Eligibility quiz
Are you in Ireland now?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Live in Ireland
You can live in Ireland until your permission expires, under its conditions.
Permission based on your Irish citizen child can last up to three years and may be renewed.
Your Irish Residence Permit proves your permission and must be valid for your return after travel abroad; a digital copy is not accepted.
Work in Ireland
With Stamp 4, you can work without an employment permit and start and run a business.
Some professions have their own rules you must meet.
Count residence toward citizenship
Time on Stamp 4 counts toward residence for Irish citizenship, but citizenship is not automatic.
It generally requires one continuous year immediately before applying plus five years’ residence in the previous nine, as well as other conditions.
Vote in elections
People ordinarily living in Ireland can vote in local elections if registered and otherwise eligible.
Depending on your citizenship, you may also be able to vote in national or European elections or referendums.
Use public healthcare
With Stamp 4, you can use public healthcare if you meet the eligibility rules, including those on where you normally live.
Medical card holders receive listed services free; others may have limited care or have to pay.
Receive state support
With Stamp 4, you can receive state payments if you meet each payment’s rules.
Depending on the payment, these may include where you normally live, your income and savings, and your contributions.
How to apply
From outside IrelandFrom outside Ireland
Fill in the application online
Complete the long-stay D Join Family visa application on the official AVATS website.
Fill in the applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I fill in an Ireland Join Family visa application on AVATS?”
Submit your online application
Submit your Join Family visa application on AVATS. Follow the instructions it gives you for the remaining steps.
Submit your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an Ireland Join Family visa application on AVATS?”
Pay the visa fee
Pay the applicable visa fee in the way set out in your AVATS instructions.
See how to paySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Ireland Join Family visa application fee using AVATS instructions?”
Print and sign the summary
Print and sign your application summary from AVATS. It tells you where and how to send your documents.
Print your summarySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I print and sign my Ireland Join Family visa application summary on AVATS?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your Join Family visa application.
See required documentsHand in your documents
Send or bring your signed summary, passport and supporting documents to the visa office or application centre named in your AVATS instructions.
Find submission instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit documents for an Ireland Join Family visa using my AVATS summary?”
Attend any required appointment
If you are asked to attend an appointment for fingerprints or an interview, go to the place specified in your instructions.
Find appointment informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I attend a biometrics or interview appointment for an Ireland Join Family visa?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for a decision on your visa application and respond if the visa office asks for more information or documents.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does an Ireland Join Family visa decision take?”
Travel to Ireland
If your application is approved, wait until you have received your visa before travelling to Ireland.
Find travel informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I travel to Ireland after my Join Family visa is approved?”
Once in IrelandOnce in Ireland
Request permission to enter
At the Irish port of entry, present yourself to an immigration officer and say you are coming to join your family. Have evidence of insurance available to show if asked.
Find entry informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I request permission to enter Ireland with a Join Family visa?”
Book your registration appointment
After you arrive, use the Immigration Service Delivery Customer Service Portal to book an appointment to register your permission.
Book your appointmentSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book an Ireland family dependent permission registration appointment through the Immigration Service Delivery Customer Service Portal?”
Attend your registration appointment
Go with your parent or other family sponsor, bring the required documents and private medical insurance evidence, and provide your fingerprints. You will receive an Irish Residence Permit as evidence of your registered permission to stay.
Find registration informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “What should I bring to an Ireland family dependent permission registration appointment?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide your birth certificate to show your relationship to your Irish parent. Send a clear digital copy for an application in Ireland.
Parent's citizenship records
Provide evidence of your Irish parent's citizenship. For an application in Ireland, send a copy of the photo and details page of their Irish passport; include the same page from your other parent's passport where applicable.
Parent's consent letter *
Provide a consent letter from the parent who does not live with you. Send a clear digital copy.
* Only if you apply in Ireland, are under 18 and do not live with both birth parents.
May need translationMarriage certificates *
Provide your parent's marriage certificate. Send a clear digital copy.
* Only if you apply in Ireland and rely on your parent being married to an Irish national.
May need translationGuardianship records *
Provide proof that your Irish parent or guardian is your legal guardian. Send a clear digital copy for an application in Ireland.
* Only if you rely on a legal guardian.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Family permission conditions
If your permission is based on your Irish citizen child, stay involved in their upbringing; they must normally live in Ireland.
With permission as an unmarried partner, your relationship must remain genuine and ongoing, and you are expected to live together permanently in Ireland.
Other family permissions depend on the relevant family, dependency and sponsor conditions continuing to be met.
Registration and renewal
Keep your permission registered and renewed.
Apply before it expires, while in Ireland; you can apply online up to 12 weeks beforehand.
Follow the conditions in your permission letter and tell immigration officials about relevant changes when required.
Stamp 0 restrictions
With Stamp 0, you must support yourself or be fully supported by your sponsor, keep private medical insurance, and avoid state benefits and publicly funded services.
Do not work, run a business, trade or practise a profession unless your permission expressly allows it.
Some renewal conditions require continuous residence in Ireland and bar bringing family on this basis.
Permission can be lost
Your permission ends when it expires unless it is renewed.
It can be cancelled or not renewed if you break its conditions, engage in criminal activity or attract adverse attention from the police.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
r/MoveToIreland
English Reddit group for people living in Ireland interested in Irish visas
Join on RedditIrish Naturalisation process - Passport process & Timelime, IRP Renewal
English Facebook group for people interested in Irish visas and citizenship
Request to joinIreland Immigration & Visa Updates
English Facebook group for people living in Ireland interested in Irish visas
Request to joinConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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