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JulWritten and reviewed by the Visa Doctor documentation team · Dubai · Rated 4.9★ on Google. See how we help.
This is one of the most misunderstood rules in travel from the UAE, and getting it wrong means being refused boarding or turned away at Dublin. Here is exactly how it works.
What the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme is
Ireland is not in the Schengen area and normally requires its own visa. But under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme, nationals of certain countries who have entered the UK on a UK short-stay visa may travel on to Ireland without applying for an Irish visa. Instead of a new visa, they simply use the time remaining on their UK permission.
Which nationalities are eligible
| Region | Eligible countries |
|---|---|
| Asia | India, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan |
| Middle East | Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar |
| Eastern Europe | Türkiye, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Ukraine |
| South America | Colombia, Peru |
Not on the list: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Nigeria, Jordan, Lebanon and many others. If your passport is not listed, you need an Irish visa, no matter what UK visa you hold. See our guide for Pakistani citizens.
The three conditions that catch people out
1. A UK ETA does not qualify
This is the big one. The UK now issues Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) instead of visas to many nationalities, including GCC nationals. An ETA is not a visa, and it cannot be used for the Irish waiver. Only a genuine UK short-stay visa works.
In practice this means the GCC entries on that list are now largely historic: since the UK introduced the ETA (February 2024), Saudi, Bahraini, Kuwaiti, Omani and Qatari travellers generally hold an ETA, not a UK visa. Only those still holding a valid UK short-stay visa issued before the ETA rollout can use the waiver.
2. You must land in the UK first
You cannot fly Dubai → Dublin directly on the strength of a UK visa. You must first enter the UK and be granted permission by a UK immigration officer. Only then can you travel on to Ireland.
One exception: if you have already entered the UK on that visa, gone home, and still have time left on your UK permission, you may then travel directly to Ireland within that remaining period.
3. Your Irish stay cannot outlast your UK permission
You get 90 days, or the time remaining on your UK permission, whichever is shorter. If you were given 180 days in the UK and have already used 160, you get 20 days in Ireland, not 90.
Which UK visas count
Standard UK short-stay visit visas qualify. These do not: visitor-in-transit visas, visas to marry or form a civil partnership, long-term student visas, and family reunification routes. If you hold long-stay UK permission (a BRP or a ‘D’ visa), you need an Irish visa, though as an eligible national and long-term UK resident, you will usually not have to pay the visa fee.
The British-Irish Visa Scheme, and why it probably does not help you
You may read about BIVS, which lets Indian and Chinese nationals visit both the UK and Ireland on a single visa endorsed ‘BIVS’. Here is the catch almost every article misses: BIVS requires you to be living in India or China at the time you apply. An Indian national resident in the UAE is therefore not eligible for BIVS. See our guide for Indian citizens in the UAE.
The waiver is not a guarantee of entry
Even if you qualify, an Irish immigration officer at the border makes the final decision and stamps how long you may stay. Carry your UK visa, your UK entry stamp, return tickets, accommodation and proof of funds.
How Visa Doctor helps
We tell UAE residents honestly whether they need an Irish visa at all, and if you do, we handle it: AVATS, documents, letter of application and the VFS appointment. See our Ireland visa page and our full guide from Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my UK visa to visit Ireland?
Only if your nationality is on Ireland’s Short Stay Visa Waiver list, you hold a genuine UK short-stay visa (not an ETA), and you have already landed in the UK. Otherwise you need an Irish visa.
Does a UK ETA let me into Ireland?
No. An ETA is not a visa and cannot be used for the waiver. You would need a separate Irish visa.
Can I fly straight from Dubai to Dublin on my UK visa?
No. You must first enter the UK on that visa. The only exception is if you already entered the UK earlier and still have time left on that UK permission.
Can Pakistani nationals use the waiver?
No. Pakistan is not on the eligible list, so Pakistani nationals always need an Irish visa regardless of their UK visa.
How long can I stay in Ireland under the waiver?
Up to 90 days, or the time remaining on your UK permission, whichever is shorter.
Irish visa rules change and the waiver programme is kept under review. This guide is general information, always confirm current requirements with the Irish Immigration Service (irishimmigration.ie) or the Embassy of Ireland before you travel, or contact our agents. Visa Doctor is a licensed private service provider and does not issue visas.
A note we find ourselves repeating almost daily: the UK ETA is not a visa, and it cannot be used for the Irish waiver. Several GCC travellers have been caught out by this since the ETA rollout. If you now travel to Britain on an ETA rather than a visa, you will need a separate Irish visa. Ask us if you are unsure which you hold.