UK & Ireland ink MoU for joint visa scheme

Travellers from outside the European Union (EU) can now move freely between UK and Ireland on a single permit. Tourists from India and China will be the first beneficiaries of the scheme. The agreement was signed at the Irish Embassy in London by Theresa May, Home Secretary of the UK, and Frances Fitzgerald, Minister for Justice and Equality, Government of Ireland.

“Our aim is to boost tourism and business travel to our countries and, together, we are sending a clear and powerful message that these islands are open for business,” Fitzgerald added.

May said, “This agreement will make it easier and more attractive for travellers to visit both Ireland and the UK, while at the same time strengthening Common Travel Area borders.”

Arlene Foster, the Northern Ireland Enterprise Minister, said the scheme was “the result of a high level of collaboration on work to strengthen the Common Travel Area and move to better, common standards for border and visa issuance”.