Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2019
91. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to allow Pakistani nationals to visit here on a UK visit visa and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38982/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy appears to be referring to the British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS). A BIVS endorsed visa allows a short-stay visitor to visit both Ireland and the UK (and the North and South of this Island) without the need to obtain two separate visas.
While a BIVS visa is only currently available to national residents of India and the People’s Republic of China, the Immigration Service of my Department is considering extending its availability to other countries on a phased basis, following discussions with the UK authorities. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, there are unlikely to be any changes to the reciprocal visa regime until matters related to Brexit are concluded.
