英国-爱尔兰签订签证互免历史性协议

在10月6号，英国内政大臣和爱尔兰共和国签署了一份合作备忘录以加强共同旅游区的合作。该项协议的首个项目为今年夏天公布的英国爱尔兰签证体系，该体系允许中国旅游使用单一签证前往英国及爱尔兰。这个体系将于10月底在中国实施。

在英国-爱尔兰签证体系下，持有爱尔兰某些短期停留签证的访客可允许前往英国，而持有英国访问类签证的访客可允许前往爱尔兰。例如：在该体系下，一个在都柏林的中国访客可以前往伦敦或贝尔法斯特做短途旅行，而无需另外申请一个签证。同样，一个在伦敦的中国访客可前往都柏林或科克市。

符合资格的爱尔兰签证类别

中国公民可持有以下种类的爱尔兰短期停留签证同时前往英国及爱尔兰：
访问（亲友）
访问 （游客）
会议/活动
商务

符合资格的英国签证类别

中国公民可以持有以下种类的英国访问类签证同时前往英国及爱尔兰：
普通访客签证
商务访客签证
儿童访客签证 -（需陪同类型）
学生访客签证
家庭访客签证
演艺人员访客签证
私人医疗访客签证
运动员访客签证
父母陪读签证
ADS旅游团签证
未来企业家签证
允许有偿就业访客签证

2014年10月底之后，爱尔兰将可以共享英国在海外的签证申请中心，所有爱尔兰签证申请者将可在英国签证申请中心申请爱尔兰签证。这举措将从中国（包含香港）开始。

Onthe 6th October, the Home Secretary signed a Memorandum of Understanding withthe Republic of Ireland to strengthen the Common Travel Area.  The firstproject to benefit from this new agreement is the British-Irish Visa Scheme,announced over the summer, which will allow Chinese visitors to travel to theUK and Ireland on a single visit visa.  The scheme will start in China bythe end of October – China is a key market for UK and Irish tourism and it ishoped that more than 10,000 visitors will use the scheme.  The attachedbilingual factsheet provides more information. 

Eligible Irish visas

Chinese nationals can travel to the UK as well as Ireland with these Irish short stay visas:
Visit (family/friend)
Visit (tourist)
Conference/Event
Business

Eligible UK visas

Chinese nationals can travel to Ireland as well as the UK with these UK visitor visas.
General Visitor visa
Business Visitor visa
Child Visitor visa – (accompanied only)
Student Visitor visa
Family Visitor visa
Entertainer Visitor visa
Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa
Sports Visitor visa
Parent of a Child at school
Approved Destination Scheme
Prospective Entrepreneurs
Visitors undertaking Permitted Paid Employment

By the end of October 2014 Ireland will start to share the UK’s visa application centres overseas and all Irish visa applicants will apply there for their visa. This gradual rollout will start in China (including Hong Kong).