Do I need a visa to enter Ireland?

On February 25, 2022, Ireland abolished visa requirements for all Ukrainian citizens.

The Irish government allows all Ukrainian citizens to enter Ireland with any identity documents (internal passports, birth certificates, expired passports, ID cards, etc.) In addition, the Irish immigration authorities have asked carriers not to refuse to board flights to Ireland without first contacting the Irish immigration authorities.

Starting March 6, 2022, the requirement to fill out the Passenger Locator Form and present proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative PCR test result upon arrival has been canceled.

Do I need a Green Card to drive a car now?

Thus, the Green Card insurance is mandatory for everyone who travels abroad by car, for refugees and tourists.

A Green Card is a necessary insurance for traveling by car outside Ukraine for safe travel. It takes a few minutes to apply for an insurance policy. All you need to do is follow the link, provide the necessary data and pay for the service.

Do I need insurance to enter Ireland?

Yes, you need insurance to enter Ireland for tourist purposes, regardless of whether you are traveling from Ukraine or other countries. Refugees from Ukraine do not need insurance.

Temporary protection for refugees

The Irish government allows temporarily displaced Ukrainians to stay in Ireland and receive temporary protection for at least a year (the period can be extended), without the need to apply for refugee status. Both displaced persons from Ukraine and Ukrainians who were in Ireland at the outbreak of the conflict and were unable to return to their country are considered under a simplified procedure.

On February 16, 2023, the Irish Minister of Justice announced an automatic extension of all Temporary Protection permits until March 4, 2024.

Information about the centers of assistance to temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine

Assistance is provided directly at the airport upon arrival at Dublin Airport.

The Irish government has also identified three cities to host centers to assist displaced persons from Ukraine - Dublin (Cork Street), Cork (Hanover Quay) and Limerick.

Citizens of Ukraine residing in Ireland can apply for assistance with social benefits and paperwork at Intreo Administrative Services Centers. You can find the center nearest to you at the following link.

Social security of temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine

In order to receive social security, access to healthcare, the labor market, and education, Ukrainian citizens need to obtain a PPSN number issued by the Department of Social Protection. This number can be obtained at the center for providing assistance to Ukrainians directly at the airport.

If you are already in Ireland, you should contact your local Intreo center and the staff will help you obtain a PPSN.

After receiving the PPSN, you will be able to:

- to receive social benefits, the maximum personal social assistance rate is EUR 208 per week;

- children will have the opportunity to study in Irish schools from the date of arrival in the country;

- have the right to work immediately without the need to apply for an additional work permit and have access to the labor market on the same level as EU citizens;

- access to medicine, provision of necessary medicines, including visits to general practitioners.

Possibility to extend short-term stays and visas for Ukrainian citizens

If you are staying in Ireland on a valid visa and its validity is about to expire, you should contact the Department of Justice of Ireland at 01 616 77 00, 01 606 82 02 or [email protected] to extend your legal stay in the country.

What should I do if my passport expires or if I have a child with me without a passport?

The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland temporarily extends the validity of biometric passports of Ukrainian citizens for traveling abroad and enters data on children under 16 years of age in the passport.

To extend the validity period of a biometric passport, the applicant submits an existing passport. A passport extension can be issued no earlier than three months before the expiration date.

To enter data about a child in a passport, an applicant submits the following documents:

- A valid foreign passport.

- A child's birth certificate.

- Two photos 3.5×4.5 cm.

- A document confirming the authority of the person as a legal representative (if necessary).

These consular actions are carried out free of charge on the day of application.

What should you do if you have a child with you without a passport?

The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland issues foreign biometric passports and enters information about children in the passports of their parents. To apply for the relevant consular service, you need to register in the online queue at the following link.

Crossing the border with pets

It is possible to cross the border with pets. If you are missing documents (e.g. vaccinations) when crossing the border, you should inform the Department of Food, Agriculture and the Marine in advance:

Dublin Airport - [email protected]

Dublin Port - [email protected]

Shannon Airport - [email protected]

Cork Airport - [email protected]

Ringaskiddy Port, Cork - [email protected]

Rosslare Europort - [email protected]

Cancellation of some free services in Ireland

Ireland has decided to cut spending on Ukrainian refugees and is canceling one of its free services. Thus, starting from January 3, 2023, Ukrainians living in hotels and similar accommodation in Ireland will have to pay 10 euros per day for meals.

According to the new rules, refugees still have the right to stay in local hotels for free, but now people must pay for meals, even if they plan to eat elsewhere. If a refugee refuses to pay, he or she will be evicted from the room and will have to find new accommodation on their own.