Ireland EU Treaty Rights Family

Summary

EU Treaty Rights residence in Ireland is for non-EEA family members of EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens who live in Ireland under EU free-movement rules. It is not usually for family members of Irish citizens, because Irish citizens normally use Irish national family rules when living in Ireland.

The EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen must be exercising free-movement rights in Ireland. In plain English, that usually means they are working, self-employed, studying, or financially self-sufficient in Ireland.

British citizens normally do not need this pathway because of Common Travel Area rights.

Eligibility

You may qualify as a family member if your EU, EEA, or Swiss sponsor is living in Ireland and you are one of the following:

• spouse or civil partner;
• child or grandchild under 21;
• dependent child or grandchild age 21 or older;
• dependent parent or grandparent;
• durable de facto partner;
• another dependent or household family member;
• family member who strictly needs the EU citizen's personal care for serious health reasons.

Spouses, civil partners, and direct family members are generally treated as qualifying family members. Durable partners and some other relatives are treated as permitted family members and must be individually assessed.

How the process works

You must usually be in Ireland to apply for the residence card. The EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen and the non-EEA family member both need to be living in Ireland, and the EU citizen must be exercising Treaty rights.

The application is normally made through the Irish Immigration Service Delivery portal using the relevant EU Treaty Rights form. If approved, the non-EEA family member receives residence permission connected to the EU citizen's free-movement status.

Irish citizens

Irish citizens are generally not treated as EU Treaty Rights sponsors while living in Ireland. There are limited exceptions, such as where the Irish citizen previously exercised EU free-movement rights in another member state and returns to Ireland with the family member. Most users with an Irish citizen spouse or family member should look at Ireland's Join Family route instead.

What This Route Allows

This route can allow you to live in Ireland based on a qualifying family relationship. The relationship usually must be documented, genuine where relevant, and supported by the required civil records.

What This Route Is Not

This is not based only on wanting to live near family. The family relationship must fit the legal category and usually must be supported by records and sponsor documents.

Next Steps

1. Confirm the sponsor is an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen other than, in most cases, an Irish citizen.
2. Confirm the sponsor will work, be self-employed, study, or be self-sufficient in Ireland.
3. Identify whether you are a qualifying family member or a permitted family member.
4. Gather civil records, dependency evidence, relationship evidence, and sponsor activity evidence.
5. Apply for the Irish EU Treaty Rights residence card after arrival in Ireland.

Sources

• Irish Immigration Service Delivery — EU Treaty Rights — official guidance on qualifying and permitted family members.
• Irish Immigration Service Delivery — Joining an EEA or Swiss national — official visa and entry guidance for family members.
• Your Europe — Family residence rights — EU guidance on family residence rights.