S.I. No. 538/2021 - Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

“Iris Oifigiúil” of 26th October, 2021.

I, HEATHER HUMPHREYS, Minister for Justice, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 17 of the Immigration Act 2004 (No. 1 of 2004) (as adapted by the Justice and Equality (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020 ( S.I. No. 452 of 2020 )), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2021.

2. (a) Subject to paragraph (b), this Order comes into operation on 31 October 2021.

(b) Paragraph (c) of Article 3 shall be deemed to have come into operation on 16 June 2021.

3. The Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014 ( S.I. No. 473 of 2014 ) is amended –

(a) in Article 3(d), by the substitution of “31 October 2026” for “10 July 2020”,

(b) in Schedule 3, by the insertion of –

(i) “Colombia” after “Bosnia and Herzegovina”,

(ii) “Indonesia” after “India”,

(iii) “Kosovo” after “Kazakhstan”,

(iv) “Peru” and “Philippines” after “People’s Republic of China”,

(v) “Republic of North Macedonia” after “Qatar”, and

(vi) “Vietnam” after “Uzbekistan”, and

(c) in Schedule 5, by the deletion of “Colombia”.

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

21 October, 2021.

HEATHER HUMPHREYS,

Minister for Justice.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(center is not part of the Statutory Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation.)

This Order further amends the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014.

Its main purpose is to reinstate the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme with effect from 31 October 2021, to extend the Programme until 31 October 2026, and to add Colombia, Indonesia, Kosovo, Peru, Philippines, Republic of North Macedonia and Vietnam to the list of states or territorial entities in Schedule 3 of the 2014 Order whose nationals may be covered by the Programme.