Your ability to reunite with your family members in Ireland will depend on your right to remain in Ireland. The following can immediately bring their family to live with them in Ireland:
Category A (immediate)
- Critical Skills Employment Permit holders;
- Investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Business Permission Holders
- Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit holders
- Researchers
- Approved Scholarship programme students (e.g.KASP)
- PhD Students (subject to conditions including no recourse to social welfare payments)
- Full time non-locum doctors in employment
- Ministers of Religion
Category B (after 12 months)
You can reunite with your family after you have been legally working in Ireland for one year if you hold a:
- General Employment Permit (non-critical employment)
- Stamp 4 holders not covered by other more favourable arrangements
You must be able to show that you will be able to support them. You must also be in full-time employment when you apply and have an income above the threshold which would qualify the family for payment of the Working Family PaymentSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
The following family members are eligible to join you:
- your spouse or civil partner;
- your de factoSearch for available translations of the preceding link partner;
- your children under the age of 18 years;
- dependants over the age of 18, in exceptional circumstances.
See published guidelines relevant to non-EEA family reunificationSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
See also published guidelines relevant to family reunificationSearch for available translations of the preceding link applying to persons with refugee status only.
| Where to apply | Family members must obtain a long-stay D visa, unless they are visa-exemptSearch for available translations of the preceding link. |
| Grounds for rejection | Grounds for rejecting an application for family reunification include:
See published guidelines relating to non-EEA Family ReunificationSearch for available translations of the preceding link |
| Documents required | Your signed and dated application form and the appropriate fee (where applicable) must be accompanied by the supporting documentation set out below.
More details on documents required for non-EEA applicantsSearch for available translations of the preceding link |
| Duration of validity of permit | The duration of your family member’s permission cannot exceed the duration of your permission, unless he/she is subsequently granted permission to reside in Ireland independently. A child aged 0-15 who is not issued with an Irish Residence Permit needs a re-entry visa to leave Ireland for a short period (usually up to 90 days) and then return again, for instance on holiday with their parents. |
| Further requirements | Following admission to Ireland, family members aged 16 years and older must registerSearch for available translations of the preceding link with the Garda National Immigration BureauSearch for available translations of the preceding link/local immigration officer and obtain a certificate of registration. If you live in Dublin City or county, you must register at Burgh Quay Immigration Registration Office. This office is managed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS). If you live outside Dublin City or county, you must register at your local immigration registration office. These offices are managed by the Garda National Immigration BureauSearch for available translations of the preceding link (police) and located at Garda stations nationwide. Currently, children aged below 16 years old are not required to register. |
Appeals | Appeals must be in writing and posted to the Visa Appeals Officer. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered. Only one appeal can be made for each application. If the appeal is rejected, a new visa application must be submitted. More on appealsSearch for available translations of the preceding link |
| Further information | More on family reunification in IrelandSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on visasSearch for available translations of the preceding link More on registration |
Access to Employment | Non-EEA national family members are only permitted to work if they:
Other family members of employment permit holders must obtain an employment permit in their own right
Either the employer or employee can apply for the employment permit, based on an offer of employment. Your spouse or dependant must have the qualifications, skills and experience required for the job. They must be directly employed and paid by their employer in Ireland. |
No information available