Starting next week, citizens of South Africa and Botswana will need a visa to enter Ireland. This new regulation, announced by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, ends the visa-free travel that citizens of these countries previously enjoyed.
The change comes in response to what the Department of Justice has described as a “significant number of international protection applications” from nationals of Botswana and South Africa.
Despite neither country being among the top five nationalities applying for international protection in Ireland, the move aims to align Ireland’s immigration policies more closely with those of the Schengen Area and the UK.
From January to May 2024, over 9,000 international protection applications were submitted in Ireland. Nigerian nationals topped the list with 2,843 applications, followed by Jordan (718), Pakistan (677), Bangladesh (600), and Somalia (586). Applications from South African and Botswanan citizens were less than 500 combined.
“This is a carefully considered decision which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the Schengen Area in respect of both of these countries, and into line with the UK in respect of South Africa,” McEntee stated.
“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.”
