Statutory Instruments.

S.I. No.708 of 2003 .

ALIENS (VISAS) ORDER, 2003

PUBLISHED BY THE STATIONERY OFFICE

DUBLIN

Aliens (Visas) Order, 2003

I, Michael McDowell, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 5 of the Aliens Act, 1935 ( No. 14 of 1935 ) as adapted by the Justice (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1997 ( S.I. No. 298 of 1997 ), hereby order as follows:

1.   This Order may be cited as the Aliens (Visas) Order, 2003.

2.   (1) In this Order-

“alien” has the meaning assigned to it by the Aliens Order 1946 (S.R & O. No. 395 of 1946 ).

“port” has the meaning assigned to it by the Aliens Order 1946 (S.R. & O. No. 395 of 1946 ).

(2) The Interpretation Acts, 1937 to 1997, apply to this Order.

3.   An alien coming from a place outside the State other than Great Britain or Northern Ireland who is a citizen of a State specified in the First Schedule to this Order shall not enter a port in the State unless he or she is the holder of valid Irish transit visa.

4.   Citizens of the States specified in the Second Schedule to this Order are hereby designated as a class of persons not requiring an Irish visa.

5.   The Aliens (Visas) (No.2) Order, 2002 ( S.I. No. 509 of 2002 ) is hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE

States whose citizens require a transit visa

SECOND SCHEDULE

States whose citizens do not require an Irish visa

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

This Order specifies the classes of persons who are required to have a transit visa and the classes of persons exempt from Irish visa requirements. It adds the Slovak Republic to the list of States whose citizens do not require an Irish visa. It also removes Jamaica from the list of States whose citizens are exempt from Irish visa requirements.