• Do you have refugee status in the Republic of Ireland?
• Are you claiming social welfare or are on a low income?
• Do your relatives abroad have Republic of Ireland visas for family reunion?
If you have answered YES to all three questions, you are eligible to apply for UNHCR/Irish Red Cross Travel Assistance Programme. This programme helps your family members join you in the Republic of Ireland.
How to Apply
1. Following your request for Travel Assistance, the Irish Red Cross will ask you to come to Irish Red Cross Head Office and complete the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) Family Reunification Travel Assistance Application. These forms must be completed with you by an Irish Red Cross representative and can only be completed strictly by appointment. You can make an appointment by phoning (01) 6424600.
When you come please supply the following supporting documentation for your Travel Assistance application. We only require copies of these documents so if you provide the originals they can be copied and the originals returned to you. It is important to supply colour copies where applicable. Your application for Travel Assistance cannot be made without this supporting documentation:
Copy of Letter of Refugee Status for the applicant
Copy of Letter of Family Reunification for the beneficiaries
Copy of Letter or Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship (if applicable)
Copy of Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
Copies of Birth Certificates for all family members (if applicable)
Copy of solicitors letter of consent from one parent to another which allows their children to come and reside in Ireland (if applicable)
Copy of “Western Union”, “Moneygram” or other receipts if money has been sent to support the family in country of origin (2 copies)
Copy of receipt of Social Welfare Allowance (2 copies)
Copy of receipt of Rent Allowance (2 copies)
Copy of pay slip (if applicable)
Copies of Irish Visas for all family members when issued
Copies of all family members passports or other travel document when issued
Copy of GNIB registration card
2. When the UNHCR Family Reunification application form is completed, we will check it and forward it to the Headquarters of the UNHCR in Geneva for approval. UNHCR (Geneva) will decide on your request for financial assistance towards family reunification.
3. You will receive a letter from the Irish Red Cross telling you that the application has been sent to UNHCR in Geneva. Please send a copy of this letter to your relative(s) abroad.
4. Please note that UNHCR will refuse your application if you visit your family while this process is taking place. Also, if you buy tickets for your family NO REFUND will be given by UNHCR or the Irish Red Cross.
We will try to progress your case as quickly as possible. It currently takes a minimum of twelve weeks for the application to be approved, i.e. before travel arrangements are made but on occasion it can take longer depending on individual circumstances.
Once your application is approved
1. If the application is approved, UNHCR, Geneva will inform the Irish Red Cross as well as the office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in the country where your family is living.
2. Irish Red Cross will then contact you to tell you that your application has been approved. You will also be asked to tell your family to make contact with the local IOM office when they are ready to travel.
3. The travel arrangements are made by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
4. When travel has been arranged, the Irish Red Cross will contact you to give you the flight details. You will be expected to go to the airport to meet your family when they arrive in the Republic of Ireland.
If you want more information about the Travel Assistance Programme, please contact Irish Red Cross on (01) 6424600 or e-mail restoringfamilylinks@redcross.ie