Irish law, depending on the purpose of the trip and length of stay, requires or recommends that foreigners entering the country have an insurance policy. At the same time, various requirements may be imposed on the policy. Find out in which cases and what kind of insurance is required to enter Ireland

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

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Irish law requires foreigners to comply with migration rules, in particular, to obtain a visa and take out an appropriate health insurance policy.

That is why, before planning your trip to the country, find out what type of visa you need to get to enter the country and what the insurance requirements are.

By following these rules, you can easily visit Ireland.

What are the insurance policy requirements for entry into Ireland?

Insurance requirements in Ireland vary depending on the intended activity in the country and length of stay.

● Tourist visas

Traveling Ireland is as easy as falling in love with it. Fascinating natural landscapes, interesting history and legendary hospitality attract thousands of tourists to the state.

However, before planning a trip here, carefully study the insurance requirements.

EU and EEA citizens

Ireland has an excellent healthcare system and citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland are entitled to the same free healthcare services as Irish citizens. However, despite this, we additionally advise you to take out travel insurance, in case of other unexpected expenses and incidents that may occur during your visit, such as repatriation costs or lost or stolen property.

Citizens of the rest of the world

If you plan to visit Ireland as part of a trip lasting less than 6 months, we recommend that you take out travel insurance for the entire period of your planned stay, because in case of illness and lack of a policy, the traveler pays the costs of treatment at his own expense.

● Student visas

Depending on the length of study in Ireland and the student's country of origin, the state has different insurance requirements. It is better that all students coming to study from outside Ireland have health insurance. This can be a policy provided by your government under EU/EEA regulations or purchased private health insurance. In the case of students who need a visa, having a policy is a mandatory requirement before it can be issued.

Certification training

Students who undergo a short course of study in Ireland (advancement of qualifications, certification) issue a student guest visa, on the basis of which you can stay in the country for up to 3 months. Therefore, students planning to participate in short-term study programs in Ireland are advised to purchase private health insurance before travel.

International education at one of Ireland's universities

If you are studying internationally at one of Ireland's higher education institutions, you must obtain a category D visa and purchase a private health insurance policy to move.

It is important that the policy covers the entire period of study in Ireland.

● Work visa

Ireland has a large labor market with a variety of career opportunities. By getting a job here, you can get access to high-paying positions and professional growth. However, it is important to obtain a work visa before planning to move. One of the requirements for issuing a permit is the availability of an insurance policy.

In order to obtain a category D work visa, you must purchase a private health insurance policy.

Employees are also entitled to access the state health insurance program, but it only covers emergency care and primary GP appointments.

In large companies, corporate insurance is most often used, that is, the employer issues policies for its employees free of charge; family members can be added to the policy for an additional fee.

● Temporary protection

Ukrainians moving to Ireland under the temporary protection program are not required to have insurance to enter the country. However, this document is highly desirable.

In Ireland, a medical card is issued to people from vulnerable segments of the population, including refugees from Ukraine. Holders of this card have the right to free use of various medical services. The card is issued for one year and can be renewed.

However, for the first time after arrival, in particular during the registration of documents and medical insurance, it is better to be sure that in the event of an emergency or illness, you will be able to receive guaranteed assistance in a language you understand. Also, taking into account the high cost of medical services in Ireland, an insurance policy will help you save a lot of money in case of illness. Therefore, before moving, we advise you to purchase a travel insurance policy.

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Health care system in Ireland: 5 facts you should know before traveling

1. Medicine in Ireland is recognized as one of the most efficient and modern in the world. There are no polyclinics we are used to here, almost all questions are dealt with by a family doctor who conducts an appointment in a private or home office. The family doctor does vaccinations, rapid tests, and even ultrasound.

2. Health insurance is not mandatory in this country, but most people buy it because health care is very expensive. There are public and private insurance companies. State insurance does not cover 100% of costs, so even for a doctor's appointment you will have to pay extra.

3. The municipal ambulance service in Ireland is free for all, but the call must be justified by a real danger to life. Otherwise, you will have to pay approximately 130 EUR for the departure of the team.

4. Before visiting a doctor, a foreign citizen must issue a medical card at the municipal health service, providing personal data such as full name, contact phone number, address of permanent residence and unique personal identifier (PPS).

5. One of the disadvantages of the Irish health care system is the length of the wait - it is quite rare to get an appointment with a general practitioner on the same day.

Where to buy health insurance policy for travel to Ireland?

For the safest trips, you should buy insurance policies only from verified agents. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can purchase reliable insurance that has many advantages: packages for entry to any country in the world, guarantee of payments, online payment. A reliable policy in your mail in just a few minutes.

Just choose the most suitable options for the specifics of your trip, travel safely and save money at the same time.

Do you have additional questions? Contact the Visit Ukraine hotline (Telegram | WhatsApp).

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Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip: 

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