Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 November 2012
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if arising from the recent fee increase from €175 to €300 in respect of an update of Stamp 4, if deferred payment arrangements can be put in place in situations of hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53598/12]
View answerSection 19 of the Immigration Act, 2004 (as amended), provides that a non-national is required to pay a fee to the registration officer, An Garda Síochána, for the issue of a registration certificate. This fee is set by regulations made by the Minister for Justice and Equality with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The registration officer concerned may refuse to issue a registration certificate if the appropriate fee has not been paid.
The increase in the fee in respect of the issue of a registration certificate under the Immigration Act, 2004 came into effect on 19 November, 2012. Any person issued with a registration certificate from that date will be required to pay the new fee of €300 unless they come within those categories exempted from the charge. There is no deferred payment arrangement.
In recognition of the circumstances of certain categories of person, there are specific exemptions from paying the registration fee set out in the regulations; these are the following: UN Convention Refugees; Family members of such refugees who have been admitted to the State in accordance with section 18 of the Refugee Act 1996; Persons who are under 18 years of age at the time of registration; Spouses, civil partners, widows and widowers of Irish citizens; Spouses and Dependants of EU nationals who receive a residence permit under EU Directive 38/04; Programme Refugees, as defined by section 24 of the Refugee Act, 1996; and persons subject to arrangements for victims of human trafficking.
