Big rise in Visa applications

More than 150,000 people will apply for Irish visas this year, Justice Minister Michael McDowell claimed today.

As a new system to speed up applications was unveiled, Mr McDowell said there had been great demand in the last few years and that looked set to continue.

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, set up last year, will now use a computerised service in a bid to process applications more quickly.

“This new system will enable visa applications received in Embassies and Consulates worldwide to be transmitted speedily to Dublin for examination,” the minister said.

“It will also provide a comprehensive visa tracking mechanism and will be able to report on trends in visa applications.

“The new system will mean a much faster service for visa applicants.”

The new visa computerisation system is expected to be up and running in the first half of 2006 as part of efforts to improve the work of the INIS. The office was set up last year and designed to be a one stop shop for asylum seekers, immigrants and citizenship.

Mr McDowell added: “Since INIS was established last year, it has embarked on a series of measures to improve services across the whole spectrum of its activities and to strengthen the effectiveness of the immigration system.

“This visa computerisation project is a key element of its enhancement programme.”