Ireland Child Dependent Visa Application from Canada
A child-dependent visa allows a child to travel to Ireland in order to stay with or join their parents. Canadian children may be eligible for residency permission under the family-dependent scheme depending on the circumstances of the child and the sponsor/ parents.
If you are in the process of applying for a child visa or immigration permission for your dependent child, contact Total Law for assistance. Call +1 844 290 6312 or use the online contact form to access our immigration services.
What is an Irish Child Dependent Visa?
The child-dependent visa is a type of Long Stay Join Family D Visa; a visa that allows foreign national child permission to travel to or stay in Ireland for longer than 3 months at a time as part of Ireland’s family reunification program.
Citizens of certain non-visa-required countries, including Canada, can travel to Ireland for up to 90 days without applying for a visa or entry clearance. These countries have agreements with Ireland that allows their citizens to enter the country without submitting a visa, endorsement application, or sponsorship application.
However, all foreign nationals who will stay in Ireland beyond 90 days will need to apply for the appropriate permission to remain. In the case of child dependents, they will need to be approved for residency in Ireland as a dependent family member of Irish citizens or someone who has qualifying temporary or permanent residence in Ireland.
To determine whether your Canadian citizen child qualifies for the family-dependent scheme, contact a qualified immigration adviser. Reach out to us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online today.
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Eligibility requirements for the Irish Child Dependent visa
Canadian children can travel to Ireland to be with their parents without meeting visa eligibility requirements or applying for a resident visa for stays under 90 days. However, border control makes the ultimate decision on who will be allowed into the country and you must have a legitimate reason for travel. In order to be eligible for a dependent child visa, the child must be from a visa-required country.
When bringing a Canadian child to join you in Ireland as a dependent child family member, you will not need to apply for a visa. However, you will need to get residency permission from the Irish Immigration Service Delivery. There are several eligibility requirements for the child and sponsor/ parents to qualify for this scheme.
- Age limit: the child’s age must be under 18 at the time of application, or between 18 and 23 years of age, and be a full-time student enrolled in an approved education program.
- A qualifying child dependent must be a biological child or adopted child who has the documentation required to provide proof of their lawful adoption by the parents.
- The family members/ sponsors must be able to provide full financial support for the child without relying on public funds.
- Applicants/ sponsors can not be the subject of a deportation order.
- Applicants must be determined to be of good character.
- Sponsors/ parents may not be the holders of Stamp 2 or 3 permissions.
The child must have at least one parent who meets one of the following requirements:
- An Irish citizen
- The spouse or partner of an Irish citizen
- An Irish resident who is the holder of Stamp 1, 4, or 5 permission
- A researching under a valid hosting agreement in Ireland
- A Ph.D. student in an accredited program in Ireland
Required Documents
Canadian parents will need to provide proof supporting their claim for residence permissions for a child dependent by submitting a portfolio of required documentation. A document checklist is available on the Irish government website. Supporting documents may include:
Identifying Documents and Evidence of Relationship
- Your original passport and your child’s passport.
- Two full-colour passport-sized photographs.
- A notarized and signed letter that clearly states your reasons for bringing your dependent child or children to Ireland.
- Proof of your family relationship, whether for a biological child or adopted child. This can include your child’s birth certificate, adoption certificate, etc.
Evidence of Parent’s Residence
- Proof of address where the parents and dependent children will reside.
Proof of Insurance
- Proof of private medical insurance and travel insurance.
Proof the Parent Can Financially Support the Dependent Child or Children
- Proof of financial support may include evidence of income or cash savings including bank statements or pay stubs.
Note if the child is over the age of 18, they will also require a police clearance.
Original documents such as a birth certificate or passport will be returned to you following your application. Photocopies will be kept by the Irish immigration office.
Note that certified translated copies are required for all documents that are not originally in English or Irish. Letters that are to be counted as supporting evidence from institutions, such as businesses or universities, must be written on official-headed paper.
How To Apply for the Irish Child Dependent visa
Non-visa-required citizens from a country such as Canada are free to travel to Ireland without filling out an application or obtaining a visa.
However, if your child is only a resident of Canada and not from a non-visa-required country, you must apply online for a child-dependent visa before travelling to Ireland.
Whether or not you require a visa to enter the country, once in Ireland, you will need to register for appropriate permissions to remain for stays of longer than 90 days with the Irish Immigration Service Delivery. If your child meets the requirements for eligibility, the complete application and all supporting documents for dependent family members can be sent to:
Family Dependents
Immigration Service Delivery
Unit 5 Domestic Residence and Permissions Division
PO Box 12695
Dublin 2
Ireland
All the applications should state the sponsor and applicant’s name, address, and date on each page.
If the application is approved, you will receive a letter stating your permission from the Irish Immigration Service Delivery.
Note that the sponsor and primary applicant (child) will be required to attend an appointment at the local immigration office to register the residency permission.
Costs and Fees
The fees associated with bringing a child dependent to Ireland can vary based on your circumstances. Canadians will not need to apply for a visa or pay a visa fee, but they will need to pay the Irish Residence Permit fee of €300 which is required when granted permission to remain after 90 days.
You may also incur fees for associated services such as private medical insurance, translation of documents, travel, and return postage fees for original documents mailed with applications.
Processing Times for the Irish Child Dependent visa
Permissions for dependent family members, including child dependents, can take up to six months to be processed by the Irish Department of Justice.
All the applications are processed chronologically in the order that they are received.
Because Canadian children do not require a visa or temporary visa in order to enter Ireland for stays of 90 days or less, they will not need to wait for an application to be processed before entering the country.
Once in Ireland, they will need permission to remain beyond 90 days. If you do not receive permission to remain after this time, you must return to Canada.
How Can Total Law Help?
With Total Law, professional visa services are provided to you by our team of immigration lawyers, who ensure your documentation is correct and your visa application has the best chance of approval.
Your Total Law advisor will provide you with specific advice based on
up-to-date Irish and Canadian immigration law to help you obtain immigration permission for your dependent family members.
We can also help you with other immigration matters, such as if you’re looking to work in Ireland with a critical skills employment permit, or looking to join other family members there.
For further information on this or other Irish immigration routes, contact us today at +1 844 290 6312 or use our online contact form to get in touch with our team of qualified immigration lawyers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Canadians can travel to Ireland for periods of up to 90 days without a visa. They may still require permission to perform certain activities in Ireland or to remain in the country for longer than 90 days. For example, rather than a work visa or student visa, Canadians travelling to Ireland may require a work permit or study permit, depending on their circumstances.
A Canadian child will not require a child-dependent visa in order to enter the country, but in order to remain for longer than 90 days, the child must meet eligibility requirements and obtain permission from the Irish Immigration Service Delivery.
If you are unsure if your child qualifies for permission to remain in Ireland, consult a qualified immigration lawyer such as at Total Law.
As a Canadian, they will not be required to undergo a medical examination or provide proof of physical or mental condition in order to travel to Ireland.
However, children and adults over the age of 18 will require police clearance in order to receive residency permission in Ireland beyond 90 days. They must be determined to be of good character and sound mind, and you may be required to submit documentation of this.
Yes. If you or your common-law partner have qualifying dependent family members, you may be eligible to endorse them to stay in Ireland if you can provide evidence that your common-law relationship is lawful under Irish law and you meet all other eligibility requirements for the family dependents scheme. You must submit the complete application and evidence to the Irish Immigration Service Delivery and wait for the decision.