WATCH: Visa requirement for SA, Botswana nationals planning to travel to Ireland

Ireland's ambassador to South Africa, Austin Gormley, has confirmed that South Africans and citizens of Botswana must apply for visas from Wednesday, 10 July, if they wish to enter Ireland.

Gormley says that the new measures have been introduced to bring Ireland into line with other Schengen countries in Europe, as well as the requirements of the United Kingdom - which stipulate that South Africans must have visas for entry.

However, limited transitional arrangements for certain travellers have been made from Wednesday to the 9th of August.

"South African and Botswanan passport holders who have booked travel to Ireland before 10th July 2024 and will travel to Ireland before 10th August 2024 may travel to Ireland provided they are in possession of a valid passport; and documentary proof from their carrier (and not a Travel Agent) showing the date of purchase of their ticket(s), their name as the passenger, the flight(s) number and date of travel", said Gormley.

"This documentation will need to be produced where requested to do so by a carrier or an Immigration Officer. Normal immigration rules that apply to non-nationals on seeking entry to the State will apply to any person availing of the transitional arrangements."

"Any person who books travel to Ireland after Wednesday (10 July 2024) cannot avail of the limited transitional arrangements and will need to have obtained an Irish visa in advance of travel, even if travelling to Ireland before 10th of August.

"Persons who are in possession of a valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card do not separately need to have an Irish visa. A frequently asked questions (FAQ) document has been prepared for Botswana and South Africa nationals."