Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
413. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form the number of Irish visas applied for by Chinese nationals in 2013 through the Beijing visa office and the Shanghai consulate and all other offices in 2013; the number of refusals arising from these applications; the reason for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28145/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAround 10,300 applications by Chinese nationals for Irish short-stay and long-stay visas were received worldwide in 2013. Of these, 79% of applications were made in China, the vast majority of which were decided on in the Visa Office in Beijing, 12% in the UK and 9% throughout the rest of the world. Of applications by Chinese nationals decided in 2013, around 9,800 were granted and about 530 were refused. This represents a very high grant rate of about 95% which compares very favourably internationally.
Visa applications can be refused for a number of reasons. Essentially, the reasons for the refusal for any visa is that the person concerned failed to meet that criteria for the particular visa applied for. The criteria would vary depending on the type of visa sought. The visa applicant is informed of the reasons for refusal and has the opportunity to appeal the decision within two months of the decision being issued.
