Vol. 550 No. 2
512 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures to be followed by non-EU citizens who are married to EU nationals in order to take up residency and to work here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8293/02]
The position is that the non-EU spouse of an EU national may apply to join their spouse in the State provided the EU national is himself or herself residing here in exercise of an EU treaty right. Such a non-EU national is required to register with their local Garda registration office and obtain permission to remain. In order to do so they will require a valid passport, a marriage certificate, evidence of their EU spouse's nationality, evidence that they are residing here with their EU spouse and evidence that their EU spouse is exercising an EU treaty right here – for example, letter of employment, enrolment details in a course of study etc. Unless the non-EU national is of a visa exempted category-nationality, they will also require a visa prior to entering the State and should apply for same at the relevant Irish embassy or consulate overseas or, in the absence of Irish representation, to the Department of Foreign Affairs visa office in Dublin. Their application should be accompanied by documentation along the lines of that set out above. Details of the categories of person exempted from the visa requirement are set out on my Department's website. Persons who are granted permission to remain in the State on this basis do not require a work permit in order to take up employment here, nor do they require business permission in order to operate a business in the State.
