Non-EEA Parents of Irish Citizen Children

If your child is an Irish citizen, you may be eligible to reside with them in Ireland. As a non-EEA/non-Swiss national, you must submit the appropriate application after arriving in Ireland. If you are from a visa-required country, you must obtain a visa before travelling.
At R&A Immigration Consultants, we provide expert legal guidance to parents seeking to join or remain with their Irish citizen children. Whether you are applying for the first time or seeking to renew your permission, our immigration solicitors will manage the process with care and precision, working to keep your family together.
To speak with our team, call +353 89 970 9212, email_________________, or complete our Free Online Enquiry Form. You may also request a call back, and we will contact you at a convenient time.
We are available outside standard Irish office hours and can communicate via phone, email, or WhatsApp for your convenience.

If you do not have valid immigration permission to live in Ireland but your child is an Irish citizen living in the State, you can apply for permission to remain based on parentage. This is done by submitting the RES3 Form — Application for Permission to Remain in the State on the Basis of Parentage of an Irish Citizen Child for a Non-EEA Parent — to the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD).

To be granted permission, you must meet all of these criteria:

• You are the biological parent of an Irish citizen child

• The child lives full-time in Ireland

• You are actively involved in the child’s upbringing, emotionally and/or financially

• The child is under 18 years old, unless they have a serious disability

• You are named as the biological parent on the child’s birth certificate

If you are not named on the birth certificate, you may need to:

• Apply for re-registration of the birth certificate to include your name, or

• Submit DNA evidence with your application

The duration of permission granted is determined on a case-by-case basis. You may receive permission to remain in Ireland for a period between six months and three years. This permission can be renewed, provided you continue to meet all eligibility requirements

Yes. If your application is approved, you will typically be granted Stamp 4 permission, which allows you to work, establish a business, and accrue reckonable residence for future citizenship applications.

For initial applications, your child must be living full-time in Ireland. However, if you are applying for a renewal, your application may still be considered if your child is temporarily abroad for valid reasons, such as attending university. Each case is assessed on its individual merits.

Yes. If your child has a mental or physical disability that prevents them from living independently, you may be granted or renewed permission even if the child is over the age of 18.

Not in every case. A DNA test may be required if there is uncertainty about parentage — for example, if you are not listed as the parent on the child’s birth certificate. In such cases, proof of biological relationship may be requested.

No. Irish citizenship cannot be acquired through descent from a child. However, if you have legally resided in Ireland for five years, you may become eligible to apply for citizenship by naturalisation.

If your child holds Irish citizenship, you may be eligible to apply for residence in Ireland. Contact our team to assess your eligibility and guide you through the application process.