The Sunday Business Post reports that Ireland may require all non-EU citizens traveling to Ireland for periods of several months or longer to obtain a visa. Currently, Ireland designates countries as either “visa required” or “non-visa required,” regardless of the proposed length of stay. The proposal comes amidst concerns that student visas and other types of visas are being used to gain back-door access to Ireland’s labor market.

Beginning January 1, 2011, Ireland plans to require a visa for students staying more than three months. Under the proposal, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service seeks to introduce a visa requirement more in line with other countries’ immigration practices. In the interim, analysis will be conducted to determine whether certain countries will be exempted and whether long-stay visitors will need visas. The proposal will not be implemented until the government is confident that changes will not adversely impact visa processing times.