Nationals from two of SA’s neighbouring states are now subject to visa restrictions when travelling to the Republic of Ireland.
This comes just months after Ireland imposed entry restrictions on passport holders from South Africa and Botswana last year.
Passport holders of Eswatini and Lesotho are now required to apply for a visa before travelling to Ireland.
The new restriction came into effect on Monday, 10 March.
In addition, Ireland will also require a transit visa for travellers from these countries.
This is if they intend to travel to another country through Ireland, according to Schengen News.
Fragomen states that some exceptions will apply for travellers from these states, who made travel plans before 10 March 2025.
These visitors must arrive in Ireland on or before 31 March 2025.
REASONS FOR SCRAPPING VISA-FREE ENTRY
Though Ireland has not yet made any official statement, Irish media speculates that the visa restrictions are due to a spike in irregular migration from these countries.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, says that this visa requirement aims to facilitate legitimate travel to Ireland, and not limit entry to nationals of these countries.
“I want to be clear that introducing these requirements does not prevent nationals of Eswatini, Lesotho and Nauru coming to Ireland to visit, to work, to study or to join family members. Applying for a visa is a screening mechanism to ensure we are facilitating legitimate travel.” O’Callaghan said.
The ending of visa-free travel means that passport holders from these states must obtain a visa in order to be permitted entry to Ireland.
Visas are required for all purposes, including transit through Ireland’s ports to reach other destinations.
VISA RESTRICTIONS FOR IRELAND
South African nationals are also no longer visa-exempt when travelling to Ireland.
The European country scrapped visa-free entry for South African and Botswana nationals in July last year.
At the time, Ireland stated that it was aligning its entry requirements for South Africa and Botswana nationals with those of the European Union and United Kingdom.
Imposing such visa restrictions often results in a backlash from the receiving nation. Eswatini is not taking the matter lightly.
Schengen News states that authorities in Eswatini have requested Ireland to explain why it has imposed visa restrictions on Eswatini’s nationals.
Eswatini says it will engage in talks with Ireland, to learn the reasons for the newly imposed visa entry restrictions.
What are your thoughts regarding these new visa restrictions?
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