ADDITION OF THAILAND TO THE IRISH SHORT-STAY VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME

Beginning 18 November 2013, citizens of Thailand were permitted to avail of the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme. Initiated to promote tourism from emerging markets in July 2011, the Programme has since achieved significant economic success in attracting increasing numbers of visitors to Ireland, a success that it hopes to continue with the addition of Thailand to the list of countries covered by the scheme. 

The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme allows visitors or business people from 17 countries who have lawfully entered the UK, on a valid UK visa, to travel to Ireland without the requirement of obtaining an Irish visa. The minister notes that while well over 500,000 Thais visited Europe in 2012, with about 140,000 going to the UK, less than 6,000 came to Ireland. By removing the Visa requirement, the Minister hopes to capitalize on this market in working to attract increasing numbers of Thai tourists and 

business people.

This endeavour is also further supported by continued efforts to work with UK counterparts on developing reciprocal visa arrangements for the Common Travel Area. The end goal of these arrangements is to establish a “system whereby only one visa is required to travel to and around the Common Travel Area.”

Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme - Who Is Covered?

NEW SHORT STAY VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME

Ireland’s first ever short-stay visa waiver programme was announced on 30th June. It relaxes restrictions on who must apply for short stay visas in a bid to attract tourists visiting the UK to extend their trip to come to Ireland. The current programme is a pilot that will run until October 2012, taking in the Olympics in London in 2012.

In response to some queries we have had in on how the programme applies, here is a brief summary. 

Firstly, note that the waiver only applies to a specific list of nationalities, many of which are currently ‘visa’ countries. The sixteen countries included are: India, Kazakhstan, Peoples Republic of China, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Montenegro, Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Secondly, potential applicants should note that the waiver only applies when the applicant already has lawful permission to enter the UK as a tourist or business person. They will be permitted to enter the State for 3 months or until their UK visa runs out, whichever is the shorter.  

It is also worth noting that the initiative allows long-term residents of the UK who are nationals of the listed countries to have the cost of an Irish visa waived.

We welcome this pragmatic initiative. Further details of the new initiative are available here 


Brophy Solicitors 
25.07.11