Residents of South Africa – and Botswana – will likely be required to acquire a visa to journey to Eire from subsequent week beneath preparations introduced by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.
As well as, a transit visa can even be required, if travellers intend to transit by Eire en-route to a different vacation spot.
And, no, the change is not associated to the Springboks’ victory over Eire at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria final Saturday!
Up to now, travellers from both of the African international locations have not required visas to enter the Eire as each have been designated as protected international locations of origin.
Lower than 500 functions
In accordance with The Irish Instances, the transfer is being taken in gentle of what the Division of Justice has described as “a major variety of worldwide safety functions” being obtained from nationals of Botswana and South Africa.
Curiously, neither nation featured within the high 5 nationalities of the greater than 9 000 individuals who utilized for worldwide safety within the 5 months to the tip of Could.
Almost one in three (2 843) functions had been made by residents of Nigeria, adopted by Jordan (718), Pakistan (677), Bangladesh (600) and Somalia (586).
Lower than 500 functions mixed had been made by these from South Africa and Botswana.
Visa places of work to open in South Africa
Talking on Monday, McEntee mentioned South Africa and Botswana had been the one international locations on the protected record that didn’t require its residents to acquire visas earlier than travelling to Eire.
“This can be a fastidiously thought-about resolution which is able to carry Eire into nearer alignment with the Schengen Space in respect of each of those international locations, and into line with the UK in respect of South Africa,” she mentioned.
“Irish visa necessities are stored beneath ongoing overview, having regard to the necessity to make sure that efficient immigration controls are in place while additionally facilitating those that want to journey to Eire for the needs of a go to, to work, to review, or to hitch relations.”
The Minister mentioned the Dublin visa workplace would now set up a devoted “South Africa desk” to course of functions from South African nationals.
She mentioned the Division of International Affairs would additionally set up three visa software centres, positioned all through South Africa, with visa service supplier World VFS.
