Can I enter the UK with a valid Irish visa?
I am a Senegalese citizen, living in France. I was in Ireland two months ago, and my Irish visa has not yet expired. I am in France now, and I want to go to London. Can I travel there from France using the same Irish visa?
Best Answer
No. There is a joint British-Irish visa scheme that allows Chinese and Indian citizens to use an Irish visa to enter the UK or vice versa; however, this scheme does not apply to you as a Senegalese citizen.
Under the British-Irish visa scheme, some Irish short stay visas will allow onward travel to the UK and some UK visitor visas will allow onward travel to Ireland. For example, under the scheme an Indian or Chinese visitor in Dublin will be able to make a short trip to London or Belfast without needing a separate visa. Alternatively an Indian or Chinese visitor in London could travel to Dublin or Cork.
Note that even if this scheme did apply to you, it only allows "onward travel". In other words, if you hold an Irish visa and were in France, you could not travel directly to London using an Irish visa, but would need to enter the UK from Ireland instead.
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Can I enter UK with Irish visa?
Citizens of India and China, who have a short stay UK visa can travel to Ireland under the British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) without a separate Irish visa. You can also use your Irish visa to travel to the UK.Are visa holders allowed to enter UK?
You are allowed to access Visa and Immigration services as these are considered an essential public service. You must follow current COVID-19 rules for where you live, in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.Is UK and Irish visa the same?
The British-Irish Visa Scheme allows for mutual recognition of short-stay visas between the UK and Ireland. This means that a British short stay visa will be valid for travel onward to Ireland, and an Irish short-stay visa will be valid for travel onward to the UK.Do I need a visa to enter the UK with an Irish passport?
If you're travelling from Ireland You do not need any documents to travel from Ireland to Northern Ireland. You may need a visa if you're planning to stay in the UK - for example, to work or study. If you're travelling from Ireland to England, Scotland or Wales, a Border Force officer may ask to see your passport.Ireland Visa Process, Travel To UK without visa with Ireland Valid visa, Full study visa Process.
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Answer 2
Yes you will need a visa as a Senegalese citizen. Your Irish visa will not permit entry to UK.
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