If you’ve always wanted to visit Ireland and were put off by the difficulty in applying for a visa to that country, then you will be perfectly happy with this news.

The Irish embassy in Doha, in partnership with VFS Global, opened a centrally-located Visa Application Centre on Tuesday, reported Gulf Times.

Applicants can visit the centre located at 301, Jaidah Square (third floor), Airport Road, to enrol their biometrics and submit visa applications in a modern and comfortable environment.

Patrick Hennessy, Ambassador of Ireland to Qatar, officially opened the centre, reported The Peninsula.

“I’m delighted to welcome the opening of the Ireland Visa Application Centre in Doha. Taking advantage of this new facility, I expect a significant increase in the number of Qatar residents travelling to Ireland for business, education and tourism. With Qatar Airways due to begin a direct Doha-Dublin service in June, the timing couldn’t be any better,” said Hennessy.

Qatar is only the second country in the Gulf region, after Kuwait, where a VFS Global Visa Application Centre is operating. Services at the centre had commenced two months back, on March 27.

With Ireland being a popular tourism destination, travellers from Qatar will benefit from customer-centric and streamlined services offered at the centre.

Centres for the Governments of the United Kingdom and Australia, operated by VFS Global, are also located at the same premise.