Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
912. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the qualifying income criteria for a visa application for an elderly dependent in cases in which family reunification is being applied for; her plans to examine these criteria; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42415/21]
View answerMy Department's Non EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification sets out the criteria for sponsors who wish to have their elderly dependents join them in the State.
The financial thresholds for earnings to support an elderly dependent relative must be high enough to meet the foreseeable expense. Therefore, a sponsor of an elderly dependent relative is required to have earned in Ireland in each of the three years preceding the application an income after tax and deductions of not less than €60,000 in the case of one parent and €75,000 where two parents are involved.
Where the elderly dependent relative has a guaranteed income into the future, this can be used to partially offset the financial limits (bearing in mind however that a person with a sufficient personal income for their needs cannot reasonably be regarded as being financially dependent).
For elderly persons of independent means, the financial threshold is generally considered to be a lump sum to purchase a property in the State plus an income in excess of €50,000 per person per annum. Each application is dealt with on a case by case basis.
Any elderly dependent granted a permission to join their family member in the State will be granted a Stamp 0 immigration permission. An inherent condition of their residence permission is that they are required to be self-sufficient. They are not permitted to avail of State benefits while resident here on a Stamp 0 basis even if they acquire an entitlement to such benefits. Holders of Stamp 0 are also not allowed to work, operate a business or engage in a profession in the State. They must also have private medical insurance to cover the duration of their stay. A Stamp 0 may also be granted to persons who can demonstrate sufficient funds to ensure they will not become a burden on the State.
While all immigration permissions are kept under review, currently, there are no plans to revise the existing thresholds for elderly dependents.
