To qualify for sponsorship under this scheme, applicants must meet specific age and dependency requirements. The following conditions outline who may be considered for residency.

Who Qualifies as an Elderly Dependent Parent?

Elderly parents are those who have reached the age required for eligibility for the non-contributory State pension in Ireland. As of October 2019, this age is 66, but it is subject to change.

To qualify, the sponsor must demonstrate their ability to fully provide for the elderly parent(s) if they are permitted to reside in Ireland.

Dependency Assessment

The Department will assess whether there are reasonable alternatives to the parent moving to Ireland, such as the sponsor or other family members relocating to care for them in their country of residence.

The burden of proof regarding dependency lies with both the sponsor and the applicant. The family must provide evidence that:

• There is no viable alternative to the parent relocating to Ireland.
• The parent lacks financial resources to meet essential living needs in their home country, even with financial support from the sponsor.
• The parent is physically incapable of independent living.
• No other family members in the parent’s country of origin or residence are capable of providing necessary support.
• The sponsor meets the required financial thresholds to support the elderly parent(s).

Financial Requirements

To sponsor an elderly dependent parent, the following financial conditions apply:

• The sponsor must have earned a minimum annual income, after tax and deductions, of €60,000 for a single parent or €75,000 for both parents in each of the three years preceding the application.
• If the elderly parent has a guaranteed income, it may be considered to partially offset financial limits. However, a person with sufficient personal income for their needs may not be classified as financially dependent, which could affect the application.

Additional Conditions

• The elderly dependent parent must have private medical insurance that covers private healthcare in a private hospital.
• The sponsor must sign a legal undertaking, accepting full financial responsibility for the elderly parent. Any State funds availed of by the parent must be reimbursed by the sponsor.
• The sponsor must provide detailed accommodation arrangements for the elderly parent.

Grant of Permission

If approved, the elderly dependent parent will receive:

• Initial residency permission for 12 months under Stamp 0 conditions.
• Renewal for a further 2 years, provided the conditions continue to be met.
• Subsequent renewal for 3-year periods under the same conditions.

Permissions to reside under this scheme are regarded as temporary and must be renewed periodically based on continued compliance with the original conditions.