Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022
619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice if consideration will be given to reducing the fees for registration for the scheme for the regularisation for long-term undocumented migrants given that many of the applicants particularly those in direct provision have very limited means; the way that the scale of fees was arrived at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8441/22]
View answerThe Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants Scheme opened for applications on 31 January 2022. Applications will be accepted for six months until 31 July 2022, when the scheme will close. The scheme is only open to those who do not have a current permission to reside in the State and will enable eligible applicants to remain and reside in the State and to regularise their residency status.
I am aware, particularly in the current economic climate, of the financial pressures that people are under. However, the fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for the scheme which, given the benefits involved, is quite a detailed process.
A fee of €700 will generally apply to a family unit applications and children up to 23 years, living with their parent(s), can be included in a family unit application. A fee of €550 will apply to individual applications. There is no provision for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees.
Successful applicants to the scheme will be required to register the permission granted and everyone over the age of 18 years will be required to pay a registration fee of €300, which is the standard registration fee applicable to all applicants.
The international protection strand of the regularisation scheme opened for applications on 7 February 2022 and applications will be accepted for six months until 7 August 2022. This separate strand allows international protection applicants who have an outstanding application for international protection and have been in the asylum process for a minimum of two years to apply.
There is no fee for making an application under this dedicated strand of the scheme. Successful applicants to this strand of the scheme will be required to register their permission, however, no registration fee will apply.
Full details regarding the qualifying criteria, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and the required documentation for the scheme is available on my Department's website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/regularisation-of-long-term-undocumented-migrant-scheme/ and at www.ipo.gov.ie for the international protection strand.
