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Couple of tourists Every day thousands of Irish citizens exercise their fundamental right to move freely within the EU.

Workers, students, shoppers, holiday makers and business people can cross borders without restriction and they’re protected by much of the same legislation that keeps them safe at home.

As an island nation most travellers from Ireland fly abroad and thanks to deregulation of the airline industry across the EU and Single European Sky legislation adopted in 2004 which restricted uncompetitive practices, it’s a cost effective way of moving about.

The European Aviation Safety Agency, established by the EU in 2003, has also made flying safer and co-operation between member states through the Air Traffic Management System means it’s very efficient.

The EU has also made travelling by ferry safer too by implementing rules to protect passengers and crew sailing to and from European ports.

It’s easy to drive across Europe too, as a full Irish driving licence is valid across all EU states and motor insurance policies automatically provide the minimum cover.

In the event of an emergency dialling 112 will put you directly in touch with the emergency services in any EU country.

Download your Essential Holiday Checklisthere pdf - 4 MB [4 MB] .

	Documents Irish citizens have the right to enter, reside and remain in any EU member state for a period of up to three months simply by presenting a valid passport at the border. There’s no questions to answer or special formalities to comply with but if the stay is longer than three months it might be necessary to register for residency.
	Money Thanks to the euro using and moving money around the 16 eurozone nations is a breeze. All countries which joined the EU since 2004 are also committed to adopting the currency in the future. You can take as much cash as you need in the course of your travels across Europe and you can move money from country to country through fast, cheap and reliable credit transfers. Charges for cross-border transfers in euro are the same as those for payments made within a single EU country. Withdrawing euro from a cash machine, making a card payment or a bank transfer in euro (up to €50,000) costs the same anywhere in the EU as it does in Ireland.
	Shopping There’s no limit on what you can buy and take with you when you travel between EU countries, as long as it’s for personal use and not for resale. There are rules on tobacco and alcohol and each country has set guide levels for the amount you can buy. If you exceed the levels you might be asked prove that the purchases are for personal use. Shops across the EU are obliged to clearly display the full price, including VAT, of all goods for sale and purchases are covered by comprehensive legislation which includes a two year guarantee. Shoppers are also entitled to their money back or replacement goods for unsatisfactory items. The European Consumer Centre in Dublin is available to offer advice on consumer rights when buying goods or services in another European country.
	Communicating EU rules on roaming charges have resulted in cheaper mobile phone calls within the EU. Sending text messages now costs a maximum of 11c and outgoing calls no more than 43c a minute. By July 2011 the cost for outgoing calls will be capped at 35c a minute. Receiving calls has also fallen to 19c and will drop to 15c in 2010. A further reduction to 11c will come into force by July 2011. These are maximum costs and mobile phone operators are free to offer cheaper rates. New measures are also being introduced to protect consumers from building up huge phone bills while abroad. Most phones can now connect but surfing and downloading abroad – even unintentionally – can cost hundreds of euro. From July 2010 customers will be able to specify in advance the maximum they want to spend for data roaming services. A default cut off limit of €50 per month will be applied if the customer doesn’t specify an amount. The EU has a website which lists the tariffs offered by operators in all 27 EU countries and has links to their websites. The cost of, making calls sending text messages or using data services can be compared on the website.
	Staying healthy Every EU citizen is entitled to basic health care while travelling in Europe. That means free or reduced-cost medical treatment is available to all EU nationals in the event of a sudden illness or an accident while visiting an EU country. The basic cover comes under publicly funded health services which are free in some countries and subsidised in others. However, you may have to pay the full cost in some member states and claim a refund later on presentation of bills, prescriptions and receipts. Holding a European Health Insurance Card saves time, hassle and money as it cuts through some of the red tape and speeds up refunds. Every EU citizen is entitled to one. Irish residents can apply for their card online if they already have either a medical card or a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card or by completing an application form at their local health office. For further information see our FAQ on Health.
	Travelling with pets It could be said that freedom of movement within the EU was extended somewhat to animals with the introduction of pet passports. All cats and dogs travelling across the EU must have a passport containing details of a valid rabies vaccination. They’re available from local vets. Pets travelling to Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom also require proof that the vaccination has been effective and that the animal has received treatment for ticks and tapeworm. Pets also need to have an electronic microchip for identification purposes. A clearly readable tattoo is acceptable in most countries until July 2011, except for Ireland, Malta and the United Kingdom where microchips are already required.
	Consular Protection During emergencies and crises EU citizens abroad have the right to ask for assistance from any EU consulate or embassy when their Member State is not represented in the country. EU Member States must also help citizens evacuate as if they were their own nationals. The EU Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guarantee this right, which is a key part of EU citizenship. Protection also covers everyday situations, like a passport being stolen, a serious accident or illness. In March 2011, the European Commission launched a dedicated website on consular protection at: http://ec.europa.eu/consularprotection/index.action
	Further information For further information about Travelling in Europe, you can download the "Travelling in Europe 2011-2012 " brochure here or consult the Travelling in Europe website. For information about air travel, see our FAQ on Air Travel.