Ireland has recently announced changes to visa requirements for nationals of Botswana and South Africa, effective from July 10. Here is the information you should know:

1. Visa Requirement: Starting from July 10, citizens of Botswana and South Africa will need to obtain a visa before traveling to Ireland for any purpose, including visits, work, study, or joining family members.
2. Transit Visa Requirement: Nationals of Botswana and South Africa will also require a transit visa if they are transiting through Ireland en route to another destination.
3. Exemptions: Diplomatic passport holders from South Africa are exempted from these new visa requirements.
4. Implementation Details: The Dublin Visa Office will establish a dedicated South Africa desk to handle visa applications, and there will be three Visa Application Centers (VACs) in South Africa.
5. Transitional Arrangements: There are transitional arrangements in place for individuals from Botswana and South Africa who have made arrangements before July 10, allowing them to travel to Ireland until August 9, 2024, under existing rules.
6. Reasons for Changes: The Irish Ministry of Justice stated that these changes align Ireland more closely with the Schengen zone and bring it in line with the United Kingdom's visa policies regarding South Africa. It also mentioned managing immigration effectively while facilitating legitimate travel needs.
7. Safe Countries List: Both Botswana and South Africa were previously considered safe countries of origin for International Protection purposes. Despite this, due to various factors including the number of International Protections applications received, Ireland has decided to implement visa requirements.

This update reflects Ireland's ongoing review of its immigration policies and aims to balance effective immigration controls with facilitating legitimate travel. Follow EU Helpers to get the latest updates on Europe or the Schengen Area.