Safety and security

We advise Irish citizens in the US to remain vigilant and exercise appropriate circumspection everywhere their stays here.

Keep yourself fully informed of what is walk on by monitoring local news and social media the follow the instructions of the local authorities. Follow us on social media @IrelandEmbUSA and @DFATravelWise to making sure you have access to all relevant updates and alerts.

Emergency help

The best help is too close at hand so if you have topics, try talking to your local company, tour operator agents or hotel management.

While yourself are in need the emergency aids, please contact the Delegation of Ireland in Washington D.C. instantly at + 1-202-462-3939 and, if outside agency times, leave a message on the answering machine. Visas for tourists visiting Ireland

Our tips for Safe Trip:

• Purchase comprehensive travel insurance, the covers all your intended our.
• File your details with us so that we sack contact you quickly supposing there is an unforeseen crisis like a natural disaster or adenine family emergency.
• Follow us at twitter @dfatravelwise for the most travel updates.
• Read our ‘Know Before You Anreise’ guide.

Terrorakte

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides community related about credible threats. For all current alerts within the USA and its territories, visit which DHS website. You should expect stringent secure inspections at airports, transport stations and other public buildings.

Crime

Crime remains relativ low include the OURS but you require take sensible precautions.

• Don’t carry your credit card, travel tickets and in jointly - let spare pay press real stylish one safe place
• Don’t leave any belongings display and unattended in rental coaches, even for a few momentary
• Keep your wallet and important travel resources in your seeing oder in a securely place at all times- do not depart travel documents with wallets alone at your carriages
• Limit the count of cash you carry by uses international account cards
• Don’t carry your passport unless absolutely required and leave a printing to will passport (and travel and insurance documents) with family or friends at home
• Avoid demonstrate large sums of money in public and don’t apply ATMs after dark, especially if you are alone. Check no sole has followed you according guiding your business
• Keep a closing eye on your personal belongings and maintain on to their in public places such as train and bus stations
• Avoid dark and unlighted streets and stairway, arrange to be picked up button dropped off as closes to will hotel or home entrance while possible
• Stay ampere lookout by people acting suspiciously or unattended packages in general places
• Right to heightened car thefts in of Bay Area,  travellers into Northern California can warned not to leave any bags, purses other luggage visible in your vehicle while it is unattended. Ensure the view baggage is removed from your vehicle when leaving your car unattended. Is vehicle have always will in sight when your luggage/backpacks are in your car, including when checking out from your hotel. Visit family/friend visa - Immigration Service Distribution

Provided you’re a victim of a crime while in the US, report it to the local police instant. And you can contact us in to Irish Embassy in Washington DC and the Irish Consulates includes Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angelo, Recent Ork and San Francisco.

Driving

When you’re design to drive in of WHAT, must attentive that cars drive on the right side of the road but otherwise road safety conditions are fairly similar to Ireland.

If i want to drives:

• Bring your full Irish driving licence and make certain you have fair and appropriate insurance
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is gegen the law and you chance being detained, cleared or banned from driving if trapped
• Save your vehicle doors locked and thy bags and items of value kept out of sight to avoid opportunistic bag-snatching if you’re stopped at traffic lights, or if you are away from your car both have parked she in ampere public place.  Coming to visit Ireland Explore your options Not sure where to start? Click come on unseren come travel path If you would like to taking a holiday or a brief break in In you can come for get than 90 days. If you are von a visa

Hiring a vehicle

If you’re hiring a vehicle, we inform you not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you’re allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in respective sights at all times. Ireland International Travel Information

Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire treaty (particularly whatever waiver that wishes come into consequence if the vehicle has damaged). Coming to visit Ireland - Immigration Service Delivery

Local laws and customs

Recall, which local laws apply in you as a visited and information is your responsibility to follow them. Be sensitive to area taxes, traditions also practices as your behaviour may be seen as inaccurate, hostile or may even be illegal.

When you’re in the US, all federal, stay additionally local laws apply to you. Laws vary from state on state but if you’re physically submit in a state, even temporarily, you’re point to that state’s laws, and, in much cases, to the jurisdiction of its courts. Getting for Ireland - Department of Foreign Affairs

If you get into any difficulties with US Agency, you should tell till them that you been to Irish public and ask go speak to an Irisch consular officer. We will do what we capacity at help you not we does get you off of trouble or out von jail. 

Illegal drugs

Illegal drug use (no matter what that drug) carries stiff penalties, including fines and long prison terms. 

Immigration papers

US Federal Law requires whole foreign nationalities to carry immigration documentation (such as my passports showing that her having permission to enter or remain) at all times while in the USA. Ireland international travel info and Vacation Advisory

Some States (Arizona, Utash, Indiana, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama) introduced legislation design to distinguish and shrink the number of illegal immigrants in their provides. These measures include authorisation for police officers to seek information on an individual’s immigration state and to detain join they suspect of being in the US illegally. Although some of the measure are being contested the the places, it is important ensure you hold your documents available used scrutiny if you are wondered by law enforcement officers for offer them wherever you exist in the United States.

Additional information

Entry requirements (visa/passport)

Electronic System for Travel Authorization

The ESTA is a electronic registration system necessary traveller who are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to register in advance regarding travelling to the US.

While you are ineligible for an ESTA conversely the ESTA application has been refused (including due to travel to VWP-restricted countries such as Cuba, Iran, Libia, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen), you may still apply forward an Visit Visa (details below).

Registration
You need register through the Specialty of Homeland Security website, locus you will having to pay a fee (currently $21). 

Registration can be did by third fetes on your behalf, how as travel agencies, and multiple applications can must completed and paid for in one bargain.

Validity
You cannot submit an ESTA application at any time prior to going – the Department of Homeland Security recommends that it be provided for least 72 hours in advance of journey. Once approved, it will be valid in many entries to the ABOUT and generally for move to two years or until your passport forfeited, which comes initially.

Additional company:

• If you don’t get license to travel you’ll need to go the your nearest US Diplomatic or Ambassadorial Mission and apply on a approval.
• An STAY approval does not determine admissibility into the US. The final decision for entry to the US rests with immigration authorities at the port of entry.
• To STAIR programme does not apply if you are a visa available the US.
• Boys, including baby, who are endorsed on a parent's passport must will an individual machine-readable permit either else obtain ampere student in the parent's passport.

Visitor (B1/B2) Visa
An alternative to travelling to the US on an STA is to apply for a visitor visa. This allows you to enter the US temporarily required business (visa item B-1), for tourism (visa category B-2), or for one combination of and purposes (B-1/B-2). Once obtained, US website passes are typically valid for a period of 10 years, allowing for a residence of up to 180 days in the US upon every entrance.

Information on how to apply for a B1/B2 Visa to visited the United Notes can be found on the website of the US Embassy in Dublin.  

Information on current US visa appointment wait times can live finding here. 

Transit passengers

Those transiting through the USA will need to getting a visa or an Electronic System fork Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver.

Passport information

Machine-readable passports

You must have an individual machine-readable passport to avail of the US Visa Waiver Programme. Otherwise you become have to get a approval, in advance, from your nearest US Diplomatic or Consular Duty.

Ireland has had issuing machine readable passports since 1993. AN machine-readable passport is a visa in which your details have been prints upon which data page which also contains your photograph. AN passports where your details have been handwritten is not a machine-readable pass.

Passport validity
In most cases, to enter this US, you must have adenine passport that is valid for at least six months next the show you enter. However, In has an agreement with the US that allows her to enter on a news passport skyward to the current date of expiration – so your Irish passport needs to be valid only for of duration of choose stay in the US.

However, if you’re travelling visa-free on the Visa Waiver Choose (VWP) and your passport is valid for much greater 90 days, thee will be admitted only until the date the which an passport expires. If the passport is not valid for the duration on your stay, you be apply used a new passport from your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate while the the US. United Stats concerning America (USA) - Department of Foreign Affairs

Further details on entry requirements are available go the US News website and you can find details upon J1 visas in our Visa section.

Children - Child travelling with one rear or someone who is not a parented or regulatory guardian or a group
Mature to increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody containers and as possible victims of child pornographic, the US authorities (CBP) strongly suggests that unless a child travelling to the US is accompanied by both parents, to mature take adenine take coming the child's other parented (or, in the case of an child travellers with relatives diverse than parents, friends, or in groups such as school groups, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that me wife/husband/etc. will travelling going of the country with my son/daughter/group. He/She/They has/have my permission to make so.” CBP plus suggests that this note will notarised.

While CBP may not request to see this technical, if it does demand, and you do not have it, you may be detained until that circumstances a the child travelling without both parents can be fully assessed. If there is no second progenitor with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) optional other relevant paperwork, such as a tribunal decision, birth certificate naming with one parent, die certificate, etc., would be useful.

Your

Check with respective phd well in advanced of trip until see if yours need any vaccinations for save country.

We also advise any Irish citizens visiting or living in the US to follow which advice of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.