Minister McEntee announces new visa requirements
-
From: Department of Justice
- Published on: 4 March 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is today announcing with effect from Thursday, 7 March 2024, nationals of Dominica, Honduras and Vanuatu will be required to obtain a visa before travelling to Ireland. A transit visa will also be required, if intending to transit through Ireland en route to another destination.
Commenting on this announcement, Minister McEntee said:
“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.”
The introduction of a visa requirement for nationals of Honduras, Dominica and Vanuatu is part of an ongoing process to bring Ireland into closer alignment with the visa regime in the United Kingdom and the Schengen area. This saw the introduction of a visa requirement for Bolivian nationals in September of 2023 and for Convention Travel Document holders in July 2022.
The Minister has also announced that the requirement for a visa for has been lifted for diplomatic passport holders of Indonesia, Qatar, Kuwait, Montenegro, Moldova, Türkiye, Colombia, Peru and Georgia. The requirement for a visa has also been lifted for holders of an official passport, service passport or public affairs passport when accompanying a Minister of the government of the countries concerned on an official visit to the State. Reciprocal arrangements apply for Irish diplomats travelling to these countries.
In announcing these changes today the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee stated:
“The lifting of the visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders and officials accompanying visiting Ministers will enhance the close ties in the political, economic and cultural spheres and continue to develop a close relationship with those countries.
"Irish visa requirements are kept under ongoing review, having regard to the need to ensure that effective immigration controls are in place whilst also facilitating those who wish to travel to Ireland for the purposes of a visit, to work, to study or to join family members.”
Notes
Transitional arrangements will be put in place for nationals of Dominica, Honduras and Vanuatu who have existing arrangements to travel to the State in the weeks after the new visa requirements come into effect. Nationals of Dominica, Honduras and Vanuatu who have existing travel arrangements are advised to check the ISD website for further information.
The number of nationals from Dominica, Honduras and Vanuatu travelling to and residing in Ireland is relatively low. Therefore, it is not expected there will be a significant increase in visa applications.