Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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641. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visa applications submitted to the South African visa desk in the Dublin Visa Office, for each month, from July 2024 to 31 May 2025; the number of applications which have been processed in the same timeline, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34218/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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642. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action his Department is taking to ensure that target processing times of visa applications to the South African visa desk in the Dublin Visa Office are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34219/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.

I can advise the Deputy that on 10 July 2024 visa requirements were introduced for nationals of South Africa, bringing our arrangements into alignment with the visa requirements of Schengen members states, and with those of the UK.

The Dublin Visa Office have established a dedicated “South Africa desk” to process applications from residents of South Africa. My Department also established Visa Application Centres, located throughout South Africa, with visa service provider VFS Global. This is to ensure the facilitation of legitimate travel with processes that are robust, effective, and fair.

In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to 2023, with over 35,000 additional applications received.

Since July 2024 to date, over 11,700 applications of all types have been received by the South African Desk and over 7,900 decisions have issued with an overall 89% grant rate.

The table below provides the total number of visa applications received and decisions made by month, from 10 July 2024, up to 31 May 2025.

* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.** A decision made in a particular month may relate to an application received in a previous month.

The South Africa Desk publishes guidance for applicants, target processing times and weekly decision reports, at the following webpage:

www.irishimmigration.ie/south-africa-visa-desk/.

The current target processing times for visa applications submitted to the South Africa Visa Desk are 10 to 12 weeks for applications to visit family/friend and approximately 14 weeks for tourist applications. I can assure the Deputy that efforts are being made to improve the current processing times.

If an application has significantly exceeded the above times, it is possible that, on initial assessment, the application has not met the criteria to be issued a visa, and further assessment/verification is required. In such instances, processing times will be longer than those stated above.

I understand extended wait times can be frustrating. I want to assure anyone who is waiting on a decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect will reduce the waiting times for all applications.

Applicants are advised that unforeseen delays can arise, which are outside the control of the Visa Desk. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

Any applicant can now directly check the status of their visa application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: .