Visa policy of Ireland in the context of "Schengen Area"

The visa policy of the Schengen Area is a component within the wider area of freedom, security and justice policy of the European Union. It applies to the Schengen Area and Cyprus, but not to EU member state Ireland. The visa policy allows nationals of certain countries to enter the Schengen Area via air, land or sea without a visa for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Nationals of certain other countries are required to have a visa to enter and, in some cases, transit through the Schengen area.

The Schengen Area consists of 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries that are members of EFTA: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus, while an EU member state, is not yet part of the Schengen Area but, nonetheless, has a visa policy that is partially based on the Schengen acquis.

A passport stamp is an inked impression in a passport typically made by a rubber stamp upon entering or exiting a territory.

Passport stamps may occasionally take the form of stickers, such as entry stamps from Japan, South Korea, and Sri Lanka. Depending on nationality, a visitor may not receive a stamp at all (unless specifically requested), such as a European Union (EU) or EFTA citizen travelling to the Schengen Area, Albania, or North Macedonia. Foreign visitors to Iran (if your passport from visa-free country - a stamp is affixed) and North Korea also do not receive stamps in passports. Most countries issue exit stamps in addition to entry stamps. A few countries issue only entry stamps, including Canada, El Salvador, Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States.