Irish Visa For Uk Resident

[Baboonboy22]

Hello all,

It's been quite a while since I was on here last. For those of you who helped me out in the past, once again a big thank you. My wife got her ILR last year, and we are looking forward to the time when she can apply for citizenship. No More VISAS! WOO HOO!

But until that glorious time..

My wife and I are going to a friends wedding in Ireland. I've seen there’s a separate part for UK residents, but the thing that I'm stumped on is, it asks for travel bookings to show we are travelling together. We haven't done this yet. For any UK Visa you just had to show your intended travel plans by printing off a quote from the airline. Can I do the same here?? Obviously the reason behind that was if your visa is refused then you don't lose your money on any bookings you've made. So it seems a bit daft that I would have to for this.

I hope someone can help, otherwise I'll have to call them on their ridiculous premium rate number!!

Cheers guys

[Baboonboy22]

Well as my last question has been unanswered I'm not sure if anyone will be able to help with this?

Is it worth doing a cover letter as well to add with the documents, it's not required but the way I see it, it can't hurt.

Just wondering if anyone else did this as well?

Thanks

[7by7]

The Document checklist says

6.(a) If you state on your application form that you will be travelling with your spouse/partner, you must provide proof that you are travelling together such as travel documents or accommodation booking showing both names.

I imagine, though, that a booking pending confirmation and payment once she has the visa would suffice.

A covering letter wont hurt, and may help.

See Visas and the relevant links from that page for more.

[jombom]

Ireland and UK have a common travel area. If you are in one country, you can travel to the other without showing your passport (in theory, but you must have some form of ID)

If in doubt, call the Irish Consulate in Bangkok at 026777500

Enjoy the wedding

[7by7]

According to the Irish embassy in London, she will need a visa.

From General Information for UK Visa Holders

A separate visa is required for holders of UK visas who wish to travel to the Republic of Ireland, including UK visa holders resident in Northern Ireland. You should not attempt to travel to Ireland from any part of Great Britain and Northern Ireland without a valid Irish visa. If you attempt to do so, you may be stopped on arrival, refused entry and/or have a visa warning entered on your passport.

(My emphasis)

It is true that if entering the Republic from the UK by sea or land it is unlikely that anyone will check; but I wouldn't want to take the risk.

[Seekingasylum]

Travelling to Northern Ireland would present no problems since that province is covered by the ILR. There are no checks overland between the province and the Republic and one might as well hire a car and poodle on down at leisure. Travelling by sea, it is highly likely the Garda would be at the port awaiting ferry arrivals and your wife would stick out for obvious reasons and provoke attention. However, assuming you are British and you have your marriage certificate with you then you could simply state that you are a qualified person under the EEA regulations and exercising your treaty rights along with your spouse who in such circumstances does not require a visa to enter the Republic. But another problem might arise if the ferry operator in Britain declines your wife permission to board if she doesn't have a visa......

Fly to Belfast and hire a car or apply for an eea family permit from the Irish embassy - it's free.