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EU Treaty Rights — permitted family member requiring personal care

IrelandFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

A family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen who strictly needs the citizen's personal care on serious health grounds may be treated as a permitted family member. The right derives from Directive 2004/38/EC as given effect by the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015 (as amended).

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

Both the applicant and the EU/EEA/Swiss citizen must be living in Ireland, and the citizen must be exercising free movement rights by being employed, self-employed or living in Ireland with sufficient resources (study is not listed for permitted family members).

See recorded sources

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Apply from inside Ireland (applications cannot be made from outside the State) via the ISD Customer Portal on Form EUTR 1A (permitted family member); the Minister assesses whether to treat the person as a permitted family member and may give a temporary permission stamp while the application is processed (not if documents are insufficient); decisions can take up to six months; once approved, register the permission at the Burgh Quay Registration Office.

See recorded sources

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

This route is for a permitted family member: a person who strictly needs the personal care of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen on serious health grounds, whom the Minister may decide to treat as a permitted family member. This is separate from the qualifying family members (the spouse or civil partner; direct descendants under 21; dependent direct descendants aged 21 or over; and dependent direct relatives in the ascending line, of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or of their spouse or civil partner). The Regulations entitle a person residing in the State in accordance with them to the same rights of travel as Irish citizens and to carry on any business, trade or profession and access education and training like Irish citizens; the official source does not separately state the rights of a permitted family member.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-an-eea-or-swiss-national/eu-treaty-rights/
    Qualifying family members may be: The spouse or civil partner of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen Direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s spouse or civil partner. These include children or grandchildren up to 21 years of age Dependent direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or dependent direct descendants of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen’s spouse or civil partner. These include children or grandchildren aged 21 years or more Dependent direct relatives in the ascending line of the EU, EEA or Swiss citizen or the EU, EEA, Swiss Citizen’s spouse or civil partner.
  • https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/548/made/en/print
    17. (1) Subject to this Regulation, a person who is residing in the State in accordance with these Regulations shall be entitled— ( a ) to the same rights of travel in or to or from the State as those to which Irish citizens are entitled, ( b ) to carry on any business, trade or profession and to have access to education and training in the State in the like manner and to the like extent in all respects as Irish citizens, and

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

A non-EEA family member holding a current residence card can apply for a Permanent Residence Card after more than five continuous years in Ireland as the family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen (or after an approved retention of residence), having complied with the regulations; the card is valid for ten years and allows work or business. Continuity is not broken by absences of up to 6 months in 12, military service, or one absence of up to 12 consecutive months for important reasons; the permanent right is lost only after more than 2 consecutive years' absence.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-an-eea-or-swiss-national/eu-treaty-rights/
    You are eligible to apply for a Permanent Residence Card if: You are the holder of a current Residence Card You have lived in Ireland for more than five continuous years as the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss Citizen national Your application for retention of right of residence has been approved You have complied with all regulations while you have lived here The Permanent Residence Card is valid for ten years . It allows you to work or operate a business in the State.
  • https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/548/made/en/print
    (5) For the purposes of these Regulations, continuity of residence in the State shall not be affected by— ( a ) temporary absences not exceeding 6 months in a 12 month period, ( b ) absences of a longer duration for compulsory military service, ( c ) one absence of a maximum of 12 consecutive months for important reasons such as pregnancy and childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training, or a posting in a Member State or a third country.
  • https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2015/si/548/made/en/print
    (6) Without prejudice to Regulations 20 to 23, where a person has acquired the right to remain permanently in the State pursuant to these Regulations, that right shall cease to exist only where the person concerned has been absent from the State for a period exceeding 2 consecutive years.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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