UK Ireland visitor visa query

[blackeyed]

Hi All,

My father has got UK standard visitor visa for 5 years. I understand that maximum duration he can stay in UK is 6 months. I was wondering is it legal for him to visit UK for 6 months and then visit Ireland for next 3 months on UK visitor visa as Ireland does accept UK visa for Indian nationals.

[secret.simon]

I think the way that the BIVS works is that the whole trip (to both the UK and Ireland) needs to be done within the lifetime of the one visa, issued by either the UK or Ireland. That is to say, Ireland will not issue him an additional visa under the scheme, but will allow him to travel within Ireland based on the validity of the UK visa.

You can of course apply for an additional visit visa for your father to travel to Ireland, but (a) that is neither automatic nor guarenteed and (b) not all Irish visit visas will allow him to travel to the UK (see link above).

Also, staying for so long away from their country of habitual residence may negatively impact any future British visit visa applications (as it shows that he does not have strong ties to his country of habitual residence).

EDIT: The page on BIVS on the Irish DFA website is much more informative and precise and concurs with my interpretation above.

The maximum stay in Ireland allowed to someone with an eligible UK visa is 90 days or the remaining period of validity of the person’s current leave to enter the United Kingdom, or, as the case may be, current leave to remain in the United Kingdom, whichever is the shorter.