Ireland: Expanded Eligibility Criteria for Multiple-Entry Visas
April 22, 2022
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At a Glance
- The Irish government has made five-year multiple-entry short stay visas available to all visa nationals, where previously, this type of visa was only available for Chinese nationals.
- Also, foreign nationals with travel history to several countries other than Ireland can now apply for a multiple-entry visa to Ireland. Previously, travelers generally had to have a compliant Irish immigration history to qualify for a multiple-entry visa.
- These changes are in line with the government’s efforts to make the visa system and travel to Ireland more convenient, especially considering the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery efforts.
The situation
The Irish government has made five-year multiple-entry short stay visas available to all visa nationals, where previously, this type of visa was only available for Chinese nationals and has expanded the qualification criteria for all multiple-entry visas.
A closer look
| CHANGE | IMPACT |
| Expanded eligibility for five-year multiple-entry visas. Visa nationals traveling to Ireland (including travelers from China, India and Turkey among other countries listed here), can now apply for a five-year multiple-entry short stay visa. |
The expanded eligibility for the five-year multiple-entry short stay visa will reduce the need for frequent travelers to Ireland to apply for multiple visas, saving costs and administrative hurdles. Visa decisions and validity periods will remain a matter of discretion of each visa officer. Travelers intending to work in Ireland still need to apply for work authorization in most circumstances. Visa-exempt nationals are not affected by this change, as no visa is required for business or short-stay entry for these nationals. |
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Previous travel history rule amendment. The second change relates to the previous compliant immigration history required for multiple-entry visas. Previously, to qualify for a multiple-entry visa, travelers had to have previous Irish travel history including approved single entry visas. Now, compliant travel history in the following countries can be taken into account when applying for a multiple-entry visa to Ireland: Australia, Canada, the Schengen Area, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. |
Expanded eligibility criteria for multiple-entry visas will expand the pool of entrants with business visas and other short-term immigration statuses, expanding business opportunities in Ireland. |
Background
These changes are in line with the government’s efforts to make the visa system and travel to Ireland more convenient, especially considering the country’s post-COVID-19 recovery efforts.
Looking ahead
These changes are part of the Irish government’s drive to modernize and streamline the Irish immigration system. Further changes, including a new booking system for residence permits, are anticipated this year.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
