Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can advise the Deputy that officials from the Visa area of my Department made contact with the person referred to on Friday 15 September 2023, with a view to assisting with their intended travel to the State.

In relation to Bolivian nationals who had made plans to travel to Ireland before the visa requirement came into force on 12 September 2023 and who can show evidence of booking and payment for travel which is scheduled to take place on or before the 12th October, the visa office will endeavour to accommodate customers in any of the following circumstances:

1. A critical medical case involving a family member being seriously ill or undergoing medical treatment.

2. Visiting for a significant family event – a birth, wedding or funeral.

3. Taking up a place obtained in a third-level institution on an undergraduate or post graduate degree course.

4. Holding an employment permit for Ireland and can provide evidence of the permit issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

5. Travelling for business and can provide confirmation from the enterprise in question of the arrangements for the visit.

Any person that believes that they fall into any of the above categories and has a scheduled arrival in the State on or before 12 October 2023 should email travelrequest@justice.ie with the subject line “Bolivia - Emergency Travel Required”. A member of the Visa Customer Service Team will respond to them as soon as possible.

With the exception of the categories outlined above, all other Bolivian nationals intending on travelling to the State are asked to complete the online visa application form which is available at the following link:

www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx.

Further information and advice on the application process for Bolivian nationals can be found at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/update-for-bolivian-visa-customers/