Undocumented migrants seeking amnesty will face garda vetting

The scheme will give around 17,000 undocumented migrants, including children, an opportunity to remain here.

All migrants over the age of 16 will have to provide garda clearance to stay in the State.

As part of the process, expired documents to verify identity will be accepted for applicants.

However, they will then have to apply for new passports if they are successful.

People living in Ireland for longer than four years will be able to apply. For migrants with children, this is reduced to three years.

Adult family members of the main applicant will have to have lived in the State for at least two years .

To be eligible for the scheme, migrants must also have been granted immigration permission that allows for unrestricted access to the labour market.

The new set-up will regularise long-term undocumented migrants and their children, allowing them to stay in Ireland and pave the way for obtaining citizenship.

The scheme will open for applications on January 31 and close on July 31.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “This scheme will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and reside in the State and to become part of mainstream Irish society rather than living on its margins.”

Ms McEntee will today publish a policy document for the scheme, outlining eligibility requirements.

Applicants will have to submit proof of identity and residence and of relationship for their family members. All applicants over 16 will be garda vetted.

Where there are “cases of reasonable doubt” between family members, the migrants may be asked to provide DNA evidence, which they must pay for, to prove the relationship.

Families applying will have to pay a fee of €700, to include children, while fees of €500 will apply to single people.