Travel from N.I to Ireland for flights. Visa needed?

[Jamie912]

Hi,

My wife has an 'indefinite leave to remain (FLRm)' visa and a UK biometric residence card. She is living in Northern Ireland with me.

She wants to go to Turkey on holiday. She will travel from Belfast, (Northern Ireland) to Dublin Airport (Ireland) via car for her flights to Istanbul and then back again 2 weeks later. (Istanbul - Dublin - car to Belfast)

Does she require a Visa to enter Ireland for her flight to/from Turkey? If so, which visa?

Thanks

[Obie]

Depends on her nationality .

visa may or may not be required.

[Jamie912]

Sorry - My wife is Turkish

[ddartt]

Yes she does need visa as she will actually be entering Ireland, the link mentioned only applies to airside transits (i.e. you arrive at Dublin airport and transit further without actually entering Ireland).

On the way out, even though technically not legal, she is unlikely to have any issues as there are (usually) no checks on the land border between NI and the Republic, and there are no exit checks in Dublin airport either. Though technically she would still be entering Ireland illegally.

On the way back, however, she will not be allowed to board the plane as she doesn't have an entry visa for Ireland.

Its a madness I know, especially with the Common travel area arrangments, but it is as it is .

[Jamie912]

Thanks for the reply.

So which visa does she require?

[Obie]

No I don't agree. Turkish citizens are not on the list of nationals requiring a transit visa to transit to Northern Ireland. Therefore transit visa is not required.

[ddartt]

She will probably need a short stay multi visa:
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/sh ... %20months)

[Obie]

Not for transiting under 24 hrs . No

[ddartt]

Obie, are you sure? I know for transiting via the UK that's the case (i.e. live in Ireland, transit via the UK), and only in limited circumstances too.

Never heard you can transit from UK through Ireland by land without a visa.

[Jamie912]

Thanks everyone.

She won't be in transit. From what I understand, a transit Visa is for people flying to Ireland, then moving onto somewhere else, without actually entering Ireland (leaving the airport). From what I have read she probably requires a short-stay multi-entry Visa. Which is completely bullshit, as she is travelling for 2hrs from the airport into Northern Ireland -_-

We have traveled this route at least 6 or 7 times before without ever needing an Irish Visa, but her previous paper-visa in her passport has expired and has been replaced by the Biometric Residence Permit,which is why I am not confident about risking her landing in Ireland with nothing more than a British BRP.

[Obie]

Obie, are you sure? I know for transiting via the UK that's the case (i.e. live in Ireland, transit via the UK), and only in limited circumstances too.

Never heard you can transit from UK through Ireland by land without a visa.

Transit can be landside or airside .

If you intend on transiting and can show the immigration officer that their is a return coach ticket to Northern Ireland , then landside transit is perfectly acceptable.

[Jamie912]

Transit can be landside or airside .

If you intend on transiting and can show the immigration officer that their is a return coach ticket to Northern Ireland , then landside transit is perfectly acceptable.

Hi Obie.

Are you sure about this? I mean it has worked for us in the past fine, when she was on a UK Spouse Visa, she was able to enter Dublin airport, and tell the guy at customs that her husband was waiting for her, and she had documents proving she was living in Northern Ireland.

Do you have any evidence or experience with this? Are you sure it works? Or do you think we would be safer applying for a 'short-term multi-entry' visa? (Because turkey isnt part of the Transit visa)

[Obie]

It goes without saying that I will not have told you it works and is permissible if it did not.

[Jamie912]

It goes without saying that I will not have told you it works and is permissible if it did not.

Ok thanks. I know Turkish people do not need a transit visa.

Do you know of any phone numbers I could call to make double sure?

You're advice is much appreciated

[chaoclive]

Drop a line to INIS: visamail@justice.ie
Or the GNIB within the Garda: GNIB_DV@garda.ie.

When I was contacting the GNIB about 'transiting' (as I called it) via Dublin en route back from Copenhagen to Belfast, I was told that I was not actually 'transiting' as no flights exist between Dublin & Belfast. I'd definitely check before booking anything!

[Jamie912]

Thanks All

I've emailed visamail@justice.ie and been informed that she DOES require a visa.

Dear Jamie,

Thank you for your email of 25/02/2016. Although she is in transit to
Northern Ireland, she is leaving the airport. Therefore she would require a
C Multiple Visit Visa (this will avoid any unecessary complications in the
airport). I would suggest you make an application through the link below.
If she is a legal resident of the UK and a turkish national, she would be
exempt from fees

Such bullshit, but that's that.

I am now worried as we have travelled before to Ireland without a Visa that we are going to run into problems.

Anyone had this experience?