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Ireland

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
22,059
Top destination, 2023
Spain
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
14,946
UK visas issued, 2025
5
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
1.8%
NationalityIEISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<IEIRELAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
IE8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Ireland need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Ireland move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Spain3,897
  2. Germany2,439
  3. Netherlands2,351
  4. Australia2,335
  5. Portugal1,875
  6. United States1,530
  7. France1,339
  8. Canada1,010
  9. Switzerland822
  10. Denmark661
  11. New Zealand657
  12. Belgium499
  13. Japan468
  14. Italy447
  15. Austria426

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

15k29k200020032006200920122015201820212023
15k29k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20007,589
20018,347
20028,478
20038,024
20049,360
20059,814
200610,203
200710,346
200810,454
200911,796
201012,510
201113,925
201219,808
201327,181
201425,044
201524,151
201629,471
201727,467
201825,228
201926,092
202014,127
202121,426
202220,867
202322,059
Share going to the top destination
17.7%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Ireland who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United Kingdom360,446
  2. United States125,844
  3. Australia90,203
  4. Poland34,300
  5. Canada28,912
  6. Spain19,990
  7. New Zealand8,989
  8. Italy4,101
  9. Belgium3,823
  10. Denmark2,603
  11. South Africa2,575
  12. Romania2,476

Living abroad by year

464k927k19901995200020052010201520202024
464k927k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990927,001
1995905,239
2000809,826
2005764,001
2010765,462
2015762,324
2020729,636
2024714,405
Living abroad, 2024
714,405
Change since 2000
-11.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
50.5%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Ireland by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. J16,985
  2. B1/B22,138
  3. L1938
  4. F1818
  5. C1/D795
  6. L2408
  7. H1B354
  8. O1293
  9. A2293
  10. O2289

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

8,24116k201720182019202020212022202320242025
8,24116k20172019202120232025
Data table
201712,809
201816,046
201916,482
20205,508
20212,941
202214,810
202315,871
202415,932
202514,946
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR151
  2. CR129
  3. E118
  4. E213
  5. IR212
  6. IR511
  7. E34
  8. I54
Immigrant visas, FY2025
155
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
159
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Ireland who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Ireland with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

8801,7602015201620172018201920202021202220232024
8801,760201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,610
20161,760
20171,490
20181,400
20191,760
20201,470
20211,360
20221,370
20231,340
20241,190
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens720
  2. Employment-based preferences450
  3. Family-sponsored preferences10
  4. Diversity visa lottery10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)7,960
  2. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)2,840
  3. Spouses and children2,600
  4. Specialty occupations (H-1B)2,050
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)1,250
  6. Other temporary workers650
  7. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)120
  8. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)70
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Ireland)
1,190
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Ireland)
1,630
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
581,640
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Ireland (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Ireland (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work3
  2. Study1
  3. Visitor1

Visas issued by year

7132011201320152018202120232025
71320112014201820222025
Data table
20114
20122
20135
20142
20151
20171
20181
20202
202113
202211
20239
20242
20255
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
9,765
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Ireland, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20252054,170145805290
20242255,260135830505
20231956,3651951,015510
20222455,875245950255
20211853,4202752,6851,255
20201252,9101101,0351,205
20191708,8201551,620835
20181809,1401501,775995
20172606,8901901,975970
20163655,8702402,250940
20154555,9152202,155975
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Ireland, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

3,2856,5692005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
3,2856,5692005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–061,699
2006–071,590
2007–082,077
2008–092,242
2009–102,420
2010–113,894
2011–126,318
2012–136,569
2013–143,764
2014–152,601
2015–161,986
2016–171,897
2017–181,472
2018–192,057
2019–201,631
2020–211,416
2021–221,386
2022–231,834
2023–243,183
2024–253,501
2025–263,046
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills2,578
  2. Specialist Skills306
  3. Labour Agreement63
  4. Short-term52
  5. Medium-term46
  6. Standard Business Sponsorship1
Granted, 2025–26
3,046
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
4.4%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Ireland living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

7631,5262012201420162018202220242025
7631,5262012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20121,072
20131,039
2014998
20151,026
20161,074
20171,142
20181,210
20191,290
20221,247
20231,313
20241,392
20251,526
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Permanent Resident428
  2. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services263
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National211
  4. Designated Activities189
  5. Instructor168
  6. Student71
  7. Dependent62
  8. Professor33
  9. Highly Skilled Professional28
  10. Skilled Labor15
Residents, December 2025
1,526
In work-related statuses
537
Share in work-related statuses
35.2%
Students
71
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Ireland

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Ireland, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
France5,4155,2411112.0%
Spain4,7294,611130.3%
Netherlands4,2074,075380.9%
Germany3,3993,119541.6%
Italy1,7211,670513.0%
Austria1,2211,21540.3%
Portugal1,2021,144131.1%
Belgium1,022961373.6%
Czechia80980630.4%
Greece750739101.3%
Croatia739677466.2%
Finland696678162.3%
Poland407383184.4%
Hungary402364389.5%
Malta25124352.0%

Applications by year

16k32k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
16k32k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200915,364
201014,146
201113,404
201212,147
201310,889
201410,336
201510,709
201611,811
201713,251
201815,396
201918,276
20205,155
20215,624
202224,714
202332,380
202427,761
Refusal rate, 2024
1.8%
Refusal rate, 2019
1.0%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Ireland in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025932526140490217
Sweden202545870120439
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025964452
Austria202544837573
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark526
  2. Sweden7
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Ireland

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Ireland, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Algeria1——
Argentina1——
Australia1——
Austria1——
Belgium1——
Brazil1——
Bulgaria1——
Canada1——
Chile1——
China1——
Colombia1——
Croatia1——
Cuba1——
Cyprus1——
Czechia1——
Egypt1——
Estonia1——
Ethiopia1——
Finland1——
France1——
Georgia1——
Germany1——
Greece1——
Hungary1——
India1——
Iran1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Kenya1——
Latvia1——
Lesotho1——
Lithuania1——
Malaysia1——
Malta1——
Mexico1——
Moldova1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
New Zealand1——
Nigeria1——
Norway1——
Pakistan1——
Peru1——
Philippines1——
Poland1——
Portugal1——
Romania1——
Russia1——
Saudi Arabia1——
Slovakia1——
Slovenia1——
South Africa1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sudan1——
Switzerland1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
60
Missions
60
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Ireland, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

3787562000200320062009201220152018202120242025
378756200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000252
2001244
2002316
2003337
2004414
2005512
2006539
2007589
2008633
2009573
2010658
2011756
2012695
2013722
2014726
2015604
2016575
2017597
2018624
2019587
2020276
2021180
2022532
2023571
2024637
2025726
Remittances received, 2025
US$726 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Ireland

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Ireland → Spain
  • Ireland → United States
  • Ireland → Germany
  • Ireland → Netherlands
  • Ireland → Australia
  • Ireland → Portugal
  • Ireland → France
  • Ireland → Canada
  • Ireland → New Zealand
  • Ireland → United Kingdom
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more