Starting July 10, citizens of South Africa and Botswana will require visas to travel to the Republic of Ireland, announced Helen McEntee, Irish Minister for Justice.
In addition to travel visas, transit visas will also be mandatory for nationals of these countries planning to transit through Ireland en route to other destinations.
The decision, as explained by the Irish Department of Justice, stems from a notable increase in International Protection applications from South African and Botswanan nationals in recent years. Both countries are categorized as ‘safe countries of origin’ for International Protection, implying that asylum seekers are unlikely to face persecution, torture, or other forms of severe treatment.
“This decision aligns Ireland more closely with the Schengen Area’s visa policies for these countries and brings it in line with the United Kingdom’s approach towards South Africa,” Minister McEntee remarked.
She emphasized that Irish visa policies undergo continual evaluation to balance effective immigration management with facilitating travel for visits, work, study, or family reunification purposes.
To streamline visa processing, the Dublin Visa Office will establish a dedicated ‘South Africa desk’ to handle applications from South African nationals effectively.
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