How to Apply for a Visa: Ireland
You will not need to apply for a tourist visa ahead of time to travel to Ireland.
Citizens of the EEA member states (the 27 countries of the European Union EU, together with Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) and many other countries including USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand do not require visas to gain entry to Republic or Northern Ireland.
The full list of countries whose citizens require a visa can be found here.
We recommend that you have a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay, evidence of sufficient funds to support your stay in Ireland, and a return airline ticket.
UK ETA – for anyone transiting through the UK
Effective January 8, 2025, all U.S. citizens transiting the UK or traveling to the UK for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conference, or short-term study for 6 months or less will require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) prior to travel.
Here is a link to information on the ETA. The cost is 10 euros per person and can be paid by credit card. Note that processing can take up to three days or more.
The easiest way to apply is to use the phone app UK ETA. To use the app, you will need a photo of your passport and a photo of yourself. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, you can apply online rather than using the phone app. Here is a link with information for the application process.