Ireland Travel Guide

Red tape
The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is an open one, with no passport or immigration controls, apart from occasional spot-checks on the Dublin– Belfast rail service. UK nationals do not need a passport to enter the Republic, but it's a good idea to carry one – note that airlines generally require some form of official photo ID on flights between Britain and Ireland. Under EU regulations, British passport holders are entitled to stay in the Republic for as long as they like.

Travellers from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are required to show a passport and can stay for up to three months in the Republic; if you want to stay beyond that, you must seek permission from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), 13–14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 (tel:01/666 9100), or your local Garda station. A list of Irish consulates and embassies, along with comprehensive visa information, is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs website, www.irlgov.ie/iveagh.

US, Canadian, Australian, South African and New Zealand citizens can enter Northern Ireland for up to six months with just a passport. To extend a visit to the UK, you need to apply for an extension of leave, before the six-month period expires, to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, 40 Wellesley Rd, Croydon CR9 2BY (tel:0870 606 7766, www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk). A full list of British diplomatic representatives overseas, as well as detailed visa information, is available on the British Foreign Office's website, www.fco.gov.uk.

Irish embassies abroad
Australia
20 Arkana St, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 tel:02/6273 3022.

Britain
17 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HR tel:020/7235 2171.

Canada
130 Albert St, Suite 1105, Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 tel:613/233-6281.

New Zealand
Handled by the embassy in Australia.

South Africa
First Floor, Southern Life Plaza, 1059 Schoeman Street, Arcadia 0083, Pretoria tel:012/342 5062.

US
2234 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 tel:202/462-3939, www.ireland.emb.org.

British embassies and high commissions abroad
Australia
High Commission, Commonwealth Ave, Yarralumla, Canberra, ACT 2600 tel:02/6270 6666, www.britaus.net.

Canada
High Commission, 80 Elgin St, Ottawa, ON K1P 5K7 tel:613/237-1530, www.britainincanada.org.

Ireland
29 Merrion Rd, Dublin 4 tel:01/205-3700, www.britishembassy.ie.

New Zealand
High Commission, 44 Hill St, PO Box 1812, Wellington tel:04/924-2888, www.britain.org.nz.

South Africa
High Commission, 255 Hill Street, Arcadia 0002, Pretoria tel:012/421 7500, www.britain.org.za.

US
3100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008 tel:202/588-6500, www.fco.gov.uk.
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