No More Visa Free Entry for Botswana and South Africa to Ireland

The Irish Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, announced today that, effective from Wednesday, July 10, 2024, nationals of Botswana and South Africa will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. Additionally, a transit visa will be required for those intending to transit through Ireland en route to another destination.

Minister McEntee explained that this decision aligns Ireland more closely with the Schengen Area concerning these countries and with the UK regarding South Africa. She emphasised the importance of maintaining effective immigration controls while facilitating legitimate travel for visits, work, study, or family reunions.

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In recent years, a notable number of International Protection applications have been received from nationals of Botswana and South Africa. Despite being designated as safe countries of origin, these nations were the only ones on the list whose citizens did not require visas to enter Ireland. The introduction of visa requirements is seen as a measure to ensure robust and fair immigration processes.

To manage the new visa requirements, the Dublin Visa Office will establish a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from South African nationals. Furthermore, three Visa Application Centres (VACs) will be set up throughout South Africa in collaboration with visa service provider VFS Global.

Minister McEntee stressed the significance of the visa system in determining who can travel to Ireland, ensuring that the process remains efficient and fair. She also highlighted that transitional arrangements will be in place for nationals of Botswana and South Africa with existing travel plans until August 9, 2024. Diplomatic passport holders from South Africa will be exempt from the visa requirement, with reciprocal arrangements for Irish diplomats travelling to these countries.

The Irish Department of Justice has introduced several measures to address the increase in asylum applications and improve immigration control. These include suspending visa-free travel for refugees with EU-issued travel documents, funding for Garda Airline Liaison Officers, enhanced checks at Dublin Airport, and increased deportations and voluntary returns. The accelerated processing of International Protection applications, especially from safe countries of origin and those with the highest number of applications, has also been prioritised.

By aligning with the Schengen Area and the UK, Ireland aims to manage migration patterns effectively and ensure that immigration processes are robust and equitable. The introduction of these visa requirements marks a significant step in Ireland’s ongoing efforts to enhance immigration controls and address the challenges posed by increasing asylum applications.

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Source: Ireland gov