Covid-19 Visa Arrangements Update

Announced 15th June 2021

Minister for Justice Announces

The Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys TD has today announced the lifting of the temporary entry and transit visa restrictions for nationals of South Africa, Brazil and other South American countries that came into effect on 28 January 2021.

The lifting of the temporary restrictions will come into effect from Wednesday 16 June 2021.

The move to lift temporary restrictions is in line with the Government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with COVID-19.

From 16 June 2021 passport holders of the following countries can now travel to Ireland without applying for an entry or transit visa in advance of departure:

• Argentina

• Bolivia

• Brazil

• Chile

• Guyana

• Paragua

• South Africa

• Uruguay

Nationals of these countries should note that, even though they are no longer required to be in possession of an entry visa to travel to the State, they are required to meet the conditions of entry that attach to their particular purpose of stay in Ireland. They will have to satisfy an Immigration Officer on arrival that they meet these conditions of entry.

People who do not satisfy the conditions of entry or people who have previously been unlawfully present in the State, or have otherwise failed to comply with Irish immigration requirements, run the risk of being refused entry to the State at the border. The conditions of entry may include a requirement to have obtained a pre-clearance for certain purposes of stay. You can check here to see if you require a pre-clearance which must be obtained before travelling to Ireland.

Transit Visa Requirements

Nationals of the countries listed below required a visa to travel to Ireland prior to the signing of the visa order in January and it remains the position that they require an entry visa in advance of travelling to the State. However, the requirement for those nationals to have a transit visa has now been removed:

• Colombia (transit visa no longer required – this country was already subject to an entry visa requirement and this requirement remains in place)

• Ecuador (transit visa no longer required – this country was already subject to an entry visa requirement and this requirement remains in place)

• Peru (transit visa no longer required – this country was already subject to an entry visa requirement and this requirement remains in place)

• Suriname (transit visa no longer required – this country was already subject to an entry visa requirement and this requirement remains in place)

If you are unsure as to whether you require a visa/preclearance to enter Ireland you can check here by entering your nationality.

Other arrangements in relation to Visa/Preclearance processing and issuance remain as stated in the web notice dated 01 June 2021.

Immigration & Visa Services Ireland

IVS Ireland provides professional services with support, advice, information and the necessary representation required and will assist you in submitting your applications, requests and documents to the various governmental departments.