The Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) Order 2021 provided that nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Paraguay, South Africa and Uruguay were required to be in possession of a valid Irish visa when landing in the State. It also provided that nationals of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, South Africa, Suriname and Uruguay were required to be in possession of a valid Irish transit visa when arriving at a port in the State for purposes of passing through the port in order to travel to another state. This Order came into effect from 28 January 2021.
The Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2021 reversed the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) Order 2021 by removing the visa and transit visa requirements for nationals of those countries, with effect from 16 June 2021.
Under the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021, the short stay visa waiver programme was reinstated from 31 October 2021 and extended to 31 October 2026. In addition, Colombia, Indonesia, Kosovo, Peru, Philippines, Republic of North Macedonia and Vietnam were added to the list of states or territorial entities whose nationals may be covered by the Programme.
From 27 November 2021, the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 4) Order 2021 applied visa requirements for nationals of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa and transit visa requirements for nationals of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa.
The Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 5) Order 2021 provided for a transit visa requirement for nationals of Mozambique with effect from 30 November 2021.
The Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 6) Order 2021 reversed Orders No. 4 and No. 5 and nationals of the abovementioned countries were no longer visa required or transit visa required with effect from 22 December 2021.
