The move will benefit travellers from all countries which require a visa to enter Ireland, such as China, India, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The vast majority of short stay visa applications, with the exception of certain emergency/priority applications, were halted from 21 March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Justice minister Heather Humphreys said: “As the pandemic situation continues to improve and international travel once again becomes a feature of our lives, I was pleased to inform my Cabinet colleagues this week of the resumption of short stay visa processing.

“I am sure it will be welcomed by many people who wish to travel to Ireland to visit, study or do business.”

She added: “We remain fully supportive of the current public health advice and all travellers arriving into Ireland must continue to comply fully with measures required by law including producing proof of vaccination, recovery from Covid-19 or a negative PCR test.”

James Browne, minister of state for law reform, youth justice and immigration, added: “As minister of state for immigration I fully appreciate how difficult these restrictions, which were necessary to keep us all safe, have been for many people.

“As we continue to reopen our society, the resumption of short stay visa processing will be welcome news for people who want to travel to Ireland to visit family, to study or for business reasons.

“This means that all remaining Covid-19 restrictions on entry visa and preclearance processing, which were brought in as a necessary interim measure to help reduce the spread of Covid-19, have now been lifted.”