Australian Visa Requirements for Irish Citizens

Irish citizens benefit from several streamlined visa options for Australia, but you still need to meet specific requirements for each visa type.

General requirements

Most Australian visa applications require:

• Valid Irish passport
• Completed online application through ImmiAccount
• Payment of government charges (where applicable — the eVisitor is free)
• Health checks (if requested by the Department)
• Character checks (Garda clearance or other police certificates if requested)
• Evidence of funds or employment (depending on visa)

Always check the official requirements for your specific visa subclass before lodging.

eVisitor (651) requirements

For short tourist visits, Irish citizens apply for the free eVisitor. You must:

• Hold a valid Irish passport
• Apply before travel, while outside Australia
• Meet health and character requirements
• Intend to visit temporarily (tourism or short business visitor activities)

See our full eVisitor guide.

Working Holiday (417) requirements

For the Working Holiday visa, Irish citizens must:

• Be aged 18 to 35 when you apply (inclusive)
• Be outside Australia when you apply and when granted
• Have sufficient funds (commonly around AUD 5,000 plus return travel)
• Meet health and character requirements
• Not have previously held a Working Holiday (417) or Work and Holiday (462) visa

Ireland’s extended age limit to 35 is a significant advantage over many other nationalities. See our Working Holiday guide.

Skilled visa requirements

Skilled visas (482, 189, 190, 491) typically require:

• Skills assessment from the relevant assessing authority
• English language test results (unless exempt)
• Employer sponsorship or state nomination (where applicable)
• Health and character checks

These pathways are more document-heavy. Professional review before lodgement is often worthwhile.

Police certificates from Ireland

If the Department requests a police certificate, Irish applicants typically provide Garda clearance or an equivalent national police check. Apply in good time — processing can take several weeks.

Getting help

We help Irish applicants check requirements for their visa type, gather documents, and prepare applications for lodgement. Use our visa checker to identify the right visa, or contact us to discuss your situation.