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    GMS Flash Alert 2024-001

    Ireland – Re-Entry Visa Requirements Suspension for Minors under 16 Continues

    GMS Flash Alert 2022-206 | November 17, 2022

    In June 2022, Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) suspended re-entry visa requirements for minors under 16 years of age with immediate effect and until further notice.1  ISD has now confirmed that this suspension will remain in place, until further notice.2

    Children under 16 are not issued Irish Residence Permits (IRP) cards (for prior coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2022-125, 22 June 2022). Prior to June 2022, visa-required children residing with their parents in Ireland had to apply for a re-entry visa to allow them to travel back into the country after any period of departure.

    Since the suspension in June of re-entry visas for children under 16, the visa-required children who wish to re-enter Ireland must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has legal permission to reside in Ireland. The adult accompanying the child must provide appropriate documentation to prove they are the child’s legal parent or guardian.

    Why this matters

    The June 2022 announcement was welcomed by visa-required non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals and their families as it was no longer a requirement for the parents of visa-required minors to submit their original supporting documents to ISD for the issuance of re-entry visas for their children, which is often a cumbersome and lengthy process.

    This announcement continues this policy until further notice and will reduce administrative burdens and delays for families planning to travel outside of Ireland.

    Notice for Employers

    • Under the instructions provided by ISD, minors under 16 who wish to re-enter the country must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who has a legal permission to reside in Ireland.3
    • Employees impacted by the announcement must carry appropriate documentation to prove they are the legal parent or guardian of the child.
    • Suitable documents to prove the relationship between the parent or guardian and the child are:
      • a birth or adoption certificate, or guardianship papers showing the relationship with the child;
      • a marriage/divorce certificate if the individual is the child’s parent but has a different surname; 
      • a death certificate in the case of a deceased parent.

    KPMG Note

    If you require further advice on this situation, please contact your usual qualified immigration counsel or a member of the Corporate Immigration and Employment Law Team with KPMG in Ireland (see the Contacts section).

    Contacts

    Aoife Newton
    Aoife Newton

    Director

    KPMG in Ireland

    elaine-norton
    Elaine Norton

    Associate Director, KPMG Law & Corporate Immigration and Employment Law

    KPMG in Ireland

    Additional Resources

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    Footnotes

    1  Department of Justice, "Suspension of re-entry visa requirements for children under the age of 16 years," June 14th, 2022.

    2  Department of Justice, (Updated) “Suspension of re-entry visa requirements for children under the age of 16 years,”

    November 11th, 2022.

    3  Department of Justice, "Travelling with children."

    Disclaimer

    Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

    The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Ireland.

    © 2024 KPMG, an Irish partnership and a member firm of the KPMG global organisation of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.

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    GMS Flash Alert is a Global Mobility Services publication of the KPMG LLP Washington National Tax practice. The KPMG name and logo are trademarks used under license by the independent member firms of the KPMG global organization. KPMG International Limited is a private English company limited by guarantee and does not provide services to clients. No member firm has any authority to obligate or bind KPMG International or any other member firm vis-à-vis third parties, nor does KPMG International have any such authority to obligate or bind any member firm. The information contained herein is of a general nature and is not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.