Irish Islands

Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland can enter Ireland without a visa. Citizens of a further 56 countries, including many in the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and more are also visa-exempt. A short-stay visa waiver programme allows visitors of certain nationalities to enter Ireland visa-free if they are in possession of a UK type "C" visa, and have gone through initial immigration clearance in the UK. Holders of a Residence Card of a family member of a Union citizen, or of a red United Nations laissez-passer also enjoy a visa exemption. For those who do need a visa, one should be applied for in advance via an Irish embassy or consulate closest to them. Some nationalities also require a transit visa, even if they do not plan to leave the airport en route to their final destination. Check whether you need a visa, and what prerequisites and fees may apply: www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/check-irish-visa

You should be able to find pharmacies on bigger islands, but sometimes it might be necessary to move to the mainland. There, pharmacies can be found in every town and they are usually marked by a brand logo. General working hours are from 9am to 17.30pm, but they can change according to the pharmacy. You can use the link below to locate a pharmacy in your area.

If you intend to rent a car in Ireland, make sure to familiarise yourself with the Irish road rules. In particular, pay attention to the speed limits: 120km on motorways; 100km on national roads; 80km on regional and local roads; 50km in a built-up area. Also remember that, unlike in other countries, you'll be driving on the left-hand side of the road. However, when going to an Irish Island, note that most ferries don’t take cars and, considering how small most of the islands are, you won’t need one there anyway.

Postal services in Ireland are provided by An Post. Many islands have at least one post office, but sometimes it might be necessary to move to the mainland. You can use the link below to locate the nearest post office. General post office hours are from 9am to 5.30 pm during weekdays and from 9am to 1pm on Saturday. Larger towns might have extended hours.