IRELAND: Abolition of Re-entry Visa System Announced

April 12, 2019


Effective 13 May 2019, visa-required nationals holding a valid Irish Resident Permit (IRP) card or GNIB card will no longer require a re-entry visa to leave and return to Ireland. An IRP or GNIB card and passport will be sufficient to prove a right to travel to Ireland.

Exceptions

  • Visa-required nationals under the age of 16 years are not issued with an IRP/GNIB card. Their parents or guardians will be able to apply for a re-entry visa for them, to ensure that they can travel in and out of Ireland while living there.
  • Visa-required nationals intending to travel in and out of Ireland during the first months of their planned stay, before their IRP card is issued, should apply for a multiple entry visa before entry.

Interim Arrangements

Interim arrangements have been established, including the following:

  • Those who have already submitted an application for a re-entry visa to INIS for re-entry on or after 13 May 2019 will have their application returned unprocessed, and their postal order refunded.
  • Those who have already submitted an application for a re-entry visa to INIS for re-entry before 13 May 2019 must make an appointment online to visit the INIS re-entry visa office in Burgh Quay, Dublin, to make an application in person. There will be no fee for the issuance of this re-entry visa.
  • Those who have not yet submitted an application but wish to travel and return before 13 May 2019 will have to make an appointment online to visit the INIS re-entry visa office in Burgh Quay, Dublin, to make an application in person.

Our Advice

Employers who may be affected are encouraged to contact their Newland Chase immigration specialist for case-specific advice. 

 
For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to Ireland, please email us at [email protected]