“It will enable people who visit Ireland regularly, for business or family reasons, in particular, to make one application, which when granted, will then cover travel over a five-year period.”
Happy news for people living in Ireland as an extension of the 5-year multi-entry short-stay visa option has been announced to all visa-required countries.
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has announced today the extension of the 5-year multi-entry short-stay visa option to all visa required countries.
“This will make traveling to Ireland a more convenient and attractive option at a time when travel worldwide is resuming and our tourism industry, in particular, is reopening following the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.”
Earlier until now, Ireland only had the option of 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year multi-entry visas, that is a maximum of 3-year multi-entry short-stay visas. The option of a 5-year multi-entry visa was only available to Chinese passport holders and this was introduced in 2019.
“But with the new changes being announced by the Minister today, people will be able to apply for the option of a multi-year visa (of any duration from 1 to 5 years), even if they have no previous Irish travel history.”
Announcing the change Minister McEntee said:
‘The availability of 5-year multi-entry short-stay visas to eligible applicants from all visa required countries is a very positive measure. It will enable people who visit Ireland regularly, for business or family reasons, in particular, to make one application, which when granted, will then cover travel over a five-year period.
This will make traveling to Ireland a more convenient and attractive option at a time when travel worldwide is resuming and our tourism industry, in particular, is reopening following the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.’
Multi-Entry Visas
A multi-entry visa permits the holder to travel to Ireland on a number of occasions during the dates shown on the visa.
In general, multi-entry visas are only issued to an applicant who has shown a compliant Irish travel history.
“Many campaigns were held regarding the extension of multi-entry short-stay visas to all visa-required countries of which the campaign led by LEA representative Advocate Jithin Ram of the Green Party was noteworthy.”
But with the new changes being announced by the Minister today, people who have frequent travel to the UK, Schengen zone, USA, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, and have observed the conditions of those visas will also be able to apply for the option of a multi-year visa (of any duration from 1 to 5 years), even if they have no previous Irish travel history.
For a person with no previous travel history to Ireland, a multi-entry visa may be approved in circumstances where the person:
needs to travel regularly to Ireland on short visits for business meetings.
while in Ireland on business, needs to travel to another country, returning to Ireland for further meetings, or onward travel, or
is traveling to and from another country, via Ireland.
Current visa fees
€ 60: Single entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa
€ 100: Multiple entry – Short stay ‘C’ visa.
As with all visa applications, the granting of a multi-entry visa is at the discretion of the relevant Visa Officer.
Campaigns
Many campaigns were held regarding the extension of multi-entry short-stay visas to all visa-required countries of which the campaign led by LEA Jithin Ram of the Green Party was noteworthy.
Thanks to Advocate Jithin Ram (Local Electoral Area Rep) LEA, Green Party Lucan for his tireless efforts in working for this campaign.
The announcement can be seen here.