Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
441. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to calls from an organisation (details supplied) to expand the stamp 1G visa to a spouse, de facto partner of a general permit holder or an intra-company transfer permit holder, instead of limiting it to graduate student or critical-skill permit holders and researchers; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44781/22]
View answerThe rules applying to beneficiaries of critical skills and general work permit holders is determined by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and at present I am not aware of any plans by that Department to amend the rules attaching to those granted a general employment permit.
As the Deputy will be aware, a spouse/de facto partner of a critical skills employment permit holder join their spouse in the State at the same time as their arrival in the State and on registration at their local Registration office may apply for a Stamp 1G permission. However the spouse of a general permit holder must wait 12 months before making such an application. However, it remains open for the spouse or de facto partner of a general employment permit holder to join their partner by making an application in their own right that does not rely on spousal dependency. Details of other pathways for entry to the State, can be found on https://www.irishimmigration.ie/.
The spouse/de facto partner may also seek an employment permit in their own right from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which if granted, would entitle them to apply for Stamp 1 from their local immigration office. Further information relating to employment permits can be found on that Department's website, www.enterprise.gov.ie.
