Passport Validity
Irish passport holders are not required to have 6 months validity on their passports to visit the USA, when travelling on an ESTA. However, the passport must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. ESTA is the most common way that people from Ireland use to get permission to enter the USA for leisure and many types of business purposes. For more information see below.
However, if you are travelling to the US on a visa, you are required to have 6 months validity on your passport.
COVID Vaccination No Longer Required to Enter the USA
As of the 11th of May 2023, the United States no longer requires that foreign visitors are fully vaccinated to enter the country.
Pre-Departure COVID-19 Testing
Please note that as of 12 June 2022, pre-departure COVID-19 testing is no longer required to enter the USA.
Visas
The Visit USA Committee Ireland provides tourist information on traveling to the US, but cannot provide information on visas.
For up-to-date information on US visas, please visit the US Embassy website.
For visa related questions, it may be useful to review the section on Frequently Asked Questions on visas on the US Embassy website. Click here to view.
For visa related queries, please email the US Embassy Visa Unit at USVisaDublin@state.gov.
Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables most citizen of Ireland to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.
Travelers must, however, have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel and meet all requirements.
The best way to apply for an ESTA is via the official mobile phone app.
Click here to download the app for Apple phones.
Click here to download the app for Android phones.
Applications can also be done via the official US Government website: Click here to make an ESTA application via the website.
Please note that:
- You must have an electronic passport that is valid for the entire duration of your planned stay in the US to complete the ESTA application.
- There is no requirement to have 6 months validity on your passport to make an ESTA application.
If your ESTA application is unsuccessful, you will need to obtain a relevant visa from the US Embassy to travel to the United States.
If you have been denied an ESTA, please see read the Guidance Material from the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Custom and Border Protection (CBP). Click here to view.
For Frequently Asked Questions on ESTA, please click here.