In This Section
Introduction
If you are an elderly relative of an Irish National or non-EU/EEA non Swiss citizen wishing to join your family member in Ireland, please read here for more information about how to make your application and the requirements your sponsor must fulfil.
Please note that your relative or relatives sponsoring your residence in the State must have been legally resident in the State for a minimum of three years immediately preceding the date of your application.
Type of permission
Immigration permission to join a family member (who is an Irish National or non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen) as an elderly, dependent relative is covered by the conditions of immigration stamp 0. An applicant can apply for permission to reside under Stamp 0 conditions.
Conditions
Stamp 0 may only be granted if you can prove that your relative can support you financially and otherwise. The financial requirements to allow a person to sponsor an elderly dependent relative are set out in Chapter 18 of the Family Reunification Policy Document.
Your relative must hold an appropriate permission (or retain evidence of citizenship if an Irish National) to sponsor an application by you and must also be registered with immigration. Stamp 0 is subject to several conditions and limitations. For example, it does not allow you to access any public services, such as health services or public hospitals.
Stamp 0 applications will not be accepted if made from within the State.
Required documents
Documents required for initial application for permission:
Elderly Dependent
Medical insurance
If your application is successful and you intend to purchase private medical insurance after you enter the State, please state this in your letter of application. We will request proof of same after you enter the State (when submitting your passport to be stamped) as a precondition for granting the permission. Travel insurance won’t be accepted in place of private medical insurance.
Please note a person residing in the State on this permission must retain private medical insurance. The permission will not be granted without evidence of this being submitted.
Application steps
There are two or three steps to the process and registering as a non-EEA national, depending on your circumstances:
Step 1: Apply for permission
If you are visa required or non-visa required you must apply for permission by completing the TPER application form and sending the required documentation to:
Stamp 0 – Dependent Elderly Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2 XK70
Ireland
If your application is successful, you will be issued with:
Step 2: Apply for visa (this is only required if you are visa required)
If you are a visa required person and have received your conditional letter of offer to join your family in Ireland then you must contact your local visa office to apply for a visa to enter the State.
In order to reside in the State with your family, you must apply for a D-Join family visa. When submitting your application for a D-Join family visa, you must include your conditional letter of offer.
If you do not enter the State with a D-Join family visa, you will not be able to complete the registration process that will allow you to reside in Ireland on Stamp 0 permission. See detailed information on the Join Family visas web page.
When you have received your conditional letter of offer and you have been granted the correct D-Join family visa, you may travel to the State. Please note that entry to the State is always at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry.
Non-visa required people
If you are a non-visa required person who wishes to reside in Ireland and you meet the conditions, when you have received your conditional letter of offer and you have been granted the correct D-Join family visa, you may travel to the State. Please note that entry to the State is always at the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry.
Step 3: Completing the application process and registering (this is only required if you are visa required)
When you arrive in the State you should send:
To:
Stamp 0 – Dependent Elderly Section
Unit A – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2 D02 XK70
Ireland
Domestic Residence and Permissions Division will add a stamp to your passport and return it to you.
Return of documents
We will return marriage, birth and death certificates to you after your application is processed. If there are other documents you want returned, type or write a list of the documents you want and:
Your application may be refused if you do not submit all documents. Even if you submit everything required, there is no guarantee that a visa will be granted.
Register your permission
If you are granted permission and have an address in counties Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Cork or Limerick you must visit the registration office in Dublin or if your address is outside of the above mentioned counties visit a local Garda station to register your permission.
Renewing your permission’
If you are requesting to renew your Stamp 0 permission please complete the TPER Renewal Form. Please send your renewal application 4 months prior to the expiry of your permission to:
Stamp 0 – Renewal
Unit C – Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2 XK70
Processing times
The average processing time for applications is 4 months. Delays can be expected when applicants do not send in all of the required documents with their original application. Applications are processed in chronological order.