GUIDE TO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

1

 Fully completed and signed application summary sheet.

2

Payment confirmation receipt.

3

2 colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old and complying with the photograph requirements on the photograph rules for visa applications. 

4

Your original current passport, original previous passport(s)

1 photocopy of your current and past passport(s), printed and verified by the VFS, showing bio-data page and all exit/entry stamps & visas. Full photocopy of all pages is not required.

Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months from date of your proposed entry into Ireland. Your passport must have sufficient space for a visa to be inserted in it; at least 2 empty pages are required.

If you are not a citizen of the country where you are applying from (the country of application), you must also submit evidence of your permission to reside in the country of application e.g. a residence card.

NOTE: A police report must be submitted confirming reported lost/stolen passports.

6

A copy of your Chinese identity card or of your residence permit (for foreigner).

7

A signed and dated letter of application including the applicant’s full contact details. The letter should:

• Be signed by the visa applicant with full contact details (email, phone, postal address).
• Declare applicant’s reason for coming to Ireland.
• Declare details of the family member in Ireland, who is sponsoring the visa application.
• Declare details of any other members of your family who are currently in Ireland, or any other EU Member State.
• Declare details of all dependent children.

8

Sponsor’s status/eligibility to sponsor:

• In the case of a sponsor who is an Irish citizen and residing in Ireland, a clear and legible copy of the sponsor’s passport or other documentary evidence attesting his/her citizenship.

• In the case of a sponsor who is an Irish citizen and residing in a country other than Ireland, a clear and legible copy of the sponsor’s passport showing evidence of residency in the country where they are residing.

• In the case of a sponsor who is a non-EEA citizen:
  • a clear and legible copy of all pages of the sponsor’s passport (including bio-data page and all other pages, including blank pages).
  • a valid copy of the sponsor’s Irish Residence Permit/GNIB card (an identity document issued by the Irish immigration authorities).
  • a copy of the sponsor’s current employment permit/researcher (scientific) hosting agreement or other evidence of eligibility to sponsor. Please refer to list of eligible sponsors at para. 16.4 of the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification Available at: www.inis.gov.ie

9

Evidence of claimed relationship between visa applicant and sponsor:

• You must provide evidence of your claimed relationship with your sponsor. The onus of proof as to the claimed relationship rests on you and your sponsor. The nature of the evidence required will depend on the relationship claimed e.g. spouse, civil partner, de facto partner, child, or elderly dependent relative. Below are some of the main types of relationships claimed and corresponding supporting documentation required. Original certificates, full photocopies and English translations must be provided.

Spouse or civil partner:

• Original marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate – marriages/civil partnerships must be capable of recognition under Irish law for other purposes outside of the immigration system.
• A notarised copy of marriage certificate, legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn). Or a notarised copy of civil partnership certificate, legalised by the Irish Embassy.
• In the case of previous divorce or widowhood, a notarised certificate of divorce / death of spouse, legalised by the MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn).
• If your sponsor (spouse/civil partner) is residing in Ireland and you have not resided together since your marriage/civil partnership, you must also provide a full account of your relationship history (where and when you met evidenced by e.g. visas, entry/exit stamps on the passport of your spouse, photographs, correspondence by e-mail, telephone etc.).
• For immigration purposes it is not sufficient for a relationship to have developed solely over the internet or by telephone/text message. A relationship must include a number of face-to-face meetings (excluding webcam) between the parties.

• Original birth certificate/adoption order.
• Chinese Birth Certificate: Notarised copy of the child's birth certificate, legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn). If applicable, a notarised Chinese adoption order, legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn). Birth certificates/adoptions orders from other third countries must be notarised in accordance with the legal procedures of that country.
• Irish Birth Certificate: Only the original Irish birth certificate and an original photocopy is required. It does not need to be notarised or legalised.
• Notarised letter of permission for the child to relocate to Ireland, signed by both parents or legal guardians, legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn) if the parents/legal guardians are residing China, and when not residing in China, attested by the relevant authorities in the country of residence. If the parents are residing in Ireland, the letter of permission to relocate must be notarised by a practicing solicitor in Ireland. The letter of permission must not be older than 6 months. The letter of permission must declare that the child can permanently leave China. It must clearly state with whom the child will be travelling to Ireland and with whom the child will reside in Ireland.
• In cases where the parents are divorced, a notarised copy of the divorce decision, legalised by the MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn) (if the divorce was obtained in China), stating to whom of the parents full guardianship was entrusted. If the divorce was obtained in Ireland or elsewhere, a notarised copy of the divorce decision by a practicing solicitor will be sufficient.
• In cases where one parent/guardian is deceased, notarised certificate of death of spouse/guardian, legalised by the MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn), if the death occurred in China. If the death occurred in Ireland or elsewhere, the certificate of death should be notarised in accordance with the applicable legal procedures of that country.
• A copy of both parents'/guardians' passport bio-data page and signature page must be provided.
• If the child is travelling to Ireland in the company of a person, who is not the child's parent/guardian (for example, with a grandparent), a copy of the accompanying adult's passport bio-data page and signature page must be submitted.

De facto partner (a de facto partnership refers to a relationship akin to marriage including cohabitation for 2 years prior to the application for family reunification):

• Original evidence supporting the existence of your de facto relationship e.g. registration certificate of partnership (if applicable), evidence of common ownership of property, joint tenancy of property, on-going correspondence addressed to both partners at the same address, financial dependence/interdependence or any other relevant documentary evidence.
• A full account of your relationship history (where and when you met evidenced by e.g. visas, entry/exit stamps on the passport of partner, photographs, correspondence by e- mail, telephone etc.).

Elderly Dependent Relative:

• Notarised birth certificate of sponsor/notary certificate of family relationship legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn)/notarised adoption order, legalised by MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn) showing parentage of sponsor.
• A notarised undertaking, signed by the sponsor, stating that he/she will bear personal and complete financial responsibility for the elderly dependent relative and that any State funds availed of will be reimbursed by them to the State. The undertaking must also give detailed provision for the accommodation of the elderly dependent relative in Ireland. The undertaking must also state that the sponsor will take out private medical insurance in respect of the elderly dependent relative at or above the level of VHI Plan D or equivalent in Ireland.
• For more detailed conditions and information see:  Dependent elderly relative. 

10

Finances:

Original, full photocopy and English Translation of all documents required

You must provide evidence of your finances and those of your sponsor including evidence to show that your sponsor meets the minimum level of earnings required (please refer to Chapters 17 and 18 of the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification

• A detailed statement of your bank accounts covering a 6 month period immediately prior to your application.
• A detailed statement of your sponsor’s bank accounts covering a six month period, immediately prior to your visa application.
• Letter from sponsor’s current employer on official headed paper, giving full contact details of employer for verification purposes.
• Evidence of projected earnings e.g. copy of contract of employment etc.
• In the case of a sponsor who is resident in Ireland, evidence that they meet the minimum level of earnings required – Employment Detail Summary (previously P60s) for the 3 years immediately prior to the date of your application and 3 recent consecutive pay slips.
• If your sponsor is self-employed in Ireland, Notices of Assessment of income from self-employment for the three most recent years, and evidence of earnings in the period since the most recent tax return was filed.
• In the case of a person who is eligible to sponsor applications for immediate family reunification: critical skills employment permit, Irish Investor Programme letter from ISD ,researcher (scientific) hosting agreement, evidence of Intra Company Transfer, evidence of Business Permission, evidence that sponsor is full-time non-locum doctor in employment in Ireland.
• In the case of a person who is eligible to sponsor applications for family reunification after 12 months: Non-critical skills employment permit, evidence sponsor is Minister of Religion, in additional to standard financial evidence.
• In the case of an employment permit holder a copy of their employment permit and a contract of employment covering at least 1 year from your proposed date of entry showing annual salary.

11

Evidence of dependency:

If you are making your application on the basis of financial and social dependency on your sponsor you must provide documentary evidence to establish that you are actually financially dependent on your sponsor:

• Amount, frequency and duration of the financial support provided by your sponsor (e.g. copies of your sponsor’s bank statements showing transfers to your account, copies of your bank statements showing receipt of those amounts).
• Any other sources of income that you may have.
• If you have no other source of income, evidence of why you are unable to work, why you are not eligible for state benefits etc.
• Your living costs (e.g. evidence of mortgage/rent, utility, food, medical, education payments).
• Details of any other family members in your country of residence.
• Your medical condition (where relevant), relationship with the sponsor including evidence of active and continuous involvement in your life e.g. evidence of visits, correspondence.

12

Medical/Travel Insurance (not required at time of visa application):

• Evidence of medical/travel insurance does not need to be provided with your application. However, the Visa Officer may request it before they make a decision on your application. If your visa is approved, when you arrive at the port of entry (airport/seaport) evidence of medical/travel insurance must be presented to the Immigration Officer upon request.

13

Previous visa refusals:

• If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details. The original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country must be provided with your application.

NOTE: Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused.

14

Evidence of sufficient accommodation in Ireland:

• You are required to submit evidence of where you will permanently reside in Ireland and how accommodation costs will be covered (house purchase contract in sponsor’s name, lease agreement etc.). 

15

Non-criminal record certificate:

• If you are aged over 18, a notarised certificate, legalised by the MFA (Apostille) 附加证明书 (mfa.gov.cn), attesting to the lack of any criminal convictions for crimes or offences under law. This certificate must not be older than 6 months from the date of issuance.

NOTE: This requirement does not apply to family members of Irish or EU/EEA citizens.