Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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411. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a set time period during which a multi-entry visa is valid; if this time period is dependent on the applicant’s circumstances; if he will clarify how the amount of time a multi-entry visa remains valid is decided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19191/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The granting of a multiple entry visa is at the discretion of the Visa Officer and multiple entry visas are usually only issued to an applicant who has shown a compliant travel history.

As a person builds such a record and adheres to the conditions of their visas with subsequent visits/visa applications, a Visa officer may give either a 1, 2 or a 5 year multi entry visa. In April 2022, Minister McEntee announced the extension of the 5-year multi entry short-stay visa option to all visa required countries.

The policy considerations underpinning decisions on applications for multiple entry visas are outlined on my Department's website, to assist applicants in deciding whether to apply for a single or multiple entry visa. Further information is available at the link below: www.irishimmigration.ie/single-multiple-visas/.

The dates of validity shown on the visa sticker, placed in the applicants passport when the visa is granted, indicate the dates between which an applicant can travel to Ireland. The visa must be presented to an immigration officer at a port of entry between those dates. After the end date specified on the visa sticker, the visa is no longer valid and the applicant will need to apply for and be granted another visa prior to travelling to Ireland.