Are you hoping to bring your elderly parent or relative to live with you in Ireland? We’re here to help guide you through the complex process.
Whether you’re an Irish citizen, a visa holder, or an EEA national, bringing a dependent elderly relative to Ireland involves strict eligibility criteria, income thresholds, and comprehensive documentation. The process can be especially complex depending on the nationality of the sponsor and the relative.
At R&A Immigration Consultants, we specialize in Irish immigration and family reunification. We assess your eligibility, prepare the full application, and help your loved one join you in Ireland with peace of mind.
Our Elderly Dependent Reunification service covers:
Eligibility & Financial Requirement Guidance
Documentation Support
Application & Visa Process Management
Call us on +353 89 970 9212, email info@raimmigration.ie, or fill in the Free Online Enquiry Form. You can also request a call back, and we’ll get in touch at a time that suits you.
Yes, under certain conditions. Elderly relatives may join their adult children or close family members in Ireland if specific eligibility criteria are met, including proof of financial dependency and adequate support from the sponsor.
Non-EEA or non-Swiss elderly relatives may apply under Ireland’s family reunification policy. The sponsor must have earned at least €60,000 per year (after tax) for the past three years if sponsoring one parent, or €75,000 per year (after tax) if sponsoring both parents.
The elderly relative must be fully dependent on the sponsor. If approved, the applicant is granted Stamp 0 permission, which does not allow access to state-funded services. The sponsor must also arrange comprehensive health insurance and suitable accommodation for the relative.
The process involves six main steps:
Application to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) for permission.
Issuance of a conditional letter of offer from ISD.
Application for a Join Family visa (if from a visa-required country).
Travel to Ireland.
Submission of passport to ISD for stamping (visa-required countries only).
Registration with the local immigration office.
Dependent parents or grandparents of EEA/Swiss citizens are considered qualifying family members and are entitled to join them in Ireland under EU Treaty Rights, provided they can prove dependency. They must apply for a Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen, and if from a visa-required country, also obtain a long-stay visa before travel.
No. EU Treaty Rights do not apply to Irish citizens living in Ireland. If you are an Irish citizen, you must sponsor your non-EEA/non-Swiss parent and meet the same income and support conditions required under the general policy.
Similarly, following Brexit, UK citizens residing in Ireland from 1 January 2021 must have their family members apply for a long-stay ‘D’ Join Family UK National Visa. Those resident in Ireland before that date remain covered by previous EU rules.
No. Irish citizens do not have an automatic right to bring non-EEA/non-Swiss family members to live in Ireland. Appropriate immigration permission must be obtained through the applicable process
No. Stamp 0 permission does not allow the holder to work or access state-funded services in Ireland. The sponsor must assume full financial responsibility for the elderly relative.
Stamp 0 is granted for one year and can be renewed from within Ireland, subject to meeting the ongoing requirements.
A sponsor may be:
An Irish citizen
An EEA or Swiss citizen
A non-EEA national lawfully resident in Ireland with an employment permit
A foreign national with Stamp 4 or Stamp 5 permission
A researcher under a Hosting Agreement
A PhD student enrolled in an accredited Irish programme
A minister of religion holding Stamp 3 permission
The sponsor must have earned:
€60,000 net annually for the past three years (for one parent), or
€75,000 net annually for the past three years (for both parents).