Travel advice and general information about Ireland.
This is not official advice. If you need help, contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.
Ireland, officially the Republic of Ireland, is a sovereign country located in West Europe.
Population: 5.3 million
Language: English, Gaeilge
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Religion: Christianity (69%)
Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
Political Rights and Civil Liberties: 97/100 (Free country)
Head of State: Michael D. Higgins
Head of Government: Simon Harris
Barbadians do not need a visa to enter Ireland for tourism purposes, or to visit friends / family. You can usually stay in Ireland as a visitor for up to 90 days in any 180 day period, but this is at the discretion of Irish border authorities. Not needing a visa does not mean that you are guaranteed entry into Ireland. You will still be assessed by an immigration officer on arrival to determine your suitability for admission.
Foreign nationals who frequently visit Ireland for long periods of time may be denied entry or questioned by the Irish border authorities in order to satisfy the authorities that they are not attempting to live in Ireland, or undertake activities that visitors are not permitted to do (e.g. work).
Barbadians who are also British citizens do not need a visa to enter Ireland, because British citizens have the right to live and work in Ireland under the terms of the Common Travel Area. [1]
There are no direct flights between Barbados and Ireland. Most travellers from Barbados have to transit through the United Kingdom. You may wish to consider booking a flight with either British Airways or Virgin Atlantic. If you are flying during the winter season, Aer Lingus also offers flights between Barbados and Manchester (UK), with onward flights from Manchester to Dublin (Ireland).
You must have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling if you will be transiting through or entering any part of the UK, including Northern Ireland. However, if you are also a British or Irish citizen, an ETA is not required as long as you present your British or Irish passport when you arrive in the UK.
It is best to book flights directly with airlines or reputable travel agencies. To compare prices between different airlines, use Google Flights.
To live or work in Ireland you must have an employment permit or some other status that gives you permission to do so. [1] Most employment permits are granted on the basis of a job offer and where the applicant possesses skills that are desirable to Ireland.
Never accept any offer to pay someone to help you work in Ireland; or to move to Ireland with someone that you do not know; or to get married to an Irish citizen for the purpose of living and working in Ireland. There are no shortcuts to obtaining permission to live and work in Ireland.
If you choose to marry an Irish, British or EU citizen for the purpose of living or working in Ireland, the Irish government may treat this as a marriage of convenience or a sham marriage if they can prove that there is no genuine relationship between the parties. If they determine that your marriage is a sham, you may be deported from Ireland.
The currency in Ireland is called the euro (EUR). €1 is equivalent to 100 cents. Foreign currencies are not accepted by local businesses as a means of payment.
In Ireland, most supermarkets offer a free 'cash back' service at the till when you are paying for your groceries by debit card, allowing you to withdraw up to €100 without having to use an ATM. This may be a cheaper alternative than withdrawing cash at an ATM which may trigger bank fees. Simply ask the cashier for 'cash back' after the last item of your shopping basket has been scanned.
There is zero tolerance to the possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs in Ireland. Persons convicted of drugs-related offences can expect long prison sentences and heavy fines.
You must drive on the left-side, like in Barbados.
Speed limits are expressed in kilometres per hour (km/h). Always observe the speed limit. Road traffic laws are strictly enforced in Ireland. Unless road signs indicate otherwise, the speed limits are as follows—
National roads and dual carriageways are like highways in Barbados, and motorways are like super highways.
Pedestrians are not allowed on motorways. You will be arrested by police if you walk or cycle on a motorway.
Never drive or park on the hard shoulder of a motorway. The hard shoulder is the side of the motorway for emergencies only. You must only use the hard shoulder in a genuine emergency (e.g. if your vehicle has broken down). Never use the hard shoulder to overtake vehicles or to avoid busy traffic.
You must always indicate at a roundabout, whether you are turning left or right. If you are going straight ahead at a roundabout, you must indicate left just before you reach the exit. You may be stopped by the police if you do not use your indicators correctly.
Drivers in Ireland only use their car horns to warn others of a danger. Avoid using your car horn to express gratitude to other drivers for giving way, as using your car horn like this will confuse local drivers or cause a misunderstanding. It is customary to raise a 'high-five' to persons that give way.
You can use your Barbadian driving licence to drive any type of small vehicle listed on your licence (for example cars, motorcycles or vans) for up to 12 months from the date you last entered Ireland. Visitor driving permits are not required and you do not need an International Driving Permit.
If you are intending to move permanently to Ireland, you can only use your Barbadian driving licence for the first 12 months after you relocate. After which, you will be required to apply for an Irish driving licence. It is not possible to exchange a Barbadian driving licence for an Irish driving licence: you will be required to go through the full driver licensing procedure starting with the driver theory test.
Make sure you have appropriate car insurance. If you are planning to rent a car, make sure you are hiring a vehicle from a registered business as they are responsible for arranging car insurance on your behalf.
Car rental companies often require customers to have a credit card. They may place a temporary hold on your credit card during the term of your rental in case you have an accident or cause damage to the vehicle. If you have an accident, you may be required to pay a substantial excess regardless of who is at fault. It may be more cost effective to purchase car hire excess insurance as an alternative to the Collision Damage Waiver offered by rental companies if you have the financial means to pay the excess before submitting a claim.
Drivers are required to pump their own fuel and enter the premises of the on-site convenience store to pay before leaving. After you place the pump into your vehicle, the cashier will electronically activate the pump at your stand.
After pumping is finished, take note of the final amount and the pump number (usually sign-posted above the pump stand). When you approach the counter, advise the cashier what pump number you used.
Credit and debit card payments are accepted at almost all gas stations in Ireland.
The term gas station is not used in Ireland. What we call gas stations, Irish people call petrol stations or garages regardless of the type of fuel available. In Ireland, the term gas refers to natural gas piped into a building used for heating and cooking.
Fuel prices are not set by the Irish government and are determined by competition and market forces. Prices can therefore vary and are usually displayed at or near the entrance to a gas station.
Don't try to mimic the Irish accent.
Avoid speaking in Bajan creole or using Bajan terms or idioms as the locals will not understand you.
Be mindful how you respond to closed questions. Avoid responding with "no, please" in all situations as this phrase sounds unusual to persons outside Barbados and may cause confusion. If you are asked a question in which you are being offered something, you should respond with "yes, please" or "no, thank you". For all other yes/no questions, you should simply respond with "yes" or "no" and avoid using the verb "please" as this will confuse a local person or cause a misunderstanding.
Avoid saying "good night" as a greeting as this will cause a misunderstanding. In Ireland, the expression "good night" is only ever used when departing. To greet someone in the late evening, even if the time is one minute before midnight, it is customary to say "good evening". If it's after 12 PM but before 5 PM, you should say "good afternoon".
Never hang up the phone without saying bye. This would be considered rude, even in informal settings.
To contact the police, fire brigade or ambulance services, call 999. You must only use this number in a genuine emergency or if you are reporting a crime that is in progress. There is no charge to call the emergency services.
The Barbadian Embassy in Dublin may be notified of your arrest. You may be able to ask the Irish government not to notify, but this is at the discretion of the local authorities.
If you are not sure whether the Barbados government has been notified of your arrest, you have the right to ask the police to notify Consular Services of the Barbadian Embassy in Dublin and they must comply with your request without delay.
Any person charged with a criminal offence has the right to receive a timely, fair and public hearing by an independent, impartial court and to be tried by jury. You have the right to be present at your trial and to consult with an attorney at law of your choice. You cannot be compelled to testify or confess guilt. These rights are guaranteed by the Irish Constitution.
You are entitled to speak to a lawyer or solicitor if you are questioned at a police station. If you cannot afford a lawyer or solicitor, one will be appointed for you.
If you are charged with a criminal offence, you may be entitled to legal aid that partially or fully covers the cost of your defence if you do not have the means to pay for it. You can apply for legal aid in person on the day you attend court.
[1] If you are an Irish-Barbadian dual national, you do not need permission to live and work in Ireland because you are exempt from immigration control, as long as you enter Ireland using your Irish passport. If you are a British-Barbadian dual national, you do not need permission to live and work in Ireland under the terms of the Common Travel Area, as long as you enter Ireland using your British passport. For all intents and purposes, a British citizen is not subject to immigration control in Ireland, but the authorities have the right to deport a British citizen in exceptional cases where it is in the public interest to do so.