Cost of Irish visa?

[andyn1066]

I have been going round in circles trying to find the cost of an Irish visas for the wife and step son to travel to Ireland for a short break. They are both in the UK and have residence permits. We are applying for visas "type C visit accompanying EU family member". I have looked every where as I heard the wife may get her visa for free as a partner of UK citizen, but I can't see this in black and white on any Irish Embassy/immigration web site. To be honest the UKBA web site is fairly straight forward compared to the Irish.
I think the normal fee would be £53 each. Has anyone out there travelled to Ireland recently and know what the cost is? Thanks for any information or links

[Tony22]

Wife and I went last November and the visa was free. She is on FLR with residence permit. It was a tedious process to obtain with two visits to the Irish embassy required. I believe you can do by post but, we didnt have the time to use the postal system. All said we had a great trip and no problems at the airports or with border agency.

[andyn1066]

Thanks Tony, Thats just saved me £53! Now just got to find out about the step-son. I am doing the application by post, so must send the right fee with the application or it will be rejected. They have a premium rate phone number which I may have to call at £1.50 a minute, Nice

[sisaket]

free , can get it in person in London...

[LaJo]

If you fly to Belfast and travel onto the rest of Ireland you should not encounter any problems.

If you carry your marriage certificate with you and you encounter an Irish Garda, you can prove there and then that you are family members and entitled to enter in accordance with the terms of directive 2004.38.

Otherwise, just ask the local irish consulate for a free, facilitated visa.

Best of luck.

[andyn1066]

Contacted the Irish Embassy, who has confirmed the wife's visa is free, but the Step-son visa is £53. As I want to fly direct to Shannon, and not to drive from Belfast, visas are a must to go through the airport. Application in post lets sse if they charge for the step-son.

Thanks for everones input

[Merseymike]

Your step-son's visa should be free, too. He is considered to be your family member (on the assumption he's aged under 21).

[andyn1066]

Thanks Merseymike, to be honest the person on the phone first said the wife had to pay, then he changed his mind, and then had to check about the 11 year old step son. Obviously he didn't know what he was talking about. Hopefully I should get the £53 refunded.

[Tobias]

Andy, EU law 'requires' them to issue the visa free of charge.

[andyn1066]

Thank you Tobias. I received an email from them today stating I had not included a letter from the wife giving consent for her son to travel to Ireland, even though we our travelling as a group.. Maybe I will wait until we have the visas and see if they send the payment back, before I ask for a refund.
Thanks for your input.

- - - Updated - - -

[andyn1066]

UPDATE:Received Visa's today for both wife and step-son, very quick just 10 days. There was NO £53.00 refunded from the office. Have just sent email to the London Irish visa office, explaining there inaccuracy and respectfully request a refund, quoting European Law Directive 200/38/EC. Lets see if I receive any response.
Merseymike, Tobias and Sisaket thank you all for your input

[andyn1066]

Received my £53.00 back today. Very quick, 2days.

[Tobias]

That's excellent news. They should never have accepted the payment in the first place.