Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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36. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the travel visa requirements that apply to a person (details supplied). [10990/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that, as the person mentioned by the Deputy is a South African citizen, they do not need to apply for a visa to join their Irish spouse or accompany them if they are moving to Ireland. Details are available at the following link www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/non-visa-long-family-irish.

After entering the State, the person mentioned must apply for permission to stay in Ireland and register with their local Immigration Office prior to the expiry of their visitor's permission, (i.e. landing stamp in their passport). The person mentioned and their Irish spouse must attend at their local immigration office to register as the spouse of an Irish National. Details on the requirements are available on the website at www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/WP07000024. In this instance route A applies.

It is important to appreciate that this process cannot start from outside the State.

Once registered, the person's passport will be endorsed with a Stamp 4 which will enable the person to reside in the State, enter employment without the need for a work permit or set up a business in the State without the consent of the Minister. Renewal of permission will be subject to attendance with his spouse at their local Immigration Office, the provision of his passport, their spouse's passport, marriage certificate and proof of address.

If they propose to live in the Dublin area they will have to make an appointment to register their permission at the Burgh Quay Registration Office as soon as they arrive in the state. INIS advises applicants to book an appointment up to ten weeks before their permission expires. Applicants who have not managed to secure an appointment before the expiry of their permission should check the website at 2:30pm daily to secure an early appointment. I am informed that INIS recognises that emergency situations can arise. Such cases are with dealt with on a case by case basis and enquiries should be sent to burghquayregoffice@justice.ie.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.