ireland travel with uk visa

Cookies on GOV.UK

We use some essential cookies to make this website work.

We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.

We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.

You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

• Entering and staying in the UK
• Visas and entry clearance
• Visit and transit visas

British-Irish visa scheme

• UK Visas and Immigration

Updated 8 May 2019

© Crown copyright 2019

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-irish-visa-scheme/british-irish-visa-scheme

Chinese and Indian nationals can visit the UK and Ireland using a single visa when travelling on certain short stay and visitor visas.

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.

Only eligible Irish short stay visas applied for after the scheme starts are covered by the scheme.

All Indian and Chinese nationals who hold an eligible UK visitor visa (except ‘visitor in transit’ and ‘visitor for marriage or civil partnership’) are covered by the scheme.

Currently the scheme only applies to Indian and Chinese nationals.

1. Eligible Irish visas

Indian and Chinese nationals can travel to the UK and Ireland using the Irish short stay visas:

• visit (family/friend)
• visit (tourist)
• conference/event

Indian and Chinese nationals with any other type of Irish visa (for example a work or a study visa) will still need to apply for a separate UK visit visa to visit the UK from Ireland.

2. Eligible UK visas

Indian and Chinese nationals can travel to Ireland and the UK using the following UK visas:

• all standard visitor categories where the maximum period for a single visit is six months
• Permitted Paid Engagement visas

Unaccompanied children and those issued standard visitor visas which allow them to remain in the UK for longer than six months in a single trip are not eligible.

Applicants for other visa categories will require separate visas to enter the UK and Ireland respectively.

3. Other nationalities

If a national of a country requires a visa for the UK but not for Ireland, those nationals will still require a visit visa to travel to the UK. The same will apply to any nationals who are not required to have a visa to visit the UK but are required to have one for Ireland.

4. Visa application centres

Ireland and the UK have joint visa application centres in China and India. This joint working will be rolled out gradually to other countries.

To be eligible for the British-Irish visa scheme applicants for Irish short stay visas must apply at a UK/Irish visa application centre in India or China. Applications cannot be made at centres outside these two countries during the first phase of the scheme.

Applications for Irish visas will continue to be determined by the Irish authorities and applications for UK visas will continue to be determined by the UK authorities.

5. Visiting the UK and Ireland

The visa holder must first travel to the country that issued the visa. For example; if you have an Irish short stay visa and want to also visit the UK you must travel to Ireland first.

If you have a British visitor visa and want to also visit Ireland, you must travel to the UK first.

Holders of an Irish short stay visa will be able to transit in the UK as part of an onward journey to Ireland.

Individuals with an eligible visa under the British-Irish visa scheme will not need to apply for a UK transit visa if their flight takes them via the UK to Ireland. Passengers will need to travel in to Ireland by 23:59 on the day after arrival.

Is this page useful?

• Yes this page is useful
• No this page is not useful

Help us improve GOV.UK

Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.

To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie policy
• Cancellation and Refund Policy

British-Irish Visa Scheme

If you’re a citizen and resident in China or India, you may be eligible for the British-Irish visa scheme that lets you visit both countries without a single visa.

Contact us today via  (+353) 061 518 025  for immediate guidance on your Irish visa, immigration, and citizenship processing. We are here to help you in person, via the phone, or online.

Request a call back from our immigration experts

• Our Services
• Content /Overview
• Related Pages

Benefits of Choosing IAS ‘ Ireland Immigration Lawyers

When it comes to obtaining an Ireland visa or permit, IAS Ireland immigration lawyers are well-equipped to help you.

With IAS’ track record of successfully helping clients visit or immigrate to Ireland successfully, we can help you achieve your goal.

Our dedicated immigration lawyers provide our services through a comprehensive and personalised approach. With IAS, you enjoy:

Compassionate support from an experienced immigration lawyer dedicated to your success

Support in gathering supporting documents and completing a high-quality application.

Confidence that your case is being handled by an experienced team.

In-house document checks done by lawyers who are well-versed in Ireland immigration matters.

Services we Provide

Need help with an immigration issue? Book a one-to-one advice session with one of our legal caseworkers.

We can complete your visa application on your behalf, taking the stress and hassle out of the process.

Need to submit an application quickly? We can help you complete and send it off in as little as 24 hours.

Ensure you have the greatest chance of a successful appeal with our legal support and guidance.

What is the British-Irish Visa Scheme?

This is a reciprocal agreement and memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was launched in June 2014. The aim of the British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) is to foster tourism in both countries.

It follows the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver program that permits nationals of 18 countries to enter Ireland with UK visas. The difference is that the British-Irish Visa Scheme allows travel in two directions: into Ireland and the UK.

As a reciprocal agreement, it means that the UK will recognize Ireland’s short-stay visas and vice versa. Hence, an Irish short-visa holder won’t need to get a British visa to enter the UK. The scheme is open to nationals of particular countries and allows applicants to travel freely through the Common Travel Area (CTA).

The scheme also allows free travel to Northern Ireland. However, it restricts access to the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. China and India are currently the only countries the scheme supports.

Irish and UK Visas Eligible for British-Irish Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme only recognizes short-stay visas. As mentioned earlier, the scheme is only open to Chinese and Indian nationals. They also must be residing in China or India, respectively.

If you meet these conditions, you can enter the UK under the British-Irish Visa scheme if you have:

• An Irish Family/Friend Visa
• An  Irish Tourist Visa
• An Irish Conference/Event Visa
• An  Irish Business Visa

In the same vein, you can enter Ireland under the British-Irish Visa Scheme if you have:

• A UK  Standard Visitor Visa
• A UK  Business Visitor Visa
• A UK  Child Visitor Visa
• A UK Prospective Entrepreneur Visitor Visa
• A UK Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa
• A UK  Student Visitor Visa
• A UK  paid engagement visa

If you possess any other Irish or  UK visa  that doesn’t fall into the above categories, you’ll need to apply for a separate visa to enter Ireland or the UK. For example, you cannot enter the UK under the British-Irish Visa Scheme with an Irish work or study visa.

A UK visit visa that are valid for more than six months are not eligible for this scheme as they’re not short-stay visas. Also, children under 18 years cannot travel between Ireland and the UK under the British-Irish Visa Scheme unless they are in the company of an adult.

Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to receive assistance with your Irish visa application.

The UK Immigration rules and requirements of the British-Irish Visa Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme requires all participants to be more than 18 years old. Also, they must have any of the Short Stay/visit visas listed above. Several other rules and visa requirements apply to this scheme.

If you have an Irish short-stay visa, for instance, you must first travel to Ireland before you can enter the Common Travel Area (CTA) in the UK. The rule states that you must first visit the country whose visa you’re carrying. When you want to return to Ireland or the UK, you won’t need a re-entry visa.

Another rule to note is that you can only engage in the activities your visa allows. If you’re carrying an Irish short-stay family/friend visa, for instance, you cannot engage in business or paid work of any kind. In addition, there are limits to the duration of your Irish/UK visa depending on the issuing country and the country you’ll be entering. They include:

• With an eligible UK visa, you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 180 days.
• With an eligible Irish visa, you can only stay in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days.
• With an eligible UK visa, you can only stay in Ireland for a maximum of 90 days. Also, it could count as the remaining validity period of your visa.
• With an eligible Irish visa, you can only stay in the UK for the remaining validity period of your visa. For example, if you have an Irish visa that’s valid for 90 days and stay in Ireland for 30 days before entering the UK, you can only reside in the UK for 60 days.

Required documents for British-Irish Visa Scheme

Eligibility for the British-Irish visa scheme depends on the visa you’re carrying. Hence, the required documents are different for each visa type and country. The required documents for a short stay business visa will be different from that of a family/friend visa. Also, Irish and UK embassies may have different required documents.

Nevertheless, the submission of documents is an important part of the Irish and UK visa process. Documents are reviewed with scrutiny to ensure an applicant is qualified before they get their visa.

Therefore, you must make sure you provide all necessary documents as requested by the embassy or consulate. Generally, you would need to have a visa application summary sheet, international passport, proof of fees payment, and proof that you’ll return home when your visa expires.

How to apply

First, you have to acquire an eligible visa. You must apply for your visa from your home country and with the embassy of the country you intend to travel to first. If you’re an Indian or Chinese national not living in India or China, respectively, you can’t apply for this visa.

If all your documents are intact, it’ll take a few weeks to get a decision on your short-stay visa. Once you have your visa, you can apply for the British-Irish Visa Scheme. There are joint application centers in India and China. You just have to find somewhere closest to you. You can either submit your application after getting your visa or apply while your visa application is processed.

How to re-enter the country

As mentioned earlier, you don’t need a re-entry visa if you enter the UK from Ireland and wish to re-enter Ireland. This is true as long as you travel within the CTA.

If you leave the common travel entry area, you can no longer enter Ireland or the UK if you have a single entry Irish visa. For that, you’ll have to apply for a new visa. If you have a multi-entry Irish visa, you can re-enter Ireland if you leave the CTA and then subsequently enter the UK so long as your visa is still valid.

UK visa holders that leave the CTA, can re-enter the UK and then enter Ireland if your visa is still valid.

We offer immigration advice sessions as face to face appointments at all of our UK offices, or via the phone.

Table of Contents

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the british-irish visa scheme (bivs) different from the irish short stay visa waiver programme.

The British-Irish Visa Scheme is only for Chinese and Indian citizens and residents. Meanwhile, the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme is for citizens of certain Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. It allows eligible persons with short-stay UK visas to visit Ireland without obtaining a separate Irish visa.

How long is the BIVS visa valid for?

The validity of your BIVS-endorsed visa varies depending on the issuing country and where you visit. For example, a short-stay Irish visa is limited to 90 days, while that of the UK is 180 days.

Even if you hold a six-month UK visa, you can only stay in Ireland for 90 days. Likewise, if you have a 90-day Ireland visa and spend half of it in Ireland before visiting the UK, you can only stay in the UK for the number of days left on your Irish visa.

I do not require a visa to enter Ireland; can I still visit the UK?

Only Chinese and Indian nationals can apply for the British-Irish Visa Scheme. Even if you are a citizen of a country that does not require a visa to enter Ireland, you may still need one to enter the UK. Similarly, those who do not require a visa to enter the UK may require one to enter Ireland.

Which country do I travel home from?

You can travel back to China or India from the UK or Ireland. What’s important is that you must travel before your visa validity expires.

What if I just want to go to the UK or just Ireland?

You should apply for the usual UK or Irish visa. If you don’t want to visit both countries. As a national and resident of China and India, it’s not compulsory that you partake in the British-Irish Visa Scheme.

Note that if you obtain a UK Visa without the BIVS endorsement, you will not be permitted to enter the Republic of Ireland. If you want to visit Ireland, you may need to reapply in your home country or obtain a second Irish Visitor Visa.

What our clients are saying

We are the UK’s leading immigration specialists

OISC Accredited UK Immigration lawyers

We’ve had over 9000 applications approved

We are now open 7 days a week from 8.30am to 6pm.

How our UK Immigration Lawyers can help

At the Immigration Advice Service our lawyers specialise in a wide range of UK visas, nationality and asylum applications and have represented clients in various successful complex and high-profile cases.

Get in Touch

Immigration Advice Service Ashwood House, Ellen Street Oldham, OL9 6QR

We have over 20 offices across the UK, find a branch near you:

Related pages for your continued reading

Irish Work Visas

Looking to work in Ireland or obtain a work visa for your employee? We can help. Learn more here.

Irish Residency

There are a few routes to permanent or long-term residency in Ireland. Click here to explore them.

Irish Family Visas

IAS Ireland immigration lawyers can help you reunite with your family in Ireland. Contact us today for support.

Irish Business Visas

You may need a business visa in order to establish and run a business in Ireland Click here to learn more.

Irish Study Visas

If you want to study in Ireland, you may need to obtain a study visa. Click here to learn more about Ireland’s study visas.

Irish Visitor Visas

Are you looking to visit Ireland for tourism, to see family/friends, for business meetings, or any other reason? Reach out to us to discuss.

In the news

Get in touch with our team

Learn about our professional services and find out how we can help.

Cookies on citizensinformation.ie

We use cookies to collect information about how you use citizensinformation.ie. This helps us to improve your experience. You can find out more about the cookies we use in our Cookie notice . You can also read our Privacy policy . You can accept all cookies or you can chose which cookies to accept or reject. You can change your cookie preferences at any time by using the My cookie preferences link at the bottom of each page.

Cookie preferences

Cookies used by google analytics.

We use Google Analytics to measure how you use the website so we can improve it. We have configured Google Analytics to anonymise your IP address so that you are not personally identified. We gather information on:

• How you got to the site
• The pages you visit on citizensinformation.ie, and how long you spend on each page
• What you click while you are visiting the site

Visas for tourists visiting Ireland

Who needs a short-stay visa for ireland, how to apply for a short-stay visa, documents to send for a short-stay visa, decisions and appeals, can i stay longer than 3 months, further information.

If you plan to visit Ireland, you should check if you need a visa .

This page has information on how to apply for a short-stay visa. This is also called a ‘C’ visa and is usually valid for up to 90 days from the issue date of the visa. You apply for a C visa if you plan to come to Ireland:

• For tourism
• To visit family or friends
• To get married
• For medical treatment
• For short-term study

If you are not a citizen of the EU, EEA, Switzerland or UK and you do not need a visa to come to Ireland, you still need to have documents with you to show the reason for your visit. You must present yourself at immigration when you enter Ireland.

Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Ireland .

You apply for a visa online. You complete a separate application for each person travelling, including children. After you have submitted the visa form, you have 30 days to send the supporting documents. It’s a good idea to prepare your documents before completing the form.

You pay a fee of €60 for each application. A multiple entry visa costs €100.

When you have submitted the form, you will get a summary of your application. This includes:

• Your visa application transaction number
• Your application summary sheet
• Details of the application office where you should send your documents

You send the signed summary sheet with your documents.

You must send documents in support of your application. This section has information on the main documents you need to send. You can get more information about documentation on the Irish Immigration Delivery website.

You must send original documents (not photocopies). If your documents are not in English, you must send a certified translation and the original document.

Birth, marriage and death certificates will be returned to you. If you want other pages returned to you, you should include a note with your application that says this. Send a photocopy (in addition to the original) of the page you want returned to you.

If your visa is approved, you must get travel insurance before you travel to Ireland.

Letter of application

You must write a letter that explains why you want to come to Ireland. You should give the details of your trip, including the dates you plan to be here, where you will stay and how you will pay for things while you are here.

You must say in your letter that you will:

• Obey the conditions of your visa in full
• Leave Ireland before your visa expires
• Not rely on public services or become a burden on the State

If you are visiting friends or family your letter should also have:

• Their names and addresses
• The names and addresses of any of your family who live in Ireland or another country in the EEA or Switzerland, even if you do not plan to visit them

Letter of invitation

If you are visiting someone in Ireland, you should send a letter of invitation written by them. The letter should have information about how they know you, the dates you are visiting them and why they are inviting you to Ireland.

They should include a colour copy of their passport or national identity card. If they are from outside the EEA, Switzerland and UK, they must include a copy of their Irish Resident Permit and the current immigration stamp in their passport.

The letter must also say that they understand you must:

Information about where you will stay

You must include the details of where you will stay. You should include printouts of your booking confirmations. If you are staying with friends, family or colleagues, see ‘letter of invitation’ above.

You must send your current passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you plan to leave Ireland. You must also send a photocopy of each page of all of your previous passports.

Proof of finances

You must show that you have the money you need for your trip. If someone else is paying for your visit (for example a family member), you should send documents to show that they can afford to pay for you.

You don’t need to have a particular or set amount of money to qualify for a short-stay visa.

Passport photos

Include 2 passport photos. You must sign your name and put your visa application transaction number on the back of each photo.

Show that you must return home

You must show that you have strong ties to your home country and that you must return home. This could be family responsibilities, work, education or something else. You should send proof of these responsibilities. For example, if you are working you should send a letter from your employer and recent payslips.

You can read more details of the documents you need on the Immigration Service Delivery website.

If you sent your application to Dublin, you can check visa decisions and waiting times . If you sent your application somewhere else, you can contact the embassy or consulate you sent your documents to for updates on your application. Applications take around 8 weeks, but may take longer.

If your visa application is successful, the visa office will post your passport back to you with the visa attached. The visa will be valid for a particular period. Having a visa does not guarantee that you will be allowed to enter Ireland .

You will get a letter that says why your visa application was refused. You can appeal this decision within 2 months.

You are expected to leave the State on or before the date which has been stamped on your passport by the Immigration Officer when you entered.

You can only extend your visa if there is an unexpected change in your circumstances since you entered Ireland.

You cannot get an extension if:

• There is no change in circumstances from the time you entered Ireland
• There is no change in circumstances from the time you were granted a travel visa
• You are in Ireland to seek medical attention
• You are seeking a permission to marry in Ireland
• You are in Ireland to provide childcare facilities
• You wish to live in Ireland full time

Some people do not have to pay the visa fee .

A visa costs:

Single-journey visa : €60

Multiple-journey visa : €100

If you require a visa in order to visit Ireland, your application must be made online .

Irish embassies and consulates

Visa Office

Immigration Service Delivery 13-14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 D02 XK70 Ireland

Related documents

• Visas for people visiting Ireland on business Certain people who wish to travel to Ireland for business purposes require visas. Find out more. 1956.4485
• Student visas to study in Ireland People from certain countries who wish to study in Ireland require visas. Find out more. 1065.7306
• Returning to Ireland to care for a family member This page includes information on returning to Ireland to care for a family member. 984.9468

If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm).

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre .

Manage cookie preferences

Embassy of Ireland, Great Britain

Please be advised that the Embassy of Ireland, Great Britain website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Embassy website is now available at  Ireland.ie/london .

Visa Information

Update 30/10/2023 - Christmas & New Year Travel

**Christmas & New Year Travel**

Please note that the Visa Office cannot guarantee that any Visit Visa application made at a Visa Application Centre (operated by VFS) later than the 17/11/23 will be processed in time for travel by 22/12/23. Those seeking to travel earlier than 22/12/23 should tailor their submission time accordingly.

Similarly, postal applicants from Northern Ireland, IoM and the Channel Islands should send their applications by tracked post on or before 17/11/23 to meet a travel date of 22/12/23.

Update 2nd March 2023 .

Please note that, on a temporary basis, VFS can only facilitate ‘walk-in’ customers at their Visa Application Centres (VACs) in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff & Edinburgh, between 08.30 am to 11.00am. It is not possible to make reserved appointment on-line.

Update 30th November 2022.

We are pleased to advise that the Visa Office at the Embassy of Ireland, London, can now facilitate Irish Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) applications for New Zealand citizens who are currently in the UK, on the same basis as for Australian citizens.

Further information can be found  here .

Visas for Ireland

Please note that it is only permitted to apply for an Irish visa to the Embassy of Ireland in London if you are legally resident in the UK. Those in the UK on temporary visas (e.g. tourism) cannot apply for an Irish visa through this Embassy. Applicants for Irish visas worldwide must do so from their country of ordinary residence, in advance of travel, and in accordance with the arrangements in place for visa applications for that country.

As such, this page contains information for permanent residents of the UK who may require a visa to travel to Ireland. Please be aware that possession of a residence permission in the UK has no bearing on the requirement for a visa to travel to Ireland.

Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area. An Irish visa does not permit travel to the Schengen Area, nor does a visa issued by a country in the Schengen Area allow for travel to Ireland.

The Visa Office at the Embassy of Ireland caters for visa required non-EEA citizens who wish to visit Ireland, not for Irish citizens who may require visas to travel internationally. Irish citizens who wish to ascertain if they need a visa for a third country can find information  here .

Australian & New Zealand Citizens who wish to avail of a Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA) in Ireland can find information  here .

Who needs a visa

You need to check if you need an Irish visa on the  website of the Irish Immigration Service .

Please note that Ireland is not party to the Schengen Agreement, and a Schengen visa or residence permit does  not  entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

Unless you qualify for the  short stay visa waiver programme or have a visa issued as part of the British Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) , a valid UK visa does  not  entitle you to travel to Ireland without a visa.

How To Apply

You should apply for a visa in good time before you travel. You are advised  not  to pay for a travel ticket before you receive a decision on your visa.

Submitting your application

1. Complete the  online application form . 2. Refer to the checklists available in the 'Types of Visa and Documentation' section of this website and gather your supporting documentation 3. Submit your signed application form and supporting documents to the appropriate office

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you need to submit your application by attending VFS Global in person at one of the following Irish Visa Application Centres. It is not possible to make an appointment on-line at present. Please attend in person, without an appointment, from 08.30 to 11.00am, at the Irish Visa Application Centre of your choice.   

If you live in  Northern Ireland , the  Channel Islands  or the  Isle of Man,  you should submit your application by sending a tracked post envelope to the following address:

Visa Office,

Ground Floor,

114A Cromwell Road,

You should ensure that you note the tracking number of the envelope used to send your documents to this office.

4. Decisions will be made on applications in date order from the date received in the Embassy of Ireland Visa Office. Due to the volume of applications received it is not possible to provide an update on individual applications. However, we do publish target processing time information under the visa processing times category. We also publish a  Weekly Decision Report  so you can check if a decision has been made on your application.

Please Note

All supporting documentation should be in English or accompanied by a notarised translation . Failure to translate your documents into English may result in your visa application being refused. It is not sufficient to send in copies of your documents. All documentation submitted must be original and verifiable (e.g.) employment/study details, accommodation bookings must have correct contact details on each document. If this Office is unable to verify the information supplied this may result in your visa being refused.

Remember…

The onus is on you, the applicant, to ensure that your application is fully complete before submitting it for consideration.  You should note that if you submit an incomplete application, it may result in your application being refused.

 If you have been refused a visa for any country, details of this must be given in your application. Submit a copy of the visa decision letter issued to you by the authorities of that country, including a notarised translation if not in English.  Concealment or non-submission of previous visa refusals will result in your Irish visa application being refused.

Please note that if you provide false, fraudulent or misleading information or documentation, your application will be refused. You may also lose the right to appeal the decision. Any future applications made by you may also be refused, or you may be prevented from making further Irish Visa applications for up to 5 years.

If deemed necessary, additional documentation / information may be requested by the Deciding Officer upon detailed examination of the application.

If you submit false or misleading information in support of your application, you may become liable for prosecution and/or deportation.

Types of Visa and Documentation

The following  checklists  outline the requirements of the most common types of visa applications

• Visit Visa  
• ‌ Business Visa ‌
• Conference Visa
• Exam or Interview Visa
• Performance Visa
• Employment Visa  
• Join Spouse (Employment Permit)
• Student Information
• Join Family Information

Further information on travelling to Ireland on a short or long term basis, and the documentation involved, can be found on the  website of the Irish Immigration Service .

Payment Details and Fees

Visa Application Fees

Some applicants are required to pay a visa application fee, while others are exempt. Please refer  here  for information.

If you are resident in the UK and you are a national of a country included in the Irish Visa Waiver Programme you require a separate Irish visa but you are not required to pay an application fee. Details of the countries included in the programme can be found  here .

For those applicants required to pay a fee, the following amounts are currently applied by the Visa Office in London:.

Visa fees are paid in local currency – i.e. pounds sterling. Fees may vary from time to time to take account of currency changes

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales payment for your application will be taken by VFS Global at the Irish Visa Application Centre when you submit your application.

If you live in Northern Ireland, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man payment for your application submitted by post should be made by including a postal order or bank draft with your application. Personal cheques are not accepted. Postal orders and bank drafts should be made payable to 'the Embassy of Ireland' for the appropriate amount.

The visa fee is an administration fee which covers the cost of processing your application.  This fee cannot be refunded if your application is refused or withdrawn.

VFS Global Fees

VFS Global is a commercial company who facilitate visa applicants in making their visa applications to the Irish Visa Office. VFS Global manages the Visa Application Centres (VACs) on behalf of the Embassy of Ireland, where applicants in England, Scotland & Wales should submit their completed visa application form, supporting documents and biometric data. 

Whether or not an applicant is exempt from paying a visa application fee, VFS Global will levy a service fee for the submission of an application at a VAC. VFS also provide a range of additional services which an applicant may choose to avail of in making their application.

Your visa application will be processed and decided by Embassy of Ireland staff. VFS Global and its staff do not play any part in, or influence, the outcome of your visa application. VFS Global can only provide services to ensure that your visa application is correctly submitted.

Processing Times

Check our visa processing times.

Visa Appeals

If your application has been refused, you will be sent a letter outlining the reasons for refusal.

If you still wish to travel to Ireland, you can appeal this decision within two months of receiving the refusal notice.

Further information on appealing visa decisions can be found on the  website of the Irish Immigration Service .

On Arrival in Ireland

Further information on what to expect on arrival in Ireland can be found on the website of the  Irish Immigration Service.

Prior Visa Refusals

I understand that any false or misleading information , or false supporting documentation may result in the refusal of my application may be refused and I may be prevented from making further visa applications for a period of up to 5 years. An appeal, against the decision to refuse to grant the visa sought, may not be permitted.

The Embassy applies a zero tolerance policy with respect to fraudulent applications. An application containing a deception such as a forged document, a document containing false information or information withheld from an application (such as a previous visa refusal) may result in your application being refused without the prospect of appeal. If the application was submitted as part of a group, all applications in that group maybe refused without appeal. Where applications are rejected on the grounds of a deception, a 5-year ban may also be applied.

Related Links:

Irish Embassies Abroad

Embassies in Ireland

Assistance abroad

Travel Advice

Citizens' Registration

Top Passport Questions

Can I Visit Ireland With A UK Visa In 2024?

As of 2024, a standard UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland.

The two nations have separate immigration authorities and visa policies.

However, certain exceptions apply, primarily in the form of the British-Irish Visa Scheme and Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme .

What Is The Common Travel Area?

The UK and Ireland share a unique arrangement known as the Common Travel Area (CTA).

The CTA is a long-standing agreement that predates both countries’ membership in the EU and allows freedom of movement between the UK and Ireland for their respective citizens. It also means that Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, which allows unrestricted travel among 26 European countries.

Regarding visa requirements, the CTA doesn’t mean that holding a UK visa automatically grants the right to enter Ireland or vice versa.

Both countries have distinct immigration policies, and a visa issued by one does not necessarily hold validity in the other.

Can I Visit Ireland with a UK Visa in 2024?

As of 2024, a standard UK visa does not entitle you to travel to Ireland. The two nations have separate immigration authorities and visa policies. However, certain exceptions apply, primarily in the form of the British-Irish Visa Scheme and Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme.

British-Irish Visa Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme allows nationals of certain countries to travel freely within the CTA using either a UK or Irish visa. This applies to visitors from China and India. So, if you are a national of one of these countries and have been granted a UK short-stay visa, you are permitted to travel to Ireland without the need for a separate Irish visa.

Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme, which has been extended until 2024, allows nationals of specific Eastern European and Middle Eastern countries who have a short-term UK visa to visit Ireland without an Irish visa.

If you don’t fall under the scope of these two programs, you must apply for a separate Irish visa even if you have a valid UK visa.

Requirements for the British-Irish Visa Scheme and Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme and the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme are two arrangements that allow foreign nationals to visit Ireland with a UK visa under certain conditions.

The requirements for these two programmes are as follows:

British-Irish Visa Scheme Requirements

This scheme allows Chinese and Indian nationals who have a short-stay visa for the UK to also visit Ireland without requiring an additional visa.

This scheme applies to those who have a visit visa issued by the UK, which allows them to transit through the UK to visit Ireland, and vice versa.

The visa holder must first travel to the country that issued the visa before they can travel on to the other.

For instance, if the UK issued the visa, the visa holder must first enter the UK before they can proceed to Ireland.

Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme Requirements

The Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme is a different arrangement, where nationals of certain countries who have a UK visa can visit Ireland without an additional visa. This programme applies to nationals of the following countries:

It is important to note that this program only applies to visitors who want to visit Ireland for tourism or business meetings.

It does not allow them to work or study in Ireland. Also, your UK visa must be valid for at least the duration of your intended stay in Ireland.

What Is The UK-Ireland Post-Brexit Relationship?

The UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) has undoubtedly had implications for travel between the UK and Ireland.

However, the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements between the UK and Ireland predate the EU and have been preserved post-Brexit. This means that British and Irish citizens can continue to travel freely between the two countries without a visa.

They also have the right to work, study, vote in certain elections, and access social benefits and health services in both countries.

However, for non-EU nationals, the rules can be different and may change over time due to Brexit.

As it currently stands, the British-Irish Visa Scheme and the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme continue to allow certain non-EU nationals to visit Ireland with a UK visa under specific conditions.

Despite Brexit, these arrangements have remained in place, offering convenient travel options for eligible visitors.

The Irish Visa Application Process

If you need to apply for an Irish visa, here’s a step-by-step guide on the application process:

• Determine the Type of Visa You Need : Depending on the purpose of your visit, you’ll need to apply for either a short-stay (C) visa or a long-stay (D) visa.
• Prepare Your Application : Gather all necessary documents. This generally includes your application form, passport, passport-sized photos, visa fee, and supporting documents like your itinerary, proof of accommodation, proof of financial means, and more. The exact documents required may vary depending on your visa type and personal circumstances.
• Application Submission : As of 2024, all visa applications must be made online through the AVATS website. After filling out the online application form, you must print it and sign it. You’ll then send this, along with your passport and supporting documents, to the relevant Irish embassy or consulate or visa application center.
• Pay the Visa Application Fee : Pay the required fee for your visa type. As of 2024, the fee for a single-entry short-stay visa is €60, and for a multiple-entry visa, it’s €100. Long-stay visas cost €60.
• Wait for a Decision : The processing time for an Irish visa can vary depending on the time of year, the type of visa, and where you’re applying from. You can check typical processing times on the Irish Immigration Service Delivery website.
• If Your Visa is Approved : If your visa application is approved, a visa will be placed in your passport. Be sure to check the details on your visa as soon as you receive it. Confirm your name, passport number, visa type, and duration of stay are all correct.
• If Your Visa is Refused : If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining why it was refused and information on how to appeal the decision if you believe it was incorrect.

Remember, this is a general guide, and the specific steps and requirements for your visa application may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is ireland part of the uk.

No, Ireland (or the Republic of Ireland) is a separate sovereign nation. Northern Ireland, however, is part of the UK.

Is Ireland part of the Schengen Area?

No, Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area. It has opted out of the Schengen Agreement and instead shares a Common Travel Area with the UK.

Can I work in Ireland with a UK work visa?

No, a UK work visa does not grant the right to work in Ireland. You need to secure a separate Irish work permit or visa to legally work in Ireland.

What countries are part of the British-Irish Visa Scheme?

As of 2024, the scheme covers nationals from China, India, and certain other countries.

Can I extend my stay in Ireland?

Yes, but you need to apply for an extension before your current permission to stay expires. You cannot extend your stay if you entered Ireland under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme.

Related Articles

Ireland Work Permit Without a Job Offer in 2024

Uk visa number [example & how to read uk visa stickers in 2024], uk work visa for us citizens [2024 guide], ireland work permit documents required in 2024, leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

UK-Ireland Travel: A Guide for Visa Nationals

In two previous posts, we explained the impact of the Common Travel Area (CTA) on travel between the UK and Ireland. In our first post , we explained how non-visa nationals may automatically benefit from  “deemed leave” when travelling within the CTA – for example, from London to Dublin and back. In our second post , we explained how travel works for British citizens and their family members going to Ireland, and for Irish citizens and their family members coming to the UK.

As explained in our previous post, “visa nationals” – i.e. nationals of countries listed in the visa national list of Appendix Visitor to the Immigration Rules – do not benefit from deemed leave. As such, this post provides an overview of how travel between the UK and Ireland works for visa nationals who are in the UK with some form of permission to be in the UK. It will explain how travel works for those in the UK with a short-term visa, and for those with longer term forms of permission, including indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

As with our previous posts, please note that we are only able to advise on UK immigration law, and we cannot advise on Irish immigration law. Any references to elements of Irish law are only intended as a starting point, and do not constitute advice on Irish immigration law. For further information on Irish immigration law, you may wish to consult the Irish Immigration Service webpage , or a lawyer qualified to advise on Irish immigration law.

I Have a Short-Term UK Visa – How Does Visiting Ireland Work?

If you are a visa national in the UK on a short-term visa (e.g. a six-month UK Visitor visa), the default position is that you still need to apply for an Irish visa to visit Ireland . 

However, there are a number of exceptions to this. You do not need a visa to enter Ireland as a Visitor if:

• You have a valid Irish residence permit, or a travel document issued by Ireland;
• You are a citizen of a country in Ireland’s list of non-visa-required nationalities ;
• You have a residence card issued by an EEA country or Switzerland, as you are a family member of an EEA/Swiss citizen who is living in the EEA/Switzerland but outside of their home country (e.g. you are an Egyptian national with a French residence card, because you normally live in France with your Swedish spouse);
• You are a Ukrainian citizen ; or
• You have a short-term UK visa, and you qualify for either Ireland’s Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme or the British-Irish Visa Scheme (see below).

Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme

If you are a national of an eligible country (in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America), and you entered the UK on an eligible short-stay visa, you may benefit from Ireland’s Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme.

According to the Irish Immigration Service webpage , the UK visas that are eligible for the Programme are “UK short-stay visit visas”, except for those issued to “visitors in transit” or “visitors seeking to marry or to enter a civil partnership”. The webpage also states that “long-term visitors” to the UK – including those on long-term Student visas and persons seeking to join a spouse or for family reunification (though none of these entail true “Visitor” visas in UK immigration law) – are not eligible for the Programme.

While the concept of “UK short-stay visitor visas” is not fully defined on the webpage, there are references to periods of leave to remain in the UK for “up to a maximum of 180 days each time”. As such, it would appear that qualifying UK visas are those granted for up to 180 days.

However, given the webpage’s rather flexible use of the word “visitor”, it is slightly unclear whether the excluded category of “visitors seeking to marry or to enter a civil partnership” includes those in the UK on Fiancé visas , as well as those in the UK on Marriage Visitor visas . Further, unlike other pages on the site, the webpage does not specify whether Permitted Paid Engagement visas are eligible or ineligible. If either of these situations is applicable to you, please consult a lawyer qualified to advise on Irish immigration law for further clarification.

If you are eligible for this Programme, you can travel from the UK into Ireland without applying for an Irish visa. You can then stay in Ireland as a Visitor for the shorter of: (i) the length of permission remaining on your short-stay UK visa, or (ii) 90 days. For example, if you had 20 days remaining on your UK short-stay visa, you would only be able to stay in Ireland under this Programme for 20 days. By way of further example, if you had 100 days remaining on your UK short-stay visa, you would only be able to stay in Ireland for 90 days, in line with the Programme’s overall time limit.

Note that the Programme only applies if you first use your short-stay UK visa to lawfully enter the UK, and then travel on to Ireland. However, this also includes the scenario where you enter the UK using your UK short-stay visa, travel elsewhere, but still have time remaining on your UK permission. In this case, you can travel directly to Ireland from the third country, and stay in Ireland for the length of permission remaining on your UK short-stay visa.

British-Irish Visa Scheme

The British-Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS) allows eligible Indian and Chinese nationals to visit both the UK and Ireland using a single Irish short-stay visa or a single UK Visitor visa.

You are eligible for BIVS if, at the time of application, you are an Indian national living in India or a Chinese national living in China (including those living in Hong Kong and Macau).

As an eligible person, the Scheme applies to you if:

• You hold an eligible Irish visa (visit (family/friend), visit (tourist), conference/event, business); or
• You hold an eligible UK visa (all standard Visitor visas where the maximum period for a single visit is 6 months, and Permitted Paid Engagement visas – but not visas for “visitor in transit” or “visitor for marriage or civil partnership”).

Please note that, similarly to the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, the BIVS only operates if you first travel to whichever country issued your short-stay or Visitor visa before travelling on to the other country. For example, if you hold an Irish short-stay visa, you must first travel to Ireland before coming to the UK. Likewise, if you hold a UK Visitor visa, you must first come to the UK before travelling on to Ireland.

In addition, in order to avail of the BIVS, your visa must be endorsed by an immigration officer with the letters “BIVS”. Please note that there is no right of appeal against a decision not to endorse a visa in this way.

As with the Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme, the maximum period of time you will be able to remain in Ireland under the BIVS is the shorter of: (i) the length of permission remaining on your UK Visitor visa, or (ii) 90 days.

Given that Irish short-stay visas are only granted for up to 90 days, the maximum period of time you will be able to remain in the UK under the BIVS will be the length of permission remaining on your Irish short-stay visa, which will at most be 90 days.

I Have a Long-Term UK Visa or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – How Does Visiting Ireland Work?

If you do not have a valid UK short-stay visa (as discussed above), and you do not qualify for any of the other exceptions listed above (e.g. Irish residence permit or travel document, non-visa required national, relevant EEA/Swiss residence card, Ukrainian citizenship), you must apply for an Irish visa to visit Ireland .

Entering Ireland for a Longer Period

If you are a visa national in the UK with permission (whether on a short-term visa or long-term visa), and you want to enter Ireland for longer than 90 days, you must normally apply for the Irish visa or preclearance relevant to your reason for entering Ireland (e.g. work, study, joining family). 

Though having a long-term UK visa or ILR will not exempt you from the requirement to apply for an Irish visa, it may mean that you are exempt from paying the visa fee. 

For more information on applying for Irish visas, please see the Irish government website .

Contact our Immigration Barristers

Please note that the information in this blog post is current at the time of writing, and is subject to change, particularly in relation to the full roll-out of the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements.

For expert advice regarding travel and entry to the UK, or regarding your immigration status in the UK, contact our immigration barristers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

SEE HOW OUR IMMIGRATION BARRISTERS CAN HELP YOU

To arrange an initial consultation meeting, call our immigration barristers on 0203 617 9173 or fill out the form below.

Want to keep up to date with the latest immigration news, events and legal developments?

Sign up and receive our latest expert briefings, case-law alerts and immigration guides. We’ve got our finger on the pulse, making sure you’re up-to-date.

DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE

Expert advice & representation from immigration barristers that you can rely on..

Read the 600+ five out of five star Google reviews of our immigration barristers.

• Study Abroad
• Immigration
• Visa Services
• Find Course

Embarking on the journey of obtaining a UK Spouse Visa is a significant step for couples aiming to build a life together in the United Kingdom. Navigating through this process requires a clear understanding of the UK Spouse Visa requirements, ensuring a smooth and successful application.

• Eligibility Criteria: The foundation of the UK Spouse Visa requirements lies in meeting the eligibility criteria. The sponsoring partner, typically a British citizen or settled in the UK, must demonstrate a genuine and subsisting relationship with the applicant. This criterion establishes the authenticity of the union.
• Financial Stability Requirements: Financial stability is a crucial aspect of the UK Spouse Visa requirements. The sponsoring partner needs to meet specific income thresholds, showcasing the ability to financially support their spouse without relying on public funds. This requirement aims to ensure that couples can establish a stable life together in the UK.
• Accommodation Proof: A key component within the UK Spouse Visa requirements is providing proof of suitable accommodation. This demonstrates that the couple has a place to reside in the United Kingdom, contributing to the overall well-being of the family unit.
• English Language Proficiency: Meeting English language proficiency is another vital requirement for the UK Spouse Visa. Applicants may need to prove their ability to communicate in English, ensuring they can navigate daily life and participate fully in the community.
• Tuberculosis Test and Health Insurance: Health-related requirements are integral to the UK Spouse Visa application. Applicants may be required to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test, and having comprehensive health insurance is often part of the conditions. This ensures that the couple can access necessary healthcare services during their stay in the UK.
• Biometric Information: As part of the UK Spouse Visa requirements, applicants may need to provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph. This step enhances the security measures of the visa application process.
• Application Documentation: Ensuring that all required documents are submitted is paramount among the UK Spouse Visa requirements. This includes proof of identity, evidence of the relationship, financial documents, and any additional documentation specified by the immigration authorities.
• Application Fee: Meeting the financial obligations extends to the payment of the application fee, a crucial requirement for processing the UK Spouse Visa application. The fee may vary, and applicants should stay updated on the current cost.

Requirements of Ireland Spouse Visa

Embarking on a journey of love that transcends borders often involves navigating the legal landscape, and for those desiring to build a life together in Ireland, their   spouse visa becomes a pivotal aspect of this process. Understanding the requirements for the visa is essential for couples seeking to reunite and create a shared future in this picturesque country.

Eligibility Criteria: Initiating the application process for the spouse visa requires a thorough comprehension of the eligibility criteria. Generally, the sponsoring partner must be a legal resident or citizen of Ireland, and the applicant must provide compelling evidence establishing the authenticity and sustainability of their relationship.

Financial Requirements: Financial stability holds significance in the application process for the spouse visa. Sponsors are typically required to demonstrate a stable financial situation, ensuring they can adequately support their spouse without reliance on public funds.

Application Process: Navigating the application process for the visa involves the submission of a comprehensive set of documents. These documents may include proof of identity, evidence of the relationship, and financial statements. Careful attention to detail and thorough preparation are crucial for a successful application.

Processing Time: While the processing time for this spouse visa may vary, it is advisable to initiate the application well in advance of the intended travel date to account for any potential delays. Understanding the typical processing duration can contribute to a smoother planning process.

Settlement and Long-Term Stay: Upon successfully completing the initial visa period, spouses under the   visa may have the opportunity to apply for settlement or a long-term stay, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward a permanent life together in Ireland.

Challenges and Considerations: While this spouse visa facilitates the union of couples, it is crucial to be aware of potential challenges, such as changes in immigration policies and complexities in the application process. Staying informed and seeking professional guidance can help couples navigate these challenges effectively.

Understanding the Ireland Spouse Visa

Ireland Spouse Visa: A Path to Reunion

Embarking on the journey of the Ireland Spouse Visa involves navigating specific requirements and guidelines tailored for foreign nationals seeking to join their partners in Ireland. The significance of this visa lies in its role as a vital gateway for individuals yearning to reunite with their loved ones in the heart of Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria and Documentation

To secure an Ireland Spouse Visa, applicants must fulfill stringent eligibility criteria. This includes providing compelling evidence of a genuine and committed relationship, financial stability, and other pertinent details. The documentation process plays a crucial role, requiring couples to submit proof of their bond, ensuring a smoother and more efficient application process.

Visa Approval: Fostering Family Unity

Upon approval, the Ireland Spouse Visa opens doors for individuals to establish a life with their spouses in the charming surroundings of Ireland. This visa not only holds legal implications but also facilitates family unity by allowing couples to reside together. It becomes a vessel for fostering companionship and shared experiences, overcoming the challenges posed by geographical boundaries.

Staying Informed: Navigating an Evolving Landscape

While the Ireland Spouse Visa brings joy and relief to many couples, staying informed about updates or changes in visa policies is crucial. The immigration landscape may evolve, and remaining abreast of these changes ensures that applicants can navigate the process with confidence, addressing any challenges that may arise during the application journey.

Love may know no borders, but the journey to building a life together often involves navigating legal pathways. The UK Spouse Visa and Ireland’s Spouse Visa provide couples with the opportunity to be united in love and life. By understanding the intricacies of each visa process and meeting the requirements, couples can look forward to a future filled with shared dreams and adventures.

What are the primary eligibility criteria for the UK Spouse Visa?

How does financial stability play a role in the uk spouse visa application process, could you outline the document requirements for the uk spouse visa application, what is the typical processing time for the uk spouse visa, considering the specified requirements, are there specific considerations for settlement and indefinite leave to remain under the uk spouse visa, beyond the initial application requirements.

Share at Social

• List of 36 + courses in Medical Science, including MBBS...

Canada PR Eligibility And Requirements for Indians

Masters in germany: your easy path to success.

10 Things to Remember Before Applying for a UK Visitor Visa from India

Insider’s guide: education abroad consultants tips and tricks, uk immigration: a pathway to opportunity.

We provide Study Abroad, Immigration, Visa Services, Forex and Ticketing, Global Landing, and Landing Support.

Our Branches

• Thrissur MG
• Thrissur WF

Head Office

Southampton, UK

Global Office

Global Presence

• UK: ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ +44 2380574710
• India: +91 ‎9633746454
• UAE:‎ ‎ ‎ ‎+97 1543344536
• [email protected]

Irish Group

• Privacy & Policy
• Terms & Condition
• Refund Policy
• Anti-Fraud Policy

 Copyright © 2024 All Rights Reserved 

Money: How to earn thousands letting stars like Stormzy and David Attenborough film in your house

Weekend Money has spoken to people who've made serious cash letting film and music stars shoot in their home. You can read this and our other weekend features, and leave a comment, below - and check back on Monday for hourly updates on consumer and personal finance news.

Saturday 13 April 2024 15:36, UK

Weekend Money

• How to earn thousands letting film and music stars shoot in your home
• Prepayment meters now have cheapest default tariff - should you switch?
• 'It's cost me £8,000 to get out of an abusive relationship' - Readers respond to divorce story
• Money news of week: Blow for expats in Spain | Where will Labour get money from? | Shell could quit London

Best of the week

• How your neighbour's garden could wipe up to £57,000 from your house price
• Could I build a home gym for less than my gym membership?
• Britons are buying homes, having babies, getting married and retiring later - but one key life event is happening earlier
• 'WTF is going on with the price of olive oil?'
• Cheap Eats: Great British Menu legend shares ultimate toastie recipe
• Money Problem: The monthly charge on my leasehold flat has gone up by more than £60 a month - what are my rights?

Ask a question or make a comment

By Brad Young, Money team

Earning up to £60,000 a year for letting Stormzy film a music video in your kitchen or Paloma Faith play with Lego in the living room might sound farfetched to homeowners unfamiliar with the shoot locations industry. 

But every star, studio or big brand that wants to film in a residential property needs someone willing to offer up their home for the day - and they'll pay between £700 and £3,000 for the privilege.

Homeowners and shooting agencies have spoken with the Money team about the promises and pitfalls of working with the likes of Disney, Netflix and ITV to take advantage of this niche income stream. 

Among them was Ed Reeve, a photographer from Hackney, who has had stars such as David Attenborough, Stormzy and Jim Broadbent walk through his doors in the 17 years he's been renting out his home. 

"It has been a really positive experience on the whole for us. Generally, the shoot crews are really lovely people and they're very respectful of your home," said Mr Reeve, who is registered with location agency 1st Option.

He hosts between 12 and 20 productions a year. Most bring in £1,000 for a one-day shoot, but some earn him up to £3,000 per day or last multiple days.

"We've met lots of interesting people," said Mr Reeve, including Gillian Anderson, who stars in Sex Education, Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) and Claire Foy (The Crown).

After Stormzy filmed a music video, Mr Reeves said that "every grime artist wanted to shoot here".

David Attenborough once turned up early for a BBC shoot, resulting in the pair sitting down for a cup of tea and Mr Reeve introducing his three-day old daughter to the presenter.

"He held her and looked at her with delight... it was a really special moment," said Mr Reeve. 

Shoots can result in scratches around the interior, but Mr Reeve said he uses some of the money to redecorate – or in one case, let a Delux advert do it for him. 

'It's never free money'

Less enthusiastic about the industry was Emer Stamp, 48, a children's author from London, who has hosted for two years.

"You think, 'Oh yeah, my house is going to be rocking', and everyone comes round and goes 'Your house will be perfect', but for whatever reason, it's not.

"My takeout is it's not as easy to make money as you think."

Ms Stamp said her home had been chosen for three productions, including a Dell shoot and a Lego advert starring Paloma Faith, earning her approximately £6,000. 

Hosting also puts your schedule at the mercy of production companies – and sometimes they may not show up, said Ms Stamp.

"Like anything, you think it's free money but it's never free money."

So what does make a location popular? 

Becky Butler, managing director at agency Location Collective, said there is demand for average-sized family homes with a 60s/70s vibe and unusual features. 

And while a lot of the homes listed by location agencies look expensive, that was far from a deal-breaker. 

"All the practical side of things are as important, if not more so, than the aesthetics of the location," said Ms Butler.

Parking, easy-going neighbours and having one large room for equipment goes a long way with clients.

Getting the combination right can create "a fantastic additional income stream", said Jennifer Marshall, of Shootfactory, which has connected homeowners with everyone from Little Mix to Killing Eve. 

"We have properties that through our company have earned anywhere between £20,000 and £60,000 a year."

Much of the industry is based in London but, between them, the three agencies contacted by the Money team have organised filming in Manchester, Birmingham, the Midlands, the Home Counties and coastal areas.

Both Ms Marshall and the team at Location Collective said having a neighbour willing to get in on the action can be a real selling point.

This might mean a second house on the same street for a TV show, or simply somewhere to house the production team.

"Being able to let them pretty much take over is quite key. Sometimes they might have demands like painting or moving furniture," said Lily Gonnissen, head of business development at Location Collective. 

Being quick to respond to questions, contactable during the working day, and able to accommodate viewings at short notice was a top priority, said Ms Gonnissen. 

"Be friendly and welcoming - brands remember a good owner," said a spokesperson for 1st Option: "And make sure the house is clean and clutter free before any shoots."

The default tariff for prepayment meters is now cheaper than other types of meter.

It follows the energy price cap update to unit rates and standing charges from 1 April.

Uswitch data shows 56% of households don't know about the change.

What do you need to know?

Prepayment meters have traditionally been a more expensive way of paying for energy - but now prepayment standing charges have been lowered to match those for direct debit customers.

Because prepay units are cheaper, people with these meters should pay around £47 less a year than those on direct debits (£1,643 versus £1,690).

Customers who pay when they get a bill are forking out the most - around 5.8p more per day on the standing charge than those with direct debits.

Should we all get prepayment meters?

As energy costs come down, suppliers like EDF Energy have now started offering fixed deals lower than the price cap - and as things stand these are the cheapest options for many.

Eon Next's Pledge tariff promises to be 3% below whatever the price cap is for a year.

There can be catches if you want to leave these fixed deals (though Octopus doesn't charge them) - so make sure you do your research.

How many people have prepay meters?

The number of prepayment meters has fallen almost 8% from the peak in 2019, but there's still more than seven million gas and electricity units in action.

In total, 195,503 prepayment meters were installed in 2023.

Are people swapping?

Uswitch has some research that says young people (18 to 34) are far more likely to go for prepay meters - 51% would consider it, compared with 5% of over-55s.

Will Owen, energy expert at Uswitch, said: "Prepayment meters have got a bad reputation among some households, but changes to the price cap mean that their default tariffs are now cheaper than standard credit meters.

"With prepayment meters, you pay for your energy before you use it, and while there are emergency provisions, it does mean it is possible to be cut off if you have not put enough money into your account. 

"This means that younger consumers and vulnerable people are at greater risk of disconnecting themselves from their energy supply when money is tight.

"Direct debits also allow consumers to spread out their costs evenly throughout the year, meaning bills won't rise significantly in the winter when energy usage is highest."

We've had a mixed mailbag of comments this week - with readers getting in touch about pensions, tipping and divorce among other things.

Following this feature on divorce costs last weekend...

...we had dozens of comments...

So many people must be trapped in abusive relationships. A loan has helped me get away - covering legal costs, paying the bills/mortgage on marital home whilst being unable to stay and finding thousands for a rental. Costs so far about £8k - only one year in and at decree nisi. H

Since broken families are ever more common why isn't the government doing something to help divorcees get back on the housing ladder like first-time buyers are? Countless thousands, despite having the income, are doomed to rent expensive family homes. Men especially! Twice Divorced Of Surrey

Trust me, it costs a whole lot more than £30k, stay away from solicitors, work through it yourself. Toby

When one party will not communicate with the other, this makes the process much more expensive. Around £80k in solicitors and barrister fees. Vbkinguk

Another story that cut through was London restaurant chain Ping Pong scrapping tips - months before new legislation will require restaurateurs to give staff 100%.

Readers don't seem impressed...

Best thing employees and customers can do is boycott them. Just goes to show what they actually think of their staff. Dave

I don't want to eat somewhere that doesn't look after its employees. Jack

I'm sure patrons and staff will vote with their feet! How disgraceful to remove tips, probably as the owners aren't getting any cut of their staff's hard work! Elijah

We've reported extensively on the rise to the state pension this month - including how, due to frozen income tax thresholds, more pensioners will be dragged into paying income tax. Chris seems to be one of those impacted...

I deferred taking my state pension for five years to hopefully boost my pension, because I happened to be the last group of people to get the old state pension. Unfortunately because of the tax band freeze any benefit from the pension uplift is being eroded every year, is this fair? Chris

And finally, on Monday we suggested a cheaper way to buy herbs and spices in the supermarket - by using the world food aisle...

We had this comment...

Best money-saving practice for herbs and spices is to source them at Asian stores - not supermarkets! Pip

Spain is planning to scrap a "golden visa" scheme that grants residency rights to foreigners who make large investments in real estate.

Ending the scheme would help make access to affordable housing "a right instead of a speculative business", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The programme awards non-EU citizens investing at least €500,000 (around £429,000) in Spanish real estate - without taking out a mortgage - a special permit, allowing them to live and work in the country for three years.

In better news for Britons who hope to live abroad, Italy is allowing non-EU citizens who can work remotely to apply for a year-long "digital nomad" visa.

There's a few salary/reference based criteria to meet - read about them here...

Labour this week tried to address questions over how it would pay for key pledges  after the Tories used their idea of scrapping the non-dom status to fund a national insurance cut.

Labour had been committed to abolishing non-dom status for years - upon gaining power they planned to use the money to fund breakfast clubs for primary school children and additional appointments in the NHS.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves this week announced the party's plan to raise £5bn a year by the end of the next parliament...

• Labour said it would raise £2.6bn by closing "loopholes" in the government's non-doms plan - after certain exemptions were kept in place by Jeremy Hunt;
• Labour said the "tax gap" - the difference between the amount of money HMRC is owed and the amount it receives - had widened to £36bn in 2021-22 - £5bn more than it had been the previous year;
• To close the gap, Labour said it would invest up to £555m a year in boosting the number of compliance officers at HMRC, increasing productivity and improving the organisation's "dire" customer service;
• It would also consider requiring more tax schemes to be registered with HMRC to ensure they are legitimate, and renew the focus on offshore tax compliance.

The government responded by saying: "The Conservatives have introduced over 200 measures to clamp down on tax non-compliance and we are sticking to the plan to strengthen the economy so we can cut taxes, putting £900 in the pockets of the average worker and helping families to build a brighter future."

Shell is weighing up quitting the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for a move to New York over concerns its listing is currently "undervalued".

Chief executive Wael Sawan  told Bloomberg  that he was mulling "all options".

The British oil and gas giant is currently the largest company in the FTSE 100 index, and its departure from the LSE would be a significant blow to the UK stock market that is fighting to stay relevant.

There's been a run of bad news for the LSE over the past year or so. The world's largest building products manufacturer, CRH, moved to New York, while travel company Tui moved to Frankfurt. And despite the lobbying of numerous prime ministers, UK-based chip company Arm chose the NYSE.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Emily Mee, Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young and Ollie Cooper, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

UK lenders have seen a rise in defaults on mortgages and credit cards - with the trend expected to continue in the coming months, according to a survey.

A poll of banks and building societies by the Bank of England reveals lenders reported higher default rates on secured loans and unsecured lending in the three months to the end of February.

The rates for mortgages, credit cards and other loans, as well as loans to small to medium businesses, are all expected to rise in the next quarter.

The BoE carries out the survey every quarter as part of its role to maintain financial stability.

It also revealed increased demand for borrowing, with this also expected to climb during the three months to the end of May.

Karim Haji, global and UK head of financial services at KPMG, said the latest BoE data suggests "a more positive economic outlook hasn't fed through to household finances yet".

"Defaults across all unsecured lending increasing over the same three-month period indicates many people are still struggling to meet their day-to-day costs. Lenders will need to be vigilant and continue to offer support for borrowers in the interim," he said.

By  Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Poor software and bias toward making only small, sequential changes is one of the reasons economic forecasters at the Bank of England failed to predict and prepare for the cost of living crisis, brought about by high inflation, according to a "once in a generation" review.

The review announced last year was undertaken by the former head of the US central bank, known as the Fed, and said the quality of the Bank's economic expectations "deteriorated significantly in the past few years" due to out of date software and "excessive incrementalism".

Though the "unusually large forecasting errors" were said to be "probably inevitable", according to the review, conducted by Dr Ben Bernanke.

The problem was not unique to the Bank, rather something all central banks and private forecasters suffered from, it said.

Read the full story here...

After the UK airports with the worst delays were revealed earlier today (see post at 1.15pm), we've been looking at your rights.

If you're unlucky enough to get stuck at an airport due to a flight delay, you may wonder if you're entitled to any compensation.

The good news is you may be - in certain circumstances.

First, it's important to know what flights are covered by consumer law. These are: 

• Any flight leaving a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK/EU airline arriving at a UK airport
• Flights operated by a UK airline only arriving at an EU airport

When will I be entitled to help? 

You'll qualify for support if a short-haul flight under 932 miles (1,500km) is pushed back by two hours. 

This rises to three hours for journeys up to 2,175 miles (3,500km).

For long-haul flights going any further than this, four hours or longer counts as a significant delay.

What support will I get?

Under UK law, airlines must give passengers who are affected by a delay of at least two hours:

• A reasonable amount of food and drink (usually provided in the form of vouchers)
• Refunds for the cost of two free phone calls, faxes or emails
• Accommodation for passengers stranded overnight (usually in a nearby hotel)
• Transport to a hotel - or their home

Will I get compensation?

Usually, airlines have to provide compensation if a person's flight arrives more than three hours late.

The exception to this is when there are air traffic control problems or extreme weather, as these issues aren't their fault.

If you agree to travel on a later flight, the airline is no longer obliged to offer food, drink or accommodation while you wait.

Thankfully, you are entitled to a full refund if you decide to abandon your journey after five hours of delays.

The length of your flight affects how much you are entitled to:

• Short-haul flight - £220
• Medium-haul flight - £350
• Long-haul flight - £520 if the flight arrived more than four hours late, £260 for a delay of between three to four hours

What if I'm about to travel?

Transfer passengers who end up missing a connecting flight because their first plane was delayed are entitled to a service back to their original departure point.

But things get a little more complicated for passengers on package holidays - especially if they decide not to travel on a delayed outbound flight.

The CAA's guidance says: "You may lose your holiday too, so we recommend you contact your package organiser or the airline for further information.

"If you still want to travel then your airline must get you to your destination. You might have to be patient while they rearrange transport and rebook passengers, but the law says they must get you there."

What if my flight is cancelled? 

You're entitled to a refund or replacement flight if yours is cancelled. Your rights to assistance are the same as if your flight is delayed.

If the reason for the cancellation was within the airline's control, and it was made with no more than 14 days' notice, then depending on the timings of the new flight offered you could also be entitled to compensation.

You'll be able to claim £110 and £520 depending on the length of the route and timings of the new flight.

Drivers are still feeling the strain of rising insurance premiums - but there are signs of a slowdown, according to one index.

New figures from insights firm Consumer Intelligence suggest the average quoted price of car insurance rose by 56.4% in the year to February.

This was the third-highest annual increase since its records began in 2012 - but in slightly better news for motorists, it marked a lower annual rise than the 67.2% recorded in November.

And there was only a slight rise of 0.5% when looking at the three months to February - the lowest quarterly increased since November 2021.

Drivers most commonly received a quote between £500 and £749 in February, Consumer Intelligence said. It analysed the average of the five cheapest offers from price comparison websites.

Max Thompson, the firm's insurance insight manager, said big insurance brands made "competitive movements" to reduce premiums at the start of the year.

"However, some of this was unwound in February indicating it may have been more of a tactical move than a long-term trend," he added.

Jonathan Fong, manager of general insurance policy at the Association of British Insurers, said insurers were "aware of the financial challenges customers are facing" and were working to keep prices affordable.

"Our motor premium tracker is the only collection based on the price customers pay for their policy, rather than quotes, and shows that the average motor premium increased by 25% last year to £543.

"This was largely driven by above inflation increases in the cost of repairs, thefts and replacement cars."

The Abu Dhabi-backed vehicle that had been on the brink of buying The Daily Telegraph is in detailed talks with Whitehall officials about the structure of an onward sale of the newspaper. 

Sky News has learnt that RedBird IMI is negotiating with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about whether it can convert a call option which constitutes the right to take ownership of the Telegraph and Spectator into shares in the assets prior to their purchase by a new owner.

Read the exclusive story by our City editor Mark Kleinman ...

The telecoms entrepreneur who turned Daisy Group into one of the industry's most successful private companies is closing in on the latest in a string of significant takeover deals.

Matthew Riley, Daisy's chairman, has orchestrated a £215m deal to acquire 4Com , a provider of cloud communications services to more than 17,000 corporate customers, Sky News understands.

City sources said the deal was expected to be signed within days and was likely to hand 4Com founder Daron Hutt a windfall worth more than £100m.

Read the full story here ...

The Financial Conduct Authority has told motor finance firms they need to put funds aside as it continues a probe into the sector.

The City regulator also said many firms are "struggling to promptly provide the data we need" for the investigation.

A review was launched by the FCA earlier this year into whether people could be owed compensation for being charged too much for car loans, following a high number of complaints on historic agreements.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free