Visit Visa For Ireland

[horse]

The Thai wife and I are off to the UK as usual this year but fancy a week in Ireland.

The Irish consul quoted a lot of hoops to get through just for a visit + almost 4000 Baht

Is it possible to get a visa in the UK from the Thai consulate there or wherever?

Cheers,

h

[the scouser]

Hi Horse,

Generally speaking the applicant is expected to apply for a visa in their country of normal residence, in this case Thailand. Your wife would, therefore, have to get permission from the Irish consul in Bangkok.

However, as you, a Brit, are married, you wife can apply for a family permit to visit Ireland which is free. The basis of this is that in going to Ireland you may be exercising your European Union treaty rights and your wife, irrespective of her nationality, is entitled to accompany you.

Alternatively, you can risk just not getting any form of entry clearance as, travelling between the UK and Ireland there are only spot passport checks. However, if you go down this route then be aware that if she does have her passport examined and doesn't have any form of clearance she will be refused entry and handed over to the UK authorities who may, in turn, also refuse her. I don't recommend this course.

Also make sure that her UK visa is good for multiple entries.

Cheers,

Scouse.

[GU22]

However, as you, a Brit, are married, you wife can apply for a family permit to visit Ireland which is free. The basis of this is that in going to Ireland you may be exercising your European Union treaty rights and your wife, irrespective of her nationality, is entitled to accompany you.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Only if the Brit is resident in Ireland (or other EU/EEA member state) not for visits.

Horse, you could take the risk of her not having a visa, but as Scouse says, the consequences of being caught could be dire.

[the scouser]

Only if the Brit is resident in Ireland (or other EU/EEA member state) not for visits.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

As a Brit visiting Ireland, for example, although on holiday you are free to exercise your treaty rights at any time and as a consequence the entry clearance issued to your non-EEA spouse is gratis and places no restrictions upon them except, perhaps, a time limit on the duartion they can stay before applying for an extension.

The following is taken from the Diplomatic Service Procedures:-

You do not have to be satisfied that the EEA principal is either exercising, or intends to exercise, treaty rights while in the UK. You only need to be satisfied that the EEA principal is travelling to the UK before or with the non-EEA national. This is because the EEA national may elect to exercise treaty rights at any time. It is also not practical to impose different requirements on family members according to whether or not the EEA principal on whom they depend will or will not exercise treaty rights.

I appreciate that this is guidance for UK visa officers. It is, however, based upon European Union law and therefore applicable, as a general principle, to all EU/EEA countries.

So a family permit for your Thai spouse in order to visit Ireland is an option. Indeed, my wife and I are visiting Krautland this weekend for 2 nights and she has a German family permit issued free.

Scouse.

Edited March 18, 2005 by the scouser

[GU22]

Interesting.

We have applied for visas at different times for both France and Spain and been told by the relevent embassies that an EEA family permit could not be issued as I was resident in the UK. So we had to pay for Schengen visas.

You got the permit at the German embassy?

[the scouser]

I must admit that in my ex-professional dealings with my European counterparts, the only ones who'd play ball and actually abided by the rules were the Scandinavians and the Krauts. The French, especially, just did what suited themselves.

Yes, we got the permit at the German embassy.

Scouse.

Edited March 18, 2005 by the scouser

[GU22]

Thanks for the info.

[horse]

Thanks for the info.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, thanks guys - that was a very informative little thread!

Might go to Germany instead....

Cheers,

Horse

[mickmac]

Hi Horse, just a word to the wise. I have been living in Ireland for some 5-6 years prior to moving to Thailand 18 months ago. In that time I have travelled through a small airport in the West of Ireland, Knock, and Dublin. I have noticed the increase in immigration control over the years. Whereas you used to be able to get off the Birmingham or Luton flight to Knock and saunter through to pick up your bags and be on your way, without any problems. Nowadays, I flew into Knock in January of this year, everyone is made to show their passport. So if I was you I would not bother attempting to go there without the correct visa.

( I used Knock as an example, because it is an out of the way airport in the back of beyond).

I hope this helps a little, good luck.

[the scouser]

We have applied for visas at different times for both France and Spain and been told by the relevent embassies that an EEA family permit could not be issued as I was resident in the UK. So we had to pay for Schengen visas.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Coincedentally, a friend of mine (a Brit) took his Thai wife to the Spanish embassy in London 2 days ago in order to get entry clearance for their upcoming holiday. The visa officer was content to issue a family permit-type visa but then refused to accept the authenticity of their Thai marriage certificate. As a result they were told to stump up £17.50 if they wanted a normal visit visa as that was all they were going to get unless either a British marriage certificate was adduced or the Thai one was notarised by the Home Office.

It definately seems to me that they're playing by their own rules and have some aversion to dishing out free family permits but perhaps persistence would make them back down.

Scouse.

[GU22]

I think, Scouse, the phrase "have some aversion to dishing out free family permits" sums it up nicely. You'd think these people were on a commission!