Ireland stops visa-free travel for South Africans ‘indefinitely’
Due to the concerns of Covid 19 the Irish government has increased its visa-free travel ban for South Africa and some South American countries.
Helen McEntee, who is the Ireland minister of Justice answered the parliamentary questions saying that the ban will be extended ‘until it is no longer needed for public health reasons’, the Irish Times reported.
”The measures are designed to support current public health restrictions on movement – including into and out of Ireland – and the decision to introduce the ban came about when the expert public health adviced it from the National Public Health Emergency Team”, McEntee said.
“The strong advice is that everyone, regardless of their nationality or visa/preclearance status, or where they started their travel from, who cannot provide proof of an essential purpose to travel to or within Ireland, should not travel to Ireland,” she said.
“Further visa requirements may be introduced to other non-EEA countries in the future, where they are deemed necessary and appropriate, to support public health measures approved by the government.”
A new visa requirement was placed for South African passport holders that wish to travel to Ireland, this law came about during the midnight of the 27th of January 2021 by the Irish Government in order for them to tackle the pendemic.
It is currently against the law for any person – regardless of nationality or passport – you are now NOT allowed to travel within Ireland for non-essential purposes and people can be fined for doing so.
The Irish Embassy said the situation will continue to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant authorities in the coming weeks.
“In the meantime, South African nationals should not at this time apply online for a visa unless the reason for travel falls into the priority/ emergency category,” it said.
A number of other countries have also indicated that travelers from South Africa will be barred from entering – a sign that the country could be facing reputational damage as a result of the 501Y.V2 variant of Covid-19, which has been referred to as the “South African variant” abroad.