Hi Guys, I think I've made a balls up. We've got a trip booked to Dublin this week and I didn't even think to check till just now and they are not part of the Schengen visa area. So my filinpa wife has a UK resident BRP card and also a valid Schengen tourist visa at the moment. But I assume this is not enough (somehow) to allow her into southern Ireland right ? Thanks, Oliver
Correct need Irish visa. Only way to get away with it is to enter from Northern Ireland but still illegal but if driving across unlikely to be checked.
The short stay visa waiver programme surely applies to your wife, we were going to Ireland later this year under this programme. https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-visit-ireland/short-stay-visa-waiver-programme/ Who is eligible You may be able to visit Ireland, for less than 90 days, without an Irish visa if you can answer “yes” to each of these questions: Do you have an eligible UK short stay visa? and Does your visit to Ireland end before your permission to stay in UK ends (this is granted by an UK immigration official when you pass through UK immigration)? and Was your passport issued by one of the countries listed in the list below? ELIGIBLE COUNTRIES Eastern Europe Middle East Asia South America Bosnia and Herzegovina Bahrain India Colombia3 Kosovo Kuwait2 Indonesia Peru3 Montenegro Oman2 Kazakhstan Republic of North Macedonia Qatar2 Peoples Republic of China1 Serbia Saudi Arabia Philippines Türkiye Thailand Ukraine Uzbekistan Vietnam So unless I have read it wrong you are okay.
Sorry, having checked this visa waiver programme it only applies to short term visa stays, basically once you have been granted a visa to live (not visit) in the UK you then need a visa to visit Ireland, so I'm knackered as well as you.
