Ireland extends its visa waiver for UK visa holders to 31 December 2026: what travel sellers need to know

Ireland has extended its Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme until 31 December 2026. The programme lets nationals of 21 countries visit Ireland on an eligible UK short-stay visa instead of an Irish visa. It was due to end on 31 October 2026.

The extension is in S.I. No. 541 of 2026, the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2026. It came into operation on 29 October 2026 and was published in Iris Oifigiúil on 30 October. Our 30 October update said no extension had been published. That was true when we checked that morning, before the 30 October issue was online. This article replaces that advice.

The key facts

Point Detail

What Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme extended

New end date 31 December 2026 (was 31 October 2026)

Legal basis S.I. No. 541 of 2026, Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2026, amending the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014

In operation 29 October 2026, so there was no gap on 1 November

Published Iris Oifigiúil, 30 October 2026

Conditions Unchanged: eligible UK short-stay visa, prior admission to the UK on that visa, stay of up to 90 days or the time left on the UK permission if shorter

UK ETA Still does not count

After 31 December No further extension published

Who it covers

The Irish Immigration Service lists these nationalities:

Region Countries

Europe Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine (Ukrainians do not need an Irish visa anyway)

Middle East Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

Asia China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

South America Colombia, Peru

A traveller from these countries can use the programme only if all of these apply:

They hold an eligible UK short-stay visa. UK transit visas and visas to marry or enter a civil partnership do not count.

They first landed in the UK and were admitted on that visa. Each new period of UK leave needs a fresh entry to the UK first.

Their visit to Ireland ends before their UK permission ends. The maximum stay is 90 days, or the time left on the UK permission if shorter.

A UK electronic travel authorisation (ETA) does not count. Gulf nationals who now travel to the UK on an ETA need an Irish visa, unless they still hold a valid UK visa issued before their country joined the ETA scheme.

What travel sellers should do

OTAs

Undo any 1 November changes. If you told customers from the listed countries they now need an Irish visa for a UK-plus-Ireland trip, tell them the waiver applies again for trips that end by 31 December 2026.

Restore the "eligible UK visa holders can visit Ireland" wording in FAQs and confirmations, with the end date: 31 December 2026.

For trips that run past 31 December, keep advising an Irish visa unless a further extension is published.

TMCs

Remove the Irish visa step from approval flows for November and December trips by staff from the listed countries who hold an eligible UK visa and enter the UK first.

Keep it for Gulf staff on a UK ETA. They were never covered.

Airlines and ground handlers

On UK to Ireland flights, document checks for these nationalities go back to the waiver rules: eligible UK short-stay visa, prior UK admission, stay within the UK permission.

How SimpleVisa handles it

Treat 31 December 2026 as the new last day. Check the traveller's nationality, UK visa type and first UK entry before confirming an Ireland leg. Do not count on the programme for travel in 2027 until a new order is published. We will update this article if Ireland extends the programme again or lets it end.

FAQ

Has Ireland's Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme been extended? Yes. S.I. No. 541 of 2026 extends it until 31 December 2026. The order came into operation on 29 October 2026 and was published in Iris Oifigiúil on 30 October.

Was there a gap after 31 October? No. The order came into operation on 29 October, before the old end date.

Did the conditions change? The published notice says only that the order extends the programme to 31 December 2026. The Irish Immigration Service page shows the same conditions and country list as before.

Does a UK ETA count? No. Only an eligible UK short-stay visa counts.

What happens after 31 December 2026? No further extension has been published. Plan on an Irish visa for trips to Ireland from 1 January 2027 until an order is published.

Operational guidance for travel sellers, not legal advice. Entry decisions rest with Irish immigration officers. Updated 5 November 2026.

Sources

Iris Oifigiúil, issue of 30 October 2026, notice of S.I. No. 541 of 2026, Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) (Amendment) (No. 3) Order 2026 ("extends the operation of the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme until 31 December 2026. The Order will come into operation on 29 October 2026") verified 5 Nov 2026 · Irish Immigration Service, Short stay visa waiver programme verified 5 Nov 2026 · Irish Statute Book, S.I. No. 538/2021 (previous end date 31 October 2026) verified 5 Nov 2026

Loris Mazloum

Founder, SimpleVisa

Loris Mazloum founded SimpleVisa and writes the coverage notes on this blog for airlines, OTAs, and other travel companies. Each note is checked against the government source named at the bottom before it publishes. SimpleVisa keeps requirement data for 190+ destinations and files applications where a government channel exists.