British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS)

Generally speaking, the BIVS allows Chinese and Indian nationals to travel for a short time across the UK and Ireland under a single visa. 

The scheme is mutually recognised by both the UK and Ireland, meaning Ireland will accept a UK Visa and vice versa. For example, an Indian or Chinese national who is visiting Dublin or Cork in the Republic of Ireland for tourism or other short visiting purposes will also be able to make a short trip to London in the UK or Belfast in Northern Ireland without needing to apply for a separate visa.  

However, it is only applicable to those travelling on certain short stay and visitor visas – and applicants must ensure they meet the requirements and eligibility criteria in order to be successful. It is also important to note that there are strict conditions attached to the British-Irish Visa Scheme, for instance applicants must ensure they arrive in the UK first if they have a UK Visit Visa, or Ireland first if they have an Irish Short Stay Visa. 

Can Children Travel Under the British-Irish Visa Scheme?

Minors under the age of 18 travelling alone are not permitted to enter the BIVS scheme. 

However, persons under the age of 18 may use the scheme if they are travelling in the company of an adult specified on the visa. 

Ring IAS today if you are unsure about what the BIVS allows you to do. We can help you with your application, check over your documents or give you general advice on your next steps.

As of 2023, only Chinese and Indian nationals are eligible for the British-Irish visa scheme.

Other countries may join the British-Irish visa scheme at some point in the future. Until then, however, travellers to the UK or Ireland must obtain dedicated visas to be able to visit each country and to travel between them.

To be accepted under the BIVS route, you must be at least 18 years of age and meet the Visitor Visa requirements.  

In addition, you must first travel to the country that is responsible for your visa. For example, if you have an Irish Short Stay Visa but wish to visit the UK, you must make sure you first land in Ireland before moving on to travel to Northern Ireland and the UK. Fortunately, the BIVS visa means you will not need a Re-Entry Visa if you wish to return back to Ireland or the UK again. 

You must also be wary that there are things you cannot do while under your specified visa. You can only undertake activities that are allowed under the purpose of which the visa was granted. For example, if you enter Ireland or the UK for tourism purposes, you cannot engage in any business or form of employment.  

It is crucial you identify which country you intend on arriving in first as this will decide whether you need a UK Visa or an Irish Visa. However, each visa gives a certain amount of time in which you can exercise your travelling rights across the CTA. 

To successfully apply for the BVIS scheme, you must meet the requirements of your stipulated visitor visa which varies depending on which type of visitor you are. 

However, a note to be wary of is that both the UK and Ireland assess all Visit Visa applications with particular scrutiny. The decision-maker wants to ensure that you intend on leaving the country at the end of your trip and that you won’t become an illegal overstayer. Many people are refused a Visit Visa for failing to outline a genuine intention to visit and then return back to their home country. 

For this reason, you must provide a portfolio of evidence and proof which may entail your travel tickets and any compelling reasons you have to return to your country of origin, such as a full-time job, a mortgage or children to look after. It is crucial that your application is prepared with thorough evidence to give your application the best chance of success. 

Our dedicated team of specialist immigration specialists are able to assist you in gathering your supporting evidence. Contact us today on (+353) 061 518 025  to get started on your application. 

Is a Transit Visa Necessary?

If you have an Irish Visa, then you must first land in Ireland before travelling on to the UK. However, you are allowed to travel through the UK providing that your first destination is Ireland. In other words, you will not need a Transit Visa. 

Once you have identified which country you are seeking to make your application from, you can begin the application process itself.  

Both Ireland and the UK have joint application centres across China and India from which you can submit your application. However, the appropriate authorities in either the UK or Ireland will process your visa application depending on which country you are seeking your initial visa to. 

How to Re-Enter the Country After Visiting

If you enter Ireland, visit the UK and then wish to re-enter into Ireland again, for example, you shouldn’t need a Re-Entry Visa. However, you should be wary of the following conditions:

1. If you are travelling on a Single-Entry Irish Visa, once you have left the Common Travel Area, the visa is no longer valid and cannot be used to re-enter Ireland or the UK
2.  If you are travelling on a Multi-Entry Irish Visa, re-entry to the Common Travel Area is allowed during the period of validity of the visa but the first country of arrival must be Ireland again
3.  If travelling on a UK Visa, re-entry is only permitted during the period of validity on the UK Visa

That said, if you are only travelling across the Common Travel Area (UK and Ireland), you will not need a re-entry visa if you receive a BIVS visa. This means you can enter the UK, Ireland and back to the UK again, or vice versa. 

As the BIVS is not a separate visa or scheme that travellers need to apply for, there is no specific processing time that you need to contend with.

Instead, the processing time will simply be the normal time it takes for you to apply for a standard visitor visa from either the UK or Ireland.

For the UK, the processing time for a standard visitor visa is around 3 weeks.

For Ireland, the processing time for a visit visa is around 25 working days.

Travellers will only be able to take advantage of the BVIS for as long as their UK or Irish visitor visa is valid.

The validity windows of these visas are as follows:

• The maximum stay in the UK allowed to someone with a UK Visa is 180 days
• The maximum stay in Ireland allowed to someone with an Irish Visa is 90 days
• The maximum stay in Ireland allowed to someone with a UK Visa is 90 days or the remaining period of validity on your entry permission
• The maximum stay in the UK allowed to someone with an Irish Visa is the remaining period of validity on the applicant’s permission to remain in Ireland that is granted upon arrival in the State and as evidenced by the stamp in their passport

Not all Irish Visas are endorsed by the BIVS, but many under the ‘visitor’ category are coded with BIVS advantages.  

The Irish Visas that can be used to travel through the CTA for Indian and Chinese nationals are as followed: 

• The Visit Visa which encompasses short visits for tourism or visiting family and friends 
• The Conference or Event Visa 
• The Short Stay Busines Visa 

All other visa categories such as a Work Visa or Study Visa is not permitted under the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

If you are applying for an Irish Visa, you must ensure that you meet the Irish Visitor Visa requirements and send your application to the appropriate immigration authorities in Ireland. At IAS, our Irish immigration consultants can help you with every stage of this application process – and can even liaise with the Irish government over your application for you. Get in touch to hear more about our custom-made and tailored packages by ringing our client care team today on (+353) 061 518 025.

While Irish Visit Visas are processed by a decision-maker in Ireland in accordance with Irish immigration law, UK visas are processed by the UK Government in accordance with UK immigration law. It is important to make this distinction as the immigration rules and visa requirements in the UK and Ireland differ. 

Generally speaking, all standard visitor categories in the UK where the maximum visit period is six months permits applicants to undertake the British-Irish Visa Scheme.  

This includes: 

• Standard Visitor Visa 
• Business Visitor Visa 
• Child Visitor Visa 
• Prospective Entrepreneur Visitor Visa 
• Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa 
• Student Visitor Visa 
• Permitted Paid Engagement Visa 

However, the BIVS is not covered under a Visitor in Transit or a Visitor seeking to enter for the purpose of marriage/civil partnership. 

It is further important to note that the UK Visitor Visa you apply for cannot be for a period longer than six months.