Government Waiver Immigration Fees For victims Of Domestic Abuse.

• Victims of domestic abuse will not be required to pay the immigration registration fee of €300.

The Irish government has signed into effect regulations to facilitate arrangements for survivors and victims of domestic abuse, which exempts them from immigration registration fees.

Under the immigration guidelines anyone who experiences domestic abuse and whose permission to be in Ireland is linked to the perpetrator of that abuse, can apply to the Immigration Service for a separate independent immigration permission.
Providing a separate and independent permission removes barriers for people to leave abusive relationships or unsafe family environments. The application for this permission is free and requests are dealt with sensitively by the immigration authorities.

When a person applies for a residency permit, they are required to pay a registration fee.
Exemptions from the registration fee are provided by law, while some survivors and victims were already exempt under the previous Regulations, the government has now amended these regulations to expressly include survivors and victims of domestic violence, granted an independent permission.

The government is committed to protecting victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence as a matter of priority and consequently encourages people to come forward and access State support services, where previously they may have been hesitant to do so.

Currently this €300 fee must be paid by all applicants, unless they are:

• Under 18 years at the time of registration.
• A spouse, widow or widower of an Irish citizen.
• A civil partner or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen.
• A spouse or dependent of an EU national who has a residence permit.
• A Programme Refugee or a person granted Refugee Status under Section 47(1) of the International Protection Act 2015.
• A person granted Subsidiary Protection under Section 47(4) of the International Protection Act 2015.
• A person granted Permission to Remain under Section 49(4)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015.
• A family member reunited with a recognised refugee in Ireland under Section 56 of the International Protection Act 2015.