Indian visitors will be able to apply for their United Kingdom or Irish visit visas under the British Irish Visa Scheme. The scheme will allow Indian nationals to travel to the UK and Ireland on a single short term visit visa.
Ireland and the UK will share Visa Application Centres across India. All applicants applying for an Irish or British visa will need to use the shared Visa Application Centres from 10 February 2015.
“This is another example of the continuous improvements we are making to the visa service for Indian nationals. India is a key growth market for both UK and Irish tourism. We hope that more Indian visitors will choose to come to the UK and Ireland as a result of this latest change,” James Bevan, British High Commissioner to India, said.
“I welcome the new British-Irish Visa Scheme and the benefits it will bring Irish-Indian trade and tourism links. India is a priority market for Ireland under the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy and the Embassy in New Delhi and the State agencies in India work on the basis of a joint strategy to increase trade, investment, education and tourism between our two countries. I hope to see increasing numbers visiting Ireland to see the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’, visit the Titanic museum in Belfast or sample some of Ireland’s legendary traditional music sessions. I hope that this scheme helps to grow the deep ties between India and Ireland in the future,” Feilim McLaughlin, Ambassador of Ireland to India, said.
Visitors who wish to benefit from the scheme will travel first to the country which issued them the visa. For example applicants with an Irish visa would first visit Ireland before then visiting the UK or Northern Ireland. However visitors transiting via the UK to Ireland will not need a separate transit visa.
“The introduction of the British-Irish Visa Scheme is really good news, making it easier than ever before for visitors from India to visit the island of Ireland. It is a significant step in helping us to grow visitor numbers from these markets – whether those visitors wish to travel here for sightseeing, golf or as business tourists,” Huzan Frazer, Tourism Ireland India, said.
