Child Dependent Visa
If you are an Irish citizen, an EEA national, or a non-EEA national lawfully residing in Ireland and you want to bring your foreign child to the country, you can sponsor them for the Child Dependent Visa. Find out more about the requirements and the application process.
Call our lawyers today at +1 844 290 6312 for assistance and guidance on how to bring your family member with you to Ireland.
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What is the Child Dependent Visa?
The Child Dependent Visa is intended for foreign children of Irish citizens, EEA nationals living in Ireland, or non-EEA citizens residing in Ireland on a long-stay work visa such as the Critical Skills Employment Permit.
The Child Dependent Visa is a Long Term ‘D’ visa and it belongs to the Join Family visa category. That means that successful applicants can come to Ireland and spend more than 3 months there.
Once your child comes to Ireland on the Child Dependent Visa, they will receive Stamp 4 in their passport, indicating that they are allowed to work and study in Ireland. They will also have the right to access state funds and services.
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What are the requirements for the Child Dependent Visa?
Generally, for your child to qualify for the Child Dependent Visa, they need to be younger than 18 years of age. Your child might also be able to join you in Ireland through this route if they are between the ages of 18 and 23 and are engaged in full-time education.
In addition to that, to be able to sponsor your child to come to Ireland, you have to meet the following financial requirements:
- You are able to prove that you have not been reliant on state benefits for a continuous period of two years right before submitting the visa application
- You have earned a cumulative gross income of at least €40,000.
Those who are in Ireland on Category A immigration permission can bring their child to Ireland without having to prove their earnings because, to receive this status, they already had to provide evidence of their earnings before.
Nevertheless, those who are in Ireland on Category B permits have to provide evidence confirming that they earn at least the following incomes per week:
- €511 for 1 child
- €612 for 2 children
- €713 for 3 children
- €834 for 4 children
- €960 for 5 children.
If you are not sure whether you meet the financial requirements, or you do not know how to prove it, get in touch with our lawyers. They will assess your circumstances and help you gather documents that show you earn enough money to sponsor your child for the Child Dependent Visa.
What is the application process for the Child Dependent Visa?
The visa application process varies depending on your status in Ireland. If you are an Irish citizen, you can go through the process of Family Reunification, which should be relatively quick and straightforward. If you are a non-EEA citizen residing in Ireland on a long-stay visa, however, the application process is more complicated. This is why it is advisable to hire an immigration lawyer. They can explain to you in detail what you need to do to bring your child and/or other family members to Ireland.
As part of the visa application process for the Child Dependent Visa, you have to provide a number of documents proving your guardianship over the child and showing that you have enough funds to support the child financially after they join you in Ireland. As a non-EEA citizen living in Ireland, you also have to provide evidence confirming your right to reside in Ireland.
During the application process, you have to disclose details of any family members in Ireland and in the country where your child lives. You also have to demonstrate that the child is dependent on you financially as well as arrange medical or travel insurance for him/her.
It is possible to apply for the Child Dependent Visa either abroad or within Ireland.
What supporting documents are required?
To be able to obtain the Child Dependent Visa for your child, you have to submit a number of supporting documents. The exact evidence you have to provide varies depending on your individual circumstances. Nevertheless, documents that all applicants have to prepare may include the following:
- Copy of your valid passport
- Copy of your child’s valid passport
- A signed letter explaining why you want to bring your child to Ireland including a brief relationship history
- Proof that your family relationship with the child is genuine
- Proof of your relationship with the child (child’s birth certificate or adoption order)
- Proof that your child is dependent on your (for example evidence that you pay their utility bills or accommodation fees)
- Evidence confirming your status in Ireland
- Evidence that you have enough finances to support your child after they come to Ireland.
The failure to submit some of the required documents can lead to delays in the processing of your application. Furthermore, all documents submitted must be originals. Important documents such as marriage, birth, or death certificates will be returned to the applicant after the visa officer is finished processing the visa application.
You can avoid that by hiring an immigration lawyer who will go over your application before you submit it to make sure it is complete and mistake-free.
Last modified on August 8th, 2023 at 6:31 am
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What is the waiting time for the Child Dependent Visa?
Visa applications for the Child Dependent Visa are reviewed in chronological order so how long you will have to wait depends on how many people applied for it before you. The waiting time for the Child Dependent Visa also depends on the immigration status of the sponsor in Ireland.
If you are an Irish citizen or a Category A sponsor, you have the right to apply for immediate family reunification. Then, the processing of the Child Dependent Visa for your child should take a maximum of 6 months.
If, however, you are in Ireland with any other status, you have to be ready to wait for up to 12 months to hear the decision.
Your immigration lawyer can check in for updates on your behalf and keep you informed of any changes to the status of your application.
How can IAS help?
Applying for the Child Dependent Visa can be complex as the process varies depending on the immigration status of the sponsor in Ireland. Moreover, there are many requirements you have to meet to qualify for the visa.
If you hire one of our experienced immigration lawyers, they will assess your circumstances and determine whether you qualify to sponsor your child to come to Ireland. If so, they will explain the application process to you in detail and guide you through each step, making it easy and straightforward.
As the application process for the Child Dependent Visa can be lengthy, you should try to minimize the risk of delays by making your case as strong as possible right from the start. You can do that by hiring an immigration lawyer who has expert knowledge of the Irish immigration system.
At IAS, we have helped many clients successfully apply for various visas to Ireland, including the Child Dependent Visa. We are committed to helping people avoid being separated from their loved ones.
Call us today at +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how we can help.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Child Dependent Visa is a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa, which means that its holders can spend more than 3 months in Ireland. Keep in mind that after your child joins you in Ireland, you need to go with them to an immigration office where Irish Immigration Authorities will register them and grant them permission to remain in the country for longer than 3 months.
After your child comes to Ireland on the Child Dependent Visa, they will have the right to work without having to get employment permission and will be allowed to study. Moreover, after living in Ireland for a while, they will be allowed to apply for permanent residency.
The Child Dependent Visa is generally intended for dependent children who are younger than 18 years old. Nevertheless, if your child is in full-time education, they might qualify for the visa up until the age of 23.
To be able to sponsor your child to join you in Ireland on the Child Dependent Visa, you need to prove that you have enough money to support them financially. As part of the application you need to show that:
- During the 2 years preceding the application you have not been reliant on state benefits
- You have earned a cumulative gross income of €40,000 or more.
Furthermore, if you are a Category B sponsor, you have to show that you earn at least the following incomes per week:
- €511 for 1 child
- €612 for 2 children
- €713 for 3 children
- €834 for 4 children
- €960 for 5 children.
If you hire one of our lawyers they can tell you in detail how you can prove that you have enough funds to sponsor your child for the Child Dependent Visa.
There are many Irish visas available for immediate family members of Irish citizens or those who are legal residents in Ireland. This includes visas for:
- Spouses
- De-Facto partners
- Civil Partners
- Adult Dependents
- Child Dependents
Each family member Irish visa comes with its own set of eligibility criteria. For detailed guidance on your application for family reunification, contact one of our expert immigration professionals today.