Source- Dominica News Online: Holders of Dominican passports who want to travel to Ireland must now apply for a visa due to changes in that country’s immigration regime.
Irish Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that the visa restriction will take effect on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
“This is a carefully considered decision taken which will bring Ireland into closer alignment with the visa regime in the United Kingdom and the Schengen area,” she said when making the announcement.
Dominica passport holders who intend to transit through Ireland must also obtain a transit visa.
McEntee further stated that her country regularly reviews its visa requirements to maintain effective immigration control and ensure balance.
“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 purposes of a visit, to work, to study or to join family members,” she stated.
The authorities in Ireland said that transitional arrangements will be made for Dominicans who have already made travel plans in the weeks that follow the implementation of the new visa rules.
The visa requirement was also imposed on citizens from Honduras and Vanuatu.
The Irish government said it does not expect to see an increase in visa applications from citizens from these three countries because of the new regime.
“The number of nationals from Dominica, Honduras, and Vanuatu travelling to, and residing in Ireland is relatively low. Therefore, it is not expected there will be a significant increase in visa applications,” it said in a statement.
Reports indicate that the new visa requirement is part of a broader effort by Ireland to harmonize its visa regulations with neighboring countries.
In July 2023, the United Kingdom placed visa restrictions on Dominica due to concerns over the island’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).
The British government said at that time that careful consideration of Dominica’s CBI showed “clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK.”
The move was considered a major blow to Dominica but Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit subsequently shrugged it off stating that it wouldn’t cause permanent harm to the island.
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