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How to get through Irish immigration

The IrishCentral guide to safely navigating Irish immigration

By
KELLY FINCHAM,
IrishCentral.com Editor

Published Friday, July 31, 2009, 1:09 PM
Updated Friday, July 31, 2009, 5:05 PM

 

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United States Passport

Two big stories have prompted us here at IrishCentral.com to create a easy guide for tourists going into Ireland.

Both the Plano 3 and a travel writer were banned from Ireland after inadvertently raising red flags at Irish immigration.

One tourist did not know the address of the place where he was staying and the other did not have a return ticket and no proof of an intending return.

As someone who can barely summon the vocabulary to order a cup of tea after flying through the night I can only sympathize with those who need their wits about them at 6am!

The key thing is to be able to demonstrate to the officer in charge that you have no intention of overstaying your welcome.

You need to know where you're staying, how long you're staying for and how you are going to pay for it all.

It's no different in Ireland than it is in the U.S. or Australia, two countries that I have been lucky enough to live in.

Here then is the IrishCentral.com guide for tourists who want to get through Irish immigration. 

  • Keep your passport up to date: Make sure it does not expire while you are out of the U.S.
     
  • Especially for all you Sean/Johns out there: Make sure your name is consistent on your passport, travel and immigration documents. Don't gove the officer an extra headache with different names on different forms.
     
  • Use roundtrip tickets or, at the very least, be able to prove a return date.
     
  • Know the name and address of the place you will be staying.
     
  • Bring your most recent bank statement so you can show you have enough funds for the trip.
     
  • Pay attention to the officer and be polite.

Bon voyage!

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Posted by Maria138 on Jul 26, 2010, 06:02 AM EDT
@WoundedKnee--'Eire' is the 'gaeilge' name for Ireland, so whether you're trying to be a jerk or being sarcastic...Do your research before passing along any harsh 'judgment'. Cheers.
Report abuse
Posted by GeorgeDillon on Jun 21, 2010, 07:27 PM EDT
I'd warn folks who go to Ireland from the US by transiting thru London. I had a problem with a really unpleasant female British immigration officer at Heath Row. I was coming in from DC, and going straight on to Dublin. She demanded I show her a visa. What an ignorant creep. I had to demand to have her call a representatiive of Irish immigration at Heath Row. I wound up making an official complaint to the British Embassy about this woman. These Brits say they are acting on behalf of the Irish Government (because there's a common passport area) and of course the Irish are too spineless to object.
Report abuse
Posted by GeorgeDavis on Jun 19, 2010, 09:16 PM EDT
DeannaMarie155: Don't know why you go to all that trouble. What about all the Afghans, Africans, pakistanis etc. who walk right thru Irish immigration. They don't bother with all the preparations you list. They just tear up their Passports while on the plane! And they sail thru Immigration!
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Posted by WoundedKnee on Jun 18, 2010, 02:38 PM EDT
"Have made several trips to Eire" ... and you still don't know that the name of the country is Ireland!
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Posted by susanl1947 on Jun 13, 2010, 10:01 AM EDT
To those who bank online and have no paper statement.....you can print one out. Have made several trips to Eire and just want to repeat: do what is recommended and there are no problems.
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Posted by DeannaMarie155 on Jun 05, 2010, 02:30 PM EDT
I have been to Ireland 3 times from the U.S. and never had a problem getting through. I always had round trip tickets, I knew the hotel address and when I said I was visiting a friend, they asked where he lived and I told them the address of my friend in Dublin. If you act like a lost person then they will consider you a risk. I think most importantly is have as much info as possible and be polite.
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Posted by GeorgeDillon on May 24, 2010, 09:16 PM EDT
The easiest way to ge thru Irish Immigration is to tear up your passport while you're still on the plane. Then, when you land, you demand political asylum, and say you're from Somalia. The Irish don't know how to determine if you're from Somalia or Brooklyn, so they let you thru. They will even give you money for being a "refugee"!
Report abuse
Posted by bettybrand on May 14, 2010, 05:18 PM EDT
I was in Ireland last Oct. And many times before that. My trip was great on Continental. Going through customs was no big deal. Better safe then sorry...
Report abuse
Posted by thirish on Apr 04, 2010, 08:49 PM EDT
We do our banking online. We check balances online. We do not get a paper statement.
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Posted by irishwxman on Mar 24, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT
I have never had difficulty in Irealand. i have dual citizenship, so that may be why. lol.
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Posted by Maria138 on Mar 15, 2010, 06:46 AM EDT
I've been to Ireland a few times since 2006...and it has never been a bad experience going through customs. Even though, within the past two years of going, they have been known to ask a bit more questions. They probably won't ever ask for your bank statement but will always ask how long you're staying for, what is the reason behind your visit, and sometimes one will ask you to name off where in Ireland you are staying. But it is always important to make sure to get the custom form from the airline you are using...especially AerLingus...they rarely hand them out anymore and always have to pick them up on the way out of the plane.
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Posted by simplesandy on Mar 12, 2010, 10:47 AM EST
hi Madeleine, well as far as I know you're husband is entitled for an Irish passport... I am an American citizen living here in Ireland... not knowing at first that you are only allowed to spend 3 months out of the year here .(same goes for usa also) but someone helped me and now am able to stay longer... as for showing the right documents yes please have all the information they need just out of respect for the country you are entering...
Report abuse
Posted by kickstar on Feb 26, 2010, 02:47 PM EST
They are making it really tough on the few good legal people arriving by Air meanwhile thousands arrive by ferry and via taxi from Northern Ireland..Fact
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Posted by mandokeith on Jan 20, 2010, 09:39 AM EST
Going into Ireland is strict, just have all your ducks in a row and it will go fine, Going into the US? If you look like an illegal or a terrorist they let you right in. If you look and act like a proper citizen they treat you like a terrorist. Reaction instead of action to the threat.
Report abuse
Posted by ThomasCoolberth on Jan 09, 2010, 12:00 PM EST
"Both the Plano 3 and a travel writer were banned from Ireland after inadvertently raising red flags at Irish immigration." Sounds like the Irish are doing a good job at border control. Wish it were so for the USA.
Report abuse
Posted by timring on Jan 09, 2010, 11:10 AM EST
Good article. I don't know about the bank statement though. How about a credit card?
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Posted by Laer.Carroll on Dec 30, 2009, 07:15 PM EST
They zipped me through. It may have helped that my detailed itinerary was printed out and the front facing out of a transparent zip-up folder. Skim that, study my passport photo & my face, and asked why I was visiting. "Checking places in my novel against the real thing before sending it to my editor."
Report abuse
Posted by innishowen on Dec 16, 2009, 05:18 PM EST
That should've read. untainted visit under my belt!
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Posted by innishowen on Dec 16, 2009, 05:16 PM EST
God the first time I entered Ireland it was like endless questions at 7.30 am in winter after 24 hours from Australia 22 of which were on planes! This wasn't 1969 either this was 2007.I was (as with everyone else on the flight) Buggered! maybe Banjaxed is a better term...but for a moment there I thought i was going to be put on a plane back again!I had the name of a female friend in dublin I was staying with. Enough money for my stay and a return ticket! It wasn't a lot easier a 18 months later and I had all the same requiremets and a previously un-tainte visit under my bel! Very hard indeed. Still I am going back again and again...as I love it once through customs and immigration...I have many good friends there now and this group grows with every visit.
Report abuse
Posted by Fionnuisce on Dec 07, 2009, 09:58 AM EST
Good advice also if you can provide a name of a friend and their address and phone number, just in case. I have never been asked more than what is stated above, never asked to prove my financial solvency either. The worse part is re entering the USA. Everyone is suspected of being a terrorist, and seems to be treated as such. I'm not even guilty but they make me feel as though I am.
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Posted by Madeleine on Nov 07, 2009, 04:04 AM EST
That sounds reasonable. I am coming for a visit and possible change of homes if we are permitted to do that, we have a lot of relatives in Ireland and my husbands Grandmother and Grandfather were born there. I have never seen it except in travelogues and on TV when I watch "out of Ireland", I don't think thats the same thing. Now if I can just get on a plane for that length of time I'll make it. I want to see Edwyn Collins sing, I may have to go to Scotland or the UK to do it.I want to see it all.
 


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