Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You apply for family reunification by submitting a written application to the Family Reunification Unit of Immigration Service Delivery. The entire process involves an initial letter, a detailed questionnaire stage, and an assessment period before you receive a decision.
Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Letter
Write a letter to the Family Reunification Unit stating that you want to apply for family reunification. Your letter must include:
- Your full name, Person ID number (from your Irish Residence Permit or previous letters from Immigration Service Delivery), and current address
- For each family member you wish to bring to Ireland:
- Full name
- Relationship to you (spouse, child, parent, sibling)
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Current address
It is helpful to also include a copy of your international protection declaration letter (the document confirming you are a refugee or have subsidiary protection).
Important timing note: You must submit this application within 12 months of receiving your international protection declaration or, if you are a programme refugee, within 12 months of your arrival in Ireland. This is a strict deadline with no extensions. If you miss it, you lose the right to apply under this pathway.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Send your letter by post or email to:
Family Reunification Unit
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration
13–14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2
D02 XK70
Ireland
Email: [email protected]
The Family Reunification Unit does not have a public office and cannot meet with you in person. All contact must be by post or email.
Step 3: Receive and Complete the Questionnaire
When the Family Reunification Unit receives your application, they will send you a detailed questionnaire by post. You must complete this questionnaire and return it within 28 days, along with all documents listed on the questionnaire form.
The questionnaire will ask for original documents or certified copies concerning your family members, such as:
- Birth certificates
- Marriage certificates (if applicable)
- Civil partnership certificates (if applicable)
- Passports or travel documents
- Proof of current address for each family member
- Proof of relationship (family register, DNA test if parentage is disputed, etc.)
Do not miss the 28-day deadline. Failure to respond on time may delay your application or result in refusal.
Step 4: Assessment by the Family Reunification Unit
Once you return the completed questionnaire and documents, a member of staff at the Family Reunification Unit will assess your application. They may contact you asking for additional information or clarification. Be prepared to provide more documents or explanations if requested.
Step 5: Receive Your Decision Letter
When the assessment is complete, you will receive a decision letter by post. This letter will either:
- Approve your application for family reunification, granting your family member(s) permission to reside in Ireland for a specified period (at least 1 year for initial permission, at least 2 years for renewal)
- Refuse your application with reasons for the refusal
If approved, the letter will specify a deadline by which your family member(s) must enter Ireland—typically within 12 months of the permission being granted. If they do not arrive by this date, the permission ceases to be in force and you must reapply.
Step 6: Family Members Apply for Visas (If Required)
After your family reunification application is approved, your family members must apply for entry visas to Ireland (unless they are from a visa-exempt country). They will receive instructions on how to apply. Visa applications are processed in date order and typically take several weeks to months.
Programme Refugees are exempt from visa fees. Other family members must pay the visa fee (see Fees section below).
Step 7: Family Members Arrive and Register in Ireland
Once family members arrive in Ireland with their visa, they will receive a landing stamp in their passport or travel document, typically giving them initial permission to stay for 90 days. Family members aged 16 and over must register with Immigration Service Delivery before the 90 days expire to obtain an Irish Residence Permit (IRP).
Family members will also need to apply for a Personal Public Service (PPS) number, which is required for employment, education, and access to social services. If a family member is under 18, they may be asked to provide a letter from their school in Ireland.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Family reunification application | Free |
| Single-entry visa for family member | €60 |
| Multi-entry visa for family member | €100 |
| Travel document (if family member has no passport) | Varies by country |
Total estimate: €0–€100 per family member, depending on visa type. Programme Refugees are exempt from visa fees.
Does not include: Travel costs (flights, transport), translation of documents, apostille certification of foreign documents, DNA testing (if required to establish parentage), or costs associated with obtaining passports or travel documents from your country of origin.
Financial assistance available: If you are claiming a social welfare payment or have a low income, you may be eligible for the Irish Red Cross/IOM Travel Assistance Programme, which covers the cost of your family members' travel to Ireland and organizes all travel arrangements.
Processing Time
Current Processing Times (Under International Protection Act 2015)
Overall application decision: 12 to 18 months from submission of your initial letter to receipt of a decision letter. Some cases take longer.
This timeline includes:
- Initial receipt and questionnaire issuance: Several weeks after you submit your letter
- Questionnaire completion and return: You have 28 days to complete and return it
- Assessment by Family Reunification Unit: Variable, typically several months
- Decision letter issuance: Issued once assessment is complete
There is no statutory deadline for issuing a decision, so you should not expect a decision within a specific timeframe. Prepare for extended waiting periods.
Visa Processing (After Approval)
Once your family reunification application is approved, your family members must apply for entry visas. Visa applications are processed in date order and typically take several weeks to months.
Critical Entry Deadline
Your family members must enter Ireland by the date specified in your approval letter—typically within 12 months of the permission being granted. If they do not arrive by this deadline, the permission ceases to be in force and you must reapply. It is your responsibility to arrange all travel and ensure they arrive on time.
Document Validity
- International protection declaration: Must be current (not withdrawn or cancelled)
- Passports and travel documents: Must be valid for the duration of the visa and entry into Ireland
- Birth, marriage, and civil partnership certificates: Must be original or certified copies; documents from abroad typically require apostille certification
Proposed Changes (Post–1 July 2026)
Under the International Protection Bill 2026, which is expected to take effect on 1 July 2026, new rules will apply to applications made after that date:
- Two-year waiting period: Adults granted international protection will not be entitled to apply for family reunification for two years following their grant of protection (previously, applications could be made immediately)
- Financial self-sufficiency requirement: Applicants must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency according to income thresholds to be set by the Minister, and must not be in receipt of certain social welfare payments or owe money for International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS)
If you can submit your application before 1 July 2026, you may benefit from the current rules (no waiting period, no financial requirements). After that date, the new rules will apply.