Frequently Asked Questions

From the home page select "Create new account" under the login box. You will need to create a user name and provide a valid e-mail address. Your user name should relate to your actual name because it will be used in the list of hosts or as a title for WWOOFers' information pages.

Once this has been submitted you will need to respond to an e-mail message which will be sent automatically to the address you gave at registration. This is a security measure. Once you are an approved member, you can subscribe as a WWOOFer or Host.

If you lose your password, there is an option to request a new one under the login box. Just follow the instructions.

First you must register on this site. Once registered, go to the "How to be a Host" or "How to be a WWOOFer" menu. Follow the instructions to subscribe. You can pay by PayPal, or you can pay by sending a cheque. The PayPal option subscribes you immediately after payment. If you pay by cheque, you will need to wait for us to clear the payment and manually set you up as a subscribed WWOOFer or Host.

When you pay by PayPal, your subscription will take effect immediately and you will be able to enter your WWOOFer or Host details without waiting. It saves time for us and helps to keep costs to a minimum.

You will need to set up a PayPal account, because access to your subscription will be from it for renewals and cancellations.

If you have problems with the process, there is a resolution service offered by Paypal and we will do everything possible to help with any issues you may have. Please do contact us if you have any questions.

When in your Host or WWOOFer profile form, click on the 'Browse' button. This will open a window showing files on your computer. Navigate to the image you want to upload. Select the image ('open' in Windows) and then click 'Upload' in your profile form. Wait for the image to upload. It will be resized to fit on the site, but your original will be untouched.

Image file size

There is a maximum limit of 8 megabytes for uploads but images will be automatically re-sized to much smaller than this (your original will not be altered). If you have a slow connection and need to make your picture smaller, try one of these methods:

For Windows see the instructions HERE

There are also image resizing services online. Try HERE or Google 'Image resize'

If you have uploaded an image but it will not display, it is usually because the file name contains illegal characters. You will need to rename the file using only Aa-Zz, 0-9 characters and upload it again.

Some users with Internet Explorer version 6 have experienced problems with the username box not accepting input. IE6 is now an outdated browser and the problems disappear if you upgrade. Changing to Firefox is recommended - it is available as a free download HERE.

If you forget you password there is a facility to request a new one. Use the link under the login box. The temporary password will be emailed to you automatically. Note that it expires after 1 day.

If you get a 'You can't go there' message when you log in or nothing you do seems to work, you should clear your internet files and cookies - you browser may be 'remembering' incorrect details. See THIS PAGE for instructions.

If you are getting repeated 'You can't go there' messages, even if you have logged in, please check that you are using the full address for the site which should include the 'www' prefix. This is particularly important if you are having difficulties using links in emails sent from the site. If you have previously logged in without the 'www' prefix, you may need to clear your browser cache again (see above).

To register on the site, your email address must not have been used already. This should only be a problem if you have registered more than once.

If you have transferred from WWOOF Independents, you may notice these changes...

The site has been constructed with security in mind. Your e-mail address is not revealed publicly and the communication process bewteen WWOOFers and Hosts is handled via the website.

You can choose which contact details to show in your profile. Telephone or e-mail contact can be removed if you wish, although removing e-mail contact will reduce the facilities available to you. WWOOF Ireland administrators will always retain access to all contact information.

Host and WWOOFer profiles can now include a picture which can be uploaded from your computer.

The WWOOF Ireland site includes a 'Noticeboard' section for short notices by Hosts and WWOOFers and a forum for discussion of topics related to WWOOFing. WWOOFers have access to travel information and may post questions and comments about travel in Ireland.

All Hosts registered with WWOOF Independents will have an account created on WWOOF Ireland. A message wil be sent to your e-mail address with your login details. Hosts with no e-mail address will be contacted by post.

You will need to log in to WWOOF Ireland and change your username and password. 'EIR' numbers will not be used on WWOOF Ireland. New usernames should be related to your contact name or site name.

Once you have confirmed your e-mail address by responding to the welcome e-mail message, and set up your new registration details, you will be able to subscribe as a WWOOF Ireland Host by Paypal or by post. You are encouraged to use PayPal if at all possible because it automates the subscription process, saves time and is a secure way to pay. The subscription now lasts for one year from the date of payment.

Once subscribed, you can enter your profile online. We regret that it has not been possible to transfer profiles directly from WWOOF Independents because of differences in the structure of the WWOOF Ireland site. However, profiles may now be updated at any time and changes will appear immediately.

During the handover period from WWOOF Independents to WWOOF Ireland, WWOOF Independents will retain existing Irish Host details. WWOOFers will be encouraged to register with WWOOF Ireland. No new Irish Host details will be published on the WWOOF Independents site and all Irish Hosts will need to subscribe to WWOOF Ireland.

We have looked at various ways of managing the handover and this method has been chosen because it has been successful when other national organisations have migrated from WWOOF Independents. It allows WWOOFers already registered with WWOOF Independents to view Irish Host details until the end of their subscription, even though the details will be out of date. WWOOF Independents have promised to encourage every WWOOFer who may be interested in Ireland to register with WWOOF Ireland as soon as possible. It does mean, however, that there will be a dual system in operation for the handover period and Hosts may receive placement requests from WWOOF Independents and WWOOF Ireland during that time. If you wish to comment on this aproach or make suggestions about the handover, please use the WWOOF Ireland forum - your views will be very welcome.

The subscription is 30 euro for 1 year.
If you were a Host in the WWOOF Independents list, the subscription arrangements have changed and you do not have to re-subscribe every February. Your subscription to WWOOF Ireland lasts for 1 year from the time you subscribe.

When you have subscribed as a WWOOF Ireland Host, log into the site and you will see a new menu titled 'Host Menu'. In this menu is a link to 'Your Host Information'. This will take you to the form to be completed. Once some information has been entered, the Host Information also becomes available in the 'My profile' menu item. You can edit your Host Information whenever you wish.
Note that WWOOF Ireland administrators are informed whenever members update their information, as a security measure. If any information is considered to be inappropriate, it may be removed and you will be informed. If you have any problems with the process, please do contact us via the 'Contact' link at the top of every page.

PON Codes are a solution to the lack of post codes in the Republic of Ireland. They are based on geographical mapping data and can locate your property to within 30 metres. Go to irishpostcodes.ie to get a PON code.
If you do not want to show the exact location of your property on the WWOOF Ireland website, just leave off the last two characters of your code, and your 'marker' will be displayed in the centre of a 3.5km square that contains your location.
The mapping facility is not yet available on the WWOOF Ireland website but will be implemented soon.

When subscribed WWOOFers search the 'List of Hosts', they can 'bookmark' your profile page and can contact you using the 'Contact' button under your profile. (The button is not shown if you have switched off e-mail contact).

From the contact button, WWOOFers write a short message and send it to you via the WWOOF Ireland site. Your e-mail address is not revealed. When you receive the message, you can view the WWOOFer's profile from a link in the message once you have logged in to the site.

You then reply to the WWOOFer with a normal e-mail. (At this stage, of course, your e-mail address will be sent to the WWOOFer).

Postal and telephone contact

In your profile, you can select to show or hide your telephone number. Your address will always be shown to subscribed WWOOFers. If you do not want contact by post, you can say so in the 'Other Information' box in your profile.

Sometimes when this error occurs, you may just need to log in again.

If you are getting repeated 'You can't go there' messages when you click the link in a message from a WWOOFer, even if you have logged in, please check that you are using the full address for the site which should include the 'www' prefix. If you have previously logged in without the 'www' prefix, and are still getting errors, you should clear your browser cache.

If you do not get any error messages, but there is no profile to be seen, it is because the WWOOFer has not provided it. WWOOFers are told not to contact hosts before they have created their profile, and may be banned if they do. You are advised not to offer a place to WWOOFers with no profile because there will be no contact information available. It is better to reply with a request to provide information before they can be considered for a place.

You should not offer a place to a WWOOFer with no profile because they have not provided any contact details and cannot be traced. WWOOFers are reminded to create their profile every time they log in, so have ignored these reminders.

If you think feedback is unfair or dishonest, use the site contact form to tell us about it. Please include the WWOOFer's username. We will take whatever action we think necessary. The Feedback Policy explains the process.

All the information can be found in the page 'How to be a WWOOFer'

1. Register on this site with a username, password and email address.
2. You will receive a welcome message. Click the link in the message to complete your registration.
3. Go to 'How to be a WWOOFer' and select a payment option. Pay a subscription of 20 euro, by PayPal or by post.
4. When you have paid, you will see a new 'WWOOFer Menu'. You must write some information about yourself (your 'profile') in 'My WWOOFer Information' - hosts will read this when you contact them. You must not contact hosts before you have a profile.
5. Go to the 'List of Hosts' in the 'WWOOFer menu' (you must be logged in).
6. Select hosts - you can 'bookmark' hosts you want to look at again.
7. Contact hosts by clicking the 'Contact' button under their description. (If there is no 'Contact' button, you will have to telephone). Write a short message with the dates you want to volunteer. Hosts will see a link to your profile when they read your message.
8. Wait for replies, ask any questions and make arrangements.
9. Check your insurance, arrange your travel and check visa and entry requirements carefully, especially if you have a passport from a non-EEA country.
10. If you change your dates, or need to cancel, you MUST contact your host to let them know!
11. Enjoy WWOOFing in Ireland!

WWOOF Ireland can accept volunteers from the age of 16 with these conditions:

• 16 - 18 year olds MUST declare their age to the host and ask if hosts are willing to take responsibility for them in addition to filling in their age on their personal profile on the site
• 16 - 18 year olds MUST have an individual travel insurance which covers them as a member of a  volunteer association on a recognised volunteer project. OvEuropa offer an insurance policy for WWOOFers.

No. Membership of WWOOF Ireland only covers the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The subscription is 20 euro

A WWOOFer subscription lasts 12 months

Yes - but you must WWOOF together and expect to share a room or other accommodation. You will need to use the WWOOFer information form to describe both of you.

You will be sent a short message a few days before the subscription ends. When it has ended, you will see a message when you next log in to WWOOF Ireland. Not all facilities will be available until you re-subscribe, by PayPal or post. It is best to wait until the subscription has ended before you re-subscribe. Your WWOOFer information will not be lost and will be available again once you have re-subscribed.

We will remove all your information if you do not re-subscribe after 30 days, or earlier if you contact us.

YES! You should have travel and personal accident insurance. A policy is available from OVEuropa providing third party liability and personal accident, injury and illness insurance suited to volunteer work. 

Your profile is viewable by subscribed members only. It is not shown publicly. When you contact a host, they will be given a link to your profile page. If you post a message in the forum or on the noticeboard, your profile will also be viewable by subscribed members.

There is a 'Contact' button at the bottom of each host's page. If it is missing, the host does not want e-mail contact so you must write or telephone.

From the 'Contact' button, you can write a short message. It is a good idea to include the dates when you are available, and any information that is not already in your profile. When the host receives the message, they will be able to view your profile on this site and reply to you.

Go to the host's page and click the 'Leave feedback' button.

You can leave feedback to be seen by everyone, or you can report an issue or make a complaint to be seen only by the WWOOF Ireland team by clicking that section of the form. Complaints should be related to one of the areas of the 'host commitment' that all hosts agree to.

Please read the Feedback Policy

A bookmark helps to remember host pages.

When you 'bookmark' a host page it will be shown in your list of bookmarks so you can find it easily. The list of your bookmarked hosts is available from the 'WWOOFer Menu'.

If you have a passport from a country in the EEA (European Economic Area), you do not need a visa to enter Ireland.

If you have a passport from a non-EEA country, you MUST investigate entry requirements. A visa is not required from many countries but there are other requirements which are described below. See the list of countries which do not need a visa HERE or find the Irish embassy in your country HERE

If you have a non-EEA  passport, even if you do not need a visa, you may be asked to give:

• Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself
• Evidence of valid travel arrangements to leave Ireland
• Evidence of where you will be staying and what you will be doing

See below for more information

WWOOF is a voluntary scheme with educational, environmental and cultural benefits - no money changes hands and no permit is required. We are not aware of anyone being refused entry into Ireland just because they are volunteering through WWOOF. When entry has been refused there have always been other reasons. One of the reasons is not being honest, so it's OK to say you are WWOOFing.

If you are from a non-EEA country, even if you do not need a visa, you may be asked to show where you will be staying while in Ireland. You should have details of hosts you have made arrangements with, including verifiable contact details. We are currently working on a way to provide extra documentation, approved by Irish Immigration, to show where you will be staying; if requested well in advance of your visit.

Even if you do not need a visa, if you are from outside the EEA, you may be asked to show evidence of travel arrangements to leave Ireland within the time allowed, which is usually 90 days. This would normally be a valid ticket.

Even if you do not need a visa, if you are from outside the EEA, you may be asked to show evidence of having 'sufficient funds' for your stay in Ireland. There is no fixed definition of 'sufficient funds'. As WWOOFers will not be paying for accomodation the level of funding required may be less than for a tourist. You may still need to show that you can support yourself for the duration of your stay, if you have to leave a host earlier than planned.

You will need to have enough cash or an original bank statement with a card to access the account.

Remember that there is a border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland which is part of the UK. If you are from outside the EEA and intend to leave Ireland for Northern Ireland and the UK, you must be sure to check the entry rules. There are also rules about re-entering Ireland from Northern Ireland and the UK. More information about re-entry is available HERE