Common Travel Area | |
---|---|
Open borders area | |
![]() | |
Established | 1923 |
Members | |
Area | |
• covered | 315,134 km2 (121,673.9 sq mi) |
Population | |
• covered | 73,061,814[1][2][3][4][5] |
The Common Travel Area (CTA; Irish: Comhlimistéar Taistil, Welsh: Ardal Deithio Gyffredin)[6] is an open borders area comprising the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The British Overseas Territories are not included. Governed by non-binding agreements,[7][a] the CTA maintains minimal border controls, allowing easy passage for British and Irish citizens with limited identity documentation, albeit with some exceptions.[8][9] Sustaining the CTA requires cooperation between British and Irish immigration authorities.
In 2014, the British and Irish governments initiated a trial program to recognise each other's visas for travel within the CTA. As of August 2022[update], this program extends to Chinese and Indian nationals, albeit with restrictions on certain visa categories.[10][11] Nationals of other countries and holders of non-qualifying visas must obtain separate visas for both countries and are not eligible for transit visa exceptions if travelling through the UK to the Republic of Ireland.[citation needed]
Since 1997, the Irish government has implemented systematic identity checks on air travellers arriving from the UK and selective checks on sea travellers, with occasional checks at land borders.[12]
4,921,500
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