Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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541. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if advice can be provided in relation to obtaining a visa to come to Ireland as per a scenario (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54605/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that it is open to any person to create a visa application at any time. All visa applications must be made using my Department's on-line facility. Upon creating an on-line visa application, the summary sheet must be printed and signed by the applicant and then submitted to the relevant office, along with supporting documentation and the relevant fee, within 30 days. Upon receipt of the necessary documentation and fee, the visa application will be processed.

Covid-19 protocol regulations in the Philippines limit indoor businesses to 30% of capacity and only allow fully vaccinated individuals indoors. As a result, the Irish Honorary Consul General's Office is currently accepting visa applications via courier only. Couriers deliver to the Office daily and I am informed that there have been no reported difficulties with deliveries to the Office. Contact details for the Honorary Consul General can be found at the following link:

www.dfa.ie/embassies/irish-embassies-abroad/asia-and-oceania/philippines/

The type of visa application that would apply in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy would depend on whether the applicant is a spouse of an Irish National or a De Facto partner. Full details on the criteria and guidelines for both types of application can be found on the Irish Immigration website at:

www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-an-irish-national/.

The onus, as in all cases, is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted. All visa applicants are advised that they should provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary.