Entering by boat: Ireland
What to do to enter Ireland by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Based on official sources, checked on 28 October 2026.
The steps
- Choose an approved port, or ask the local Garda immigration officer for permission before arriving.
- Contact the harbour master on arrival.
- Get passports stamped (immigration / Garda).
- See Customs only if you have goods to declare.
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Visas, if your nationality requires them
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
Good to know
- Ireland is in the EU but NOT in Schengen (Common Travel Area with the UK).
- Any non-Irish, non-British person arriving by boat at a NON-approved port needs permission from the Minister for Justice BEFORE arrival (via the local Garda); otherwise route through an approved port first.
- All boats must report to Immigration; Customs only if carrying goods from a third country.
- Russian-flagged boats banned since April 2022.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
- CobhImmigrationHarbour office
- CorkImmigrationHarbour office
- DublinImmigrationHarbour office
- Dún LaoghaireImmigrationHarbour office
- GalwayImmigrationHarbour office
- Greencastle (Lough Foyle)ImmigrationHarbour office
- Moville (Lough Foyle)ImmigrationHarbour office
- Rosslare HarbourImmigrationHarbour office
- WaterfordImmigrationHarbour office
Prepare your arrival with Hullteam
In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
Create my free accountSources
- irishimmigration.ie/at-the-border/arriving-at-an-unapproved-port/
- noonsite.com/place/ireland/formalities
This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.