Non EEA Family Reunification Ireland
If your non-EEA or non-Swiss family member is settled in Ireland, you may take the family reunification route to come and live with them for more than three months. They must be a legal resident of Ireland at the time of your application. Plus, they must be eligible and willing to sponsor you.
If you are an eligible family member of a non-EEA or non-Swiss Irish resident, and are seeking to move to the country to join them and live together as a family, our team of specialist Irish immigration lawyers and advisers can help. For more information about whether you are eligible for a join family visa in Ireland, what supporting documents you need, or how to apply, call us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or fill out an enquiry form online.
Joining Your Non-EEA Family in Ireland
The Irish ‘join family’ visa is based on the universal family reunification principle. If you are a non-EEA/non-Swiss country national who is a legal resident in the Republic of Ireland (also called the ‘State’), you can apply to bring your eligible family members to live together with them as a family. You and your concerned family member(s) will have to meet the eligibility criteria as well as other relevant conditions for an Irish join family visa.
Not everyone needs a visa to live with their family in Ireland. If your eligible family member is an EEA (the EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Swiss national, they will not need a visa or immigration permission to live, work or study for more than 90 days in the State.
Non-EEA/non-Swiss country nationals must, however, seek permission from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), the Irish immigration authority, to live in the State with their family. If they are citizens of a visa-required country for Ireland, they will first have to obtain a long stay (join family) visa to travel to the country.
On the other hand, if they are visa-exempt nationals for Ireland, they will not need to apply for a long stay visa. Instead, they will have to present their passports and other relevant documents to the Irish immigration officer at their port of entry.
Once in Ireland, you will have to make an application to ISD within 90 days of your arrival to be permitted to live with your eligible family member. If your application is successful, you will then need to visit the registration office in Dublin (or a local Garda station if you are living outside of Dublin), along with your sponsoring family member, to register the relevant details.
Page Contents
- Joining Your Non-EEA Family in Ireland
- Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification
- Why Read the Policy Paper on Non-EEA Family Reunification?
- When the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy Will Not Apply?
- Who Can Apply for an Ireland Join Family Visa?
- Eligible Sponsors for the non-EEA Family Reunification Route
- Eligibility Requirements for Join Family Visa Ireland
- Financial Requirements for Sponsoring Your Family Member
- Documentary Evidence for Family Reunification in Ireland
- How to Apply for an Ireland Join Family Visa?
- Irish Family Visa Applications on Behalf of a Child
- Ireland Join Family Visa Application Fee
- Processing Time for an Irish Family Visa
- After You Arrive in Ireland
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification
Ireland is not a party to the EU Directive on Family Reunification. Instead, the Irish family visa framework has been built upon the policy of non-EEA family reunification. As such, family reunification in Ireland is solely a matter of its national immigration policy, subject to the jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
ISD published the ‘Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification’ in December 2013 as a comprehensive statement of Irish national immigration policy around family reunification. It is the ultimate guide on all decision-making procedures related to family reunification cases where ministerial discretion applies, including long stay (join family) visa applications.
Based essentially on the universal right to respect for family life, the document views family reunification in a wider context of public policy. ISD can refuse an application if they have enough reason(s) to believe that an approval can pose a threat to public security, public policy or public health in Ireland, or lead to an undue burden on the public purse.
In any case, ministerial discretion will be a major factor when it comes to decision making, like most other Irish long stay visas or residence permits.
Why Read the Policy Paper on Non-EEA Family Reunification?
If you are planning to apply for a join family visa/permission in Ireland as the eligible family member of a non-EEA national, you must go through the policy document on non-EEA family reunification to understand:
- Who can be a sponsor for the purposes of a family reunification application
- Who can be sponsored for a join family visa/permit (i.e., eligibility requirements)
- If there is any waiting period before one can sponsor their eligible family member(s)
- If there is a minimum earnings threshold that you must meet to be eligible to sponsor your family member(s)
- What you can or cannot do with a join family visa in Ireland
- How ISD measures dependency in the context of a family reunification application
Note that this document was last updated on 26 November 2025. You must read and understand the latest document if you have submitted (or planning to do so) your join family visa/permit application since that date. If you submitted your application prior to 26 November 2025, consult the previous policy paper.
When the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy Will Not Apply?
The guidelines listed in the non-EEA family reunification policy document will not apply to the following cases:
- If the family member residing in Ireland is an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, pursuant to Directive 2004/38/EC on the rights of EU citizens and their family to move and reside freely within the Member States
- If the family member residing in Ireland is a UK national
- If the family member residing in Ireland is a recognised refugee or a beneficiary of international protection (family reunification applications in such a scenario will instead be dealt with according to Sections 56 and 57 of the International Protection Act 2015)
- If the family member residing in Ireland is a beneficiary of temporary protection (family reunification applications in such a scenario will instead be dealt with according to Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015)
Who Can Apply for an Ireland Join Family Visa?
Not all your family members are eligible to apply for a long stay (join family) visa. The ‘Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification’ specifies that individuals belonging to the categories mentioned below are permitted family members for a long stay (join family) visa:
- Spouse or civil partner
- De facto partners (a cohabiting relationship similar to marriage and which is duly confirmed for a period of more than two years)
- Children (of the sponsor/spouse/civil partner/de facto partner) below 18 years of age
- Parents of the sponsor/spouse/civil partner/de facto partner
- Other dependent family members of the sponsor/spouse/civil partner/de facto partner
Children over 18 years of age with any serious medical or psychological problems may also be permitted to apply, if they are dependent on the care of their sponsoring parent and where independent life in the home country is impossible for them due to the aforementioned illnesses.
Adopted children will enjoy the same rights as the biological children provided that:
- The adoption process was either carried in Ireland or, in case of foreign adoption, is recognised under the concerned Irish law
- A genuine and complete transfer of parental responsibility took place during the adoption process
Eligible Sponsors for the non-EEA Family Reunification Route
Individuals belonging to any of the categories listed below are eligible to act as sponsors for their eligible non-EEA/non-Swiss family members seeking to join them in the State.
Category A covers Irish nationals residing in Ireland (or intending to do so in near future) as well as international protection beneficiaries whose family reunification case is not covered by the International Protection Act, 2015. Qualifying family members may accompany the Category A sponsors to Ireland or join them on an immediate basis.
Category B covers the following sponsors:
- Critical Skills Employment Permit holders
- Investors with permission under the Immigrant Investor Programme
- Entrepreneurs with a permission under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme
- Researchers on Hosting Agreements
- ISD approved scholarship programme students
- Intra company transferees
- PhD students (subject to conditions including no recourse to State funds)
- Full time non-locum doctors in employment
- Ministers of Religion (subject to conditions including no recourse to State funds)
Spouses/civil partners and minor children of Category B sponsors can travel with them to Ireland or join them on an immediate basis (provided they get the required visa/permission).
Any other family members can join them after at least two years.
Category C covers the following sponsors:
- General Employment Permit holders
- Reactivation Employment Permit holders
- All Stamp 4 holders not covered by any of the above categories but are eligible to sponsor a family reunification application in Ireland
Spouses/civil partners and minor children of Category C sponsors can join them after at least 12 months. The waiting period is at least five years for any other family members.
Non-EEA or non-Swiss nationals living in Ireland on any other type of visa/permit are not eligible to sponsor their family members.
Eligibility Requirements for Join Family Visa Ireland
Apart from being an eligible family member sponsored by a qualified resident in Ireland, you will have to meet the below requirements in general to come to the State via the non-EEA family reunification route:
- You are a non-EEA or non-Swiss national
- You are ordinarily a resident outside of the State
- You are of good character and good standing
- You have documents to prove your relationship with your sponsor
- You intend to live together permanently with your sponsoring family member in Ireland
- You have medical insurance from an authorised company
Financial Requirements for Sponsoring Your Family Member
Apart from belonging to a qualified sponsor category, your sponsoring family member in Ireland must meet certain financial requirements. These requirements vary depending on the sponsor’s category.
Category A sponsors must meet a minimum income requirement of €40,000 over the three-year period prior to application. This is over and above any State benefits they may be receiving during the said period.
Category B sponsors will need to maintain their permission to qualify for family reunification, since there is an assumption that they satisfy the financial requirements for family visa sponsorship.
Category C sponsors must show a gross earning of more than €30,000 in the year prior to the visa application for a couple with no children. The figure will go over and above that threshold depending on the number of minor children they may have.
Documentary Evidence for Family Reunification in Ireland
We have listed below the supporting documents that you will need to submit (in original) as part of your application process for a long stay (join family) visa (ISD may ask for additional documents depending on your personal circumstances):
- Signed and dated summary form from the online application system
- Visa fee receipt
- Two colour, passport sized photos which must not be more than six months old. Print your name and visa application reference number clearly on the back of the photos
- Current passport valid for at least 12 months
- Full copies of all previous passports, if any
- A letter of application signed by you that includes your full contact details, why you want to come to Ireland, your sponsoring family member’s details, and information about any other family member(s) residing currently in Ireland, the UK, or anywhere else in the EU
- Proof of sponsor’s eligibility:
- For a non-EEA/non-Swiss citizen sponsor, copy of all pages of their passport, copy of their certificate of registration issued by the Irish immigration authorities, copy of their current employment permit/researcher (scientific) hosting agreement, or any other evidence of eligibility to sponsor
- Proof of claimed relationship with the sponsor (e.g., marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate, birth certificate/adoption order for children, etc.)
- Proof of finances for both the applicant and their sponsor, such as their detailed bank account statements for six months immediately prior to the application, employment contract in Ireland for Category B sponsors, proof of meeting the prescribed income threshold and three recent consecutive payslips for Category C sponsors, etc.
- Proof of financial and social dependency (where applicable) on the sponsor (e.g., bank statements showing regular transfers from the sponsor’s account to the applicant’s account, medical certificates where relevant, etc.)
- Previous visa refusals for any country
- Medical/travel insurance
You must submit certified translated copies of an original document if it is not in English or Irish, containing a confirmation from the translator on the accuracy of the translated work, the date of the translation, the translator’s full name and signature, and their full contact details.
Likewise, any letter submitted as part of your documentary evidence from a business, company or other organisation must be on their official letterhead show the company/organisation’s full legal name, full postal address, telephone number (fixed line), website address, official email address, name of a contact person along with their title/position in the company, and written signature of an authorised representative (e-signatures will not be accepted).
How to Apply for an Ireland Join Family Visa?
An Irish family visa application is an online process. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, and have arranged for the supporting documents required in your case, start with filling in the online application form via the AVATS online application facility (link available on the ISD website).
Do read all the instructions provided in the form and on the Department of Justice website diligently beforehand. Once complete, take a printout of the summary form from the online application system, and sign and date the same.
The signed and dated summary form, along with all supporting documents relevant in your case, must be submitted to the relevant visa authority processing your application. The summary form will have information on where and when you have to submit your documents. You may also be required to submit your biometrics details as part of your application.
Irish Family Visa Applications on Behalf of a Child
A parent or legal guardian can apply for an Irish family visa on behalf of a minor (i.e., under 18 years of age). You must submit the below documents (in addition to the supporting documentation mentioned previously) along with the application form:
- The child’s birth certificate
- If the child is travelling to Ireland alone or with a person who is not their parent or legal guardian:
- Letter of consent from both parents or legal guardians
- Copies of the consenting parents or guardian(s)’ passports or national identity cards clearly showing their signature
- If the child is travelling with one parent or legal guardian:
- Letter of consent from the other parent or legal guardian
- A copy of the consenting parent or legal guardian’s passport or national identity card clearly showing their signature
- If one parent has sole custody of the child concerned, a copy of the court order bestowing sole custody of the child on the said parent
Ireland Join Family Visa Application Fee
A fee of €60 for a single entry visa will have to be paid at the time of an Irish family visa application. This is an administrative fee to cover the processing cost of your application, and as such cannot be refunded even if your application is refused or withdrawn.
Visa fees are, however, exempted if you are a family member of an Irish citizen or that of a Programme Refugee.
Processing Time for an Irish Family Visa
Processing a long stay (join family) visa application may take up to 12 months from the date of receiving all your supporting documentation. This timeline, however, may vary depending on several factors, such as if ISD requires further evidence from you based on your personal circumstances, if the visa office handling your case is experiencing an increased volume of visa applications, etc.
Check the website of your concerned Irish visa office, embassy or consulate for their usual processing timelines. If your application is being processed by the visa office in Dublin, check the ISD visa decisions page to know the date of the applications currently being processed.
After You Arrive in Ireland
Once your visa application is approved and you have arrived in Ireland, visit the registration office in Dublin or your local Garda station within 90 days to register your details.
Non-EEA/non-Swiss foreign nationals will have to pay a registration fee of €300, first time as well as renewals, to get their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card. You are exempt from paying a registration fee if you are:
- A minor
- Spouse, civil partner, or widow/er of an Irish citizen
- A Programme Refugee or joining a recognised refugee family member in Ireland
You are also exempt from paying the fee if you have received:
- Refugee Status under Section 47(1) of the International Protection Act 2015, or
- Subsidiary Protection under Section 47(4) of the International Protection Act 2015, or
- Permission to Remain in Ireland under Section 49(4)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015
How Can Total Law Help?
Family reunification in Ireland is subject to stringent checks to rule out immigration abuse. In each family reunification case, ISD thoroughly checks the immigration history of the applicant and also considers the general issues of social and economic policy. The visa applicant and their sponsor both are liable to prove the genuineness of their family relationship to the Irish immigration authorities beyond any reasonable doubt.
Our team of immigration advisers have the required expertise and empathy to understand your case and assist you, regardless of the complexity of your case. If you are seeking overall advice with your family visa application or you would like an immigration lawyer to oversee your application on your behalf, we are here for you.
Call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 today or reach out online to discuss your case with one of our specialist Irish family visa lawyers.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
What you can or cannot do on an Ireland family visa depends on the immigration permission ISD grants to you. For example, if you receive a Stamp 4 immigration permission, you can work without an employment permit, or run a business. If you receive a Stamp 2A or Stamp 3 permission, you don’t get the right to work in Ireland.
No, ISD does not have any formal fast-track or expedited processing mechanism for family visas.
Your ISD visa decision letter will state the refusal reason(s), and whether you can appeal the decision. If you are eligible to appeal, your application must reach the concerned visa office within two months from the date on the letter of refusal.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Total Law before making any decisions based on the content provided.