Ireland has launched a new 5 year multiple entry visa to chinese tourists to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Ireland and China which was established in 1979

The new visa option will become available on 1 July 2019 and this visa can be applied online. This special visa will be available where the applicant has a proven reliable travel history as evidenced by a visa previously granted by Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Schengen States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand or the USA and compliance with the terms of those visas.

Currently multiple entry visas to chinese tourists were issued only for maximum three years. This latest change to the visa regime will be a major support in growing this important tourism market.

Under the British Irish visa scheme, Chinese nationals can travel to the UK and Ireland using the Irish short stay visas:

visit (family/friend)

visit (tourist)

conference/event

business

The Irish embassy in Beijing issued 7,500 visas in 2018 and this number is expected to hit 200,000 by 2025.

Ireland also offers a golden visa scheme for EUR 1 million most popular among Chinese investors. About 90% of investors in this scheme are chinese.

EU is one among the 28 member states since 1 January 1973 and Euro area member since 1 January 1999

Schengen: Ireland has negotiated an opt-out from Schengen area.

The growing uncertainty with Brexit has made Ireland one of the popular destinations for Britons seeking EU passports. The number of passport applications soared last year from Britons living in the UK and elsewhere.