Nearly a year after Ireland ended visa-free access for South Africans, the country is struggling under the weight of surging visa applications, leading to widespread delays and growing frustration among travellers.
In July 2024, Ireland introduced new regulations requiring South African and Botswanan nationals to apply for visas, including transit visas, to enter or pass through the country.
Visa-free access
This marked a significant change for South Africans, who had previously enjoyed visa-free access to Ireland – one of the few European nations that allowed it.
The Irish government cited multiple concerns at the time, including:
- A rise in forged South African passports, often used by nationals from other countries
- An increase in international protection (asylum) claims by South Africans upon arrival
- The need to align immigration policies with the UK, which shares a common travel area with Ireland
Irish Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, acknowledged the decision was “harsh but necessary.”
He pointed to a 100% increase in South African arrivals claiming asylum as a key trigger for the policy change.
Despite the move, South Africa remains a key source of skilled migrants for Ireland, with deep business, trade, and educational ties.
Many South African professionals, students, and entrepreneurs seek opportunities in Ireland, which is actively recruiting foreign talent to fill post-pandemic skills gaps.
Visa chaos unfolds
Since the policy took effect, Ireland has seen a massive influx of visa applications from South Africans.
Although authorities committed to three-month turnaround times, many applicants report delays of 12 to 16 weeks, forcing them to cancel travel plans, including business trips and family visits.
Former Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee had announced the set-up of a dedicated “South Africa desk” at the Dublin Visa Office, supported by three local Visa Application Centres (VACs) managed by VFS Global in South Africa.
However, this has proven inadequate.
The Irish government has now doubled resources in a bid to clear the backlog, aiming to reduce turnaround to 4-6 weeks.
“We’re seeing far more applications than expected,” Richmond said.
“We underestimated the demand, and we’re now scaling operations accordingly.”
Ireland has also proposed streamlining business and work permit visa processes, with a focus on faster approval timelines for skilled professionals.
Background: Long-standing security concerns
South African passports had faced scrutiny and misuse in Europe for several years prior.
In 2022, airline Ryanair sparked controversy by administering a test in Afrikaans to validate South African passports – drawing global backlash.
While the test was scrapped, questions over passport integrity remained.
The visa requirement aligns Ireland with UK immigration policies, but has sparked criticism from both travellers and stakeholders in the travel and tourism sector.
Looking ahead
Despite current frustrations, Irish officials insist the visa measures are not permanent and could be re-evaluated once security risks are resolved and application volumes stabilise.
In the meantime, thousands of South Africans are left navigating long waits and bureaucratic hurdles, a sharp contrast to the ease of travel they once enjoyed.
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