, fiancé(e), child, parent or relative who is British or settled in the UK, for longer than 6 months

    For partners, fiancé(e)s, children, parents and adult dependent relatives of British citizens or settled persons. Application fee £2,064 per person from outside the UK (£1,407 inside) as of June 2026. Partner route initial grant is typically 33 months from outside the UK; leads to settlement after 5 years. Decisions usually within 12 weeks from outside the UK.

    Official page ↗
    Marriage Visitor VisaFamily

    180 daysmultiple entry15-21d processing~$171valid 180donline

    Coming to the UK to marry or register a civil partnership without intending to stay or settle

    For those who will marry or form a civil partnership in the UK but do not plan to settle afterwards. Fee £135 (June 2026). Stay up to 6 months. Those intending to settle after marriage should use the Family visa (fiancé(e)) route instead.

    Official page ↗
    Child Student VisaStudent

    multiple entry15-21d processing~$709online

    Studying at an independent (fee-paying) school in the UK, for children aged 4 to 17

    For children aged 4-17 attending a licensed independent school. Requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). Application fee £558 from outside the UK (June 2026). Children aged 4-15 must be sponsored by an independent fee-paying school. Decision usually within 3 weeks.

    Official page ↗
    Short-term study visa (English language)Student

    335 days15-21d processing~$290valid 335donline

    Studying an accredited English language course lasting longer than 6 and up to 11 months

    Only for accredited English language courses lasting 6-11 months (shorter courses use the Standard Visitor route). Fee £228 (June 2026). Stay is the length of the course plus 30 days, up to 11 months. Cannot be extended, switched, or used for other subjects.

    Official page ↗
    Student VisaStudent

    multiple entry15-60d processing~$709online

    Studying a course at a licensed UK student sponsor for longer than 6 months

    Requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a UK Visas and Immigration-licensed sponsor. Application fee £558 when applying from outside the UK (June 2026). Degree-level students aged 18+ can usually stay up to 5 years; below degree level up to 2 years.

    Official page ↗
    Global Talent VisaWork

    1825 daysmultiple entry15-21d processing~$973valid 1825donline

    Recognised or emerging leaders in academia/research, arts and culture, or digital technology

    No employer sponsorship required, but most applicants need endorsement from an approved body (or an eligible prestigious prize). Fee £766 total (£561 endorsement + £205 visa) as of June 2026. Grant up to 5 years at a time; leads to settlement after 3-5 years. Decision usually within 3 weeks from outside the UK.

    Official page ↗
    Graduate VisaWork

    730 daysmultiple entry15-56d processing~$1190valid 730donline

    Post-study work for those who have completed an eligible UK degree on a Student visa

    Unsponsored work route for recent UK graduates; applied for from inside the UK. Fee £937 (June 2026). Grants 2 years (18 months if applied on/after 1 January 2027), or 3 years for PhD holders. Cannot be extended and does not lead directly to settlement.

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    Health and Care Worker VisaWork

    1825 daysmultiple entry15-21d processing~$411valid 1825donline

    Qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care workers with a job offer from an approved UK health or care employer

    A subset of the Skilled Worker route with reduced fees and exemption from the immigration health surcharge. Fee £324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (more than 3 years) as of June 2026. Requires a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office-approved health or care employer. Decision usually within 3 weeks.

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    High Potential Individual (HPI) VisaWork

    730 daysmultiple entry15-21d processing~$1118valid 730donline

    Recent graduates of a top global university who want to work or look for work in the UK without a job offer

    For those who obtained an eligible qualification from a top-ranked university in the last 5 years. No sponsorship needed. Application fee £880 (June 2026). Grants 2 years (3 years for PhD holders); cannot be extended and does not lead directly to settlement.

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    Scale-up Worker VisaWork

    730 daysmultiple entry15-56d processing~$1190valid 730donline

    Working for a fast-growing UK business (a Home Office-approved 'scale-up' sponsor) in a high-skilled occupation

    Requires a job offer lasting at least 6 months from a Home Office-approved scale-up sponsor in an eligible occupation, meeting the salary threshold (raised to £36,000/year or £10.75/hour from April 2026) and B2 English (from 8 January 2026). Sponsorship is only required for the first 6 months; after that the holder can work, switch employer or become self-employed without new sponsorship for the rest of the visa. Flat application fee £937 (confirmed on gov.uk 'How much it costs' page, April 2026 fee table). Immigration health surcharge ~£1,035/year. Initial grant up to 2 years, extendable in further 3-year blocks; leads to settlement (ILR) after 5 years total residence.

    Official page ↗
    Seasonal Worker VisaWork

    180 dayssingle entry15-21d processing~$432valid 180donline

    Temporary employment in UK horticulture (fruit, vegetable and flower picking) or poultry processing

    For horticulture work, visa allows a stay of up to 6 months; for poultry work the scheme runs 2 October to 31 December each year. Requires sponsorship by a Home Office-licensed scheme operator and proof of sufficient personal savings; can enter up to 14 days before the job start date. Fee £340 (April 2026 fee table). 2026 allocation is 42,900 places (41,000 horticulture, 1,900 poultry). Temporary route only - does not lead to settlement or long-term residence; worker must return home once the visa expires.

    Official page ↗
    Skilled Worker VisaWork

    1825 daysmultiple entry15-45d processing~$1040valid 1825donline

    Working in an eligible skilled job with a UK employer

    Requires a job offer from a UK licensed sponsor paying at least the required salary threshold. Standard fee from outside the UK is £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for more than 3 years (June 2026); lower fees apply if the job is on the immigration salary list.

    Official page ↗
    UK Ancestry VisaWork

    1825 daysmultiple entry15-21d processing~$922valid 1825donline

    Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man who want to work in the UK

    For Commonwealth citizens (also British overseas citizens/nationals and Zimbabwean citizens) able to prove a UK-born grandparent. Fee £726 (June 2026). Grants 5 years; holders can work without sponsorship and apply for settlement after 5 years. Decision usually within 3 weeks.

    Official page ↗
    Innovator Founder VisaInvestment

    1095 daysmultiple entry15-45d processing~$1723valid 1095donline

    Setting up or running a business in the UK that is innovative, viable, and scalable

    Requires endorsement from a UKVI-approved endorsing body. No minimum investment amount specified. Application fee £1,357 per person when applying from outside the UK (June 2026), plus endorsement fees. Valid 3 years, renewable; leads to settlement after 3 years.

    Official page ↗
    Youth Mobility Scheme (Working Holiday)Working holiday

    730 daysmultiple entry15-30d processing~$432valid 730donline

    Living and working in the UK for up to 2 years (age 18-30/35, select nationalities)

    Available to nationals of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Uruguay, Andorra, Iceland, India (ballot) and others via bilateral agreements. Fee £340 (June 2026). Base stay 2 years; Australian, Canadian and New Zealand nationals can extend by 1 further year.

    Official page ↗

    United Kingdom visa policy, fees & entry rules in full →

    United Kingdom visa for Irish citizens - FAQ

    Do Irish citizens need a visa for United Kingdom?

    No - Irish citizens have freedom of movement in United Kingdom under their bloc membership, which includes the right to live and work there, not just visit.

    What documents do Irish citizens need for United Kingdom?

    A valid passport is all Irish citizens need for a short stay.

    Check entry with visas you already hold →What “freedom of movement” means →