With effect from 10th July 2024 holders of South African and Botswanan passports will be subject to Irish visa requirements which means that they will need to obtain an Irish visa before travelling to Ireland. Below are questions and answers from the Ireland Department of Immigration.
Q1. I am a South African or Botswanan national. I booked my travel to Ireland before 10 July 2024 and I am due to arrive in Ireland before 10 August 2024. Do I need a visa to come to Ireland? Answer: As your travel plans fall within the transitional arrangements, you may travel to Ireland without a visa in this period. However, you must remember to bring evidence of your flight booking (made BEFORE 10 July 2024) so that you can present the information to your carrier, or to Irish Border Officials, if requested. The normal immigration rules that apply to non-nationals on seeking entry to the State will apply to any person availing of the transition arrangements.
Q2. I am a South African or Botswanan national and booked my flights for Ireland on 10 July 2024, i.e. the day the visa imposition came into effect. I plan to travel to Ireland before 10 August 2024. Do I need a visa to come to Ireland? Answer: Yes. As you did not book your flight before 10 July 2024, you will need a visa to come to Ireland.
Q3. I am a South African or Botswanan national. I booked my flights prior to 10 July 2024 and I intend to travel to Ireland on a date after 9 August 2024. Do I need a visa to come to Ireland? Answer: Yes. The transitional arrangements only apply to customers who booked flights before 10 July and will travel to Ireland before 10 August 2024. As you will be arriving into Ireland after this date you will require a visa.
Q4. I am a South African or Botswanan national. I have not made any flight or hotel booking in Ireland just yet, but I want to travel to Ireland during July/August 2024. Do I need a visa to come to Ireland? Answer: Yes. The transitional arrangements only apply to customers who booked flights to Ireland before 10 July and are due to arrive in Ireland before 10 August 2024.
Q5. I am a South African or Botswanan national. I booked flights to a destination other than Ireland before 10 July 2024. However, as part of that journey I am required to transit through Ireland en route to my final destination. Do I need an Irish transit visa? Answer: As your travel plans fall within the transitional arrangements, you may travel without an Irish transit visa. Please remember to bring evidence of your flight booking (made BEFORE 10 July 2024) so that you can present it to your carrier, or to Irish Border Officials, if requested. For more information on transit visas.
Q6. I am a South African/Botswanan national. I booked flights to a destination other than Ireland after 10 July 2024. As part of that journey, I am required to transit through Ireland en route to my final destination. Do I need an Irish transit visa? Answer: Yes. The transitional arrangements only apply to customers who booked flights to Ireland before 10 July and are due to arrive in Ireland before 10 August 2024.
Q7.I am a South African or Botswanan national. I have a valid IRP (Irish Residence Permit) card. How do these transitional arrangements, or the visa requirement, affect me? Answer: If you hold a valid IRP card, then provided the IRP card is in date when you are travelling to Ireland, you do not need a
Q8. I am not a South African or Botswanan national, but I am living in South Africa or Botswana. Do I need a visa to come to Ireland? Answer: The transitional arrangements mentioned in the notice only apply to South African or Botswana nationals.
