Effective from March 7, 2024, nationals of Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu will need to obtain a visa in order to be permitted entry to Ireland, the Irish authorities have announced.
In addition, nationals of these three countries will also be required to obtain a transit visa if they intend to transit through Ireland to reach another destination, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
Announcing the news on the visa requirements for nationals of Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu, Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, said that this move is aimed at aligning the country’s visa policy to that of the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area.
This is a carefully considered decision taken which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the visa regime in the United Kingdom and the Schengen area.
For nationals of Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu who already had existing travel arrangements to Ireland in the weeks following the implementation of the new visa rules, the Irish authorities highlighted that transitional arrangements will be in place for them.
However, the move is not expected to affect many as a relatively small number of Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu nationals travel to Ireland.
Taking this into account, Ireland also does not anticipate an increase in the number of applications from nationals of these countries.
It is not expected there will be a significant increase in visa applications.
The decision of Ireland to no longer permit visa-free entry for nationals of Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu is part of a broader effort of the country to harmonise its visa regulations with neighbouring countries.
Ireland Lifts Visa Requirement for Some Diplomatic Passport Holders
While Ireland has decided to impose a visa requirement for Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu nationals, the country is easing the criteria for some others.
Ireland has decided to lift the visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders from Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Montenegro, Moldova, Türkiye, Colombia, Peru, and Georgia to obtain a visa before travelling to the country.
Minister McEntee lifted the visa requirement for holders of official, service, or public affairs passports accompanying visiting Ministers.
Explaining the reason behind these changes, Minister McEntee emphsised that the lifting of the visa requirements for these groups will enhance the ties of Ireland with these countries.
She further emphasised that the country’s visa requirements undergo continuous review.
In 2022, Ireland issued a total of 113,579 visas. Of the total, 61,885 were short-stay visas, and 51,694 were long-stay visas.
