Join Family Visa

The join family visa is a long-stay residence permission that allows non-EEA (non-European Economic Area) family members of Irish citizens to reunite and live in Ireland. You qualify if you are a spouse, civil partner, de facto partner, or unmarried child under 18 of an Irish citizen, or in limited circumstances if you are a dependent adult child or parent. Your Irish citizen sponsor must be able to support you financially without relying on state funds and provide suitable accommodation. Family reunification is discretionary—applications are assessed case-by-case, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee approval.

The pathway underwent major changes in November 2025 with significantly higher income thresholds, stricter eligibility for adult children in education, and new accommodation requirements. These changes apply to all applications submitted on or after 26 November 2025.

The revised Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy introduced the most significant changes in approximately a decade:

Removal of 18–23 Year Old Education Category: Children aged 18–23 in full-time education are no longer treated as part of the nuclear family. They can now only qualify if wholly dependent due to serious medical or psychological conditions.

Significantly Higher Financial Thresholds: Income requirements for sponsoring children increased substantially. For one child, the requirement is now €36,660 net (€44,300 gross) in 2025, with further increases expected in 2026.

Stricter Dependent Adult Child Eligibility: Dependent adult children must establish they are wholly dependent on the sponsor's care due to a serious medical or psychological condition making independent life unsustainable. The threshold for "wholly dependent" is very high.

Accommodation Requirements: The policy now emphasises careful examination of the sponsor's ability to provide adequate accommodation. Specific requirements are being developed.

Annual Indexation: Income thresholds will be reviewed and indexed annually to Central Statistics Office data, meaning further increases are likely.

Faster Path to Independent Status: Once your sponsor obtains Irish citizenship, you may obtain independent Stamp 4 permission (non-sponsored long-term residence) rather than waiting five years.

Work Rights

• If you are a nuclear family member (spouse, civil partner, de facto partner, or minor child), you receive Stamp 4 immigration permission, which allows you to work without an employment permit or to establish and manage a business
• If you are a dependent family member with dependent status only, you remain subject to employment permit requirements

Residence and Travel

• You are granted residence permission to live in Ireland
• You may travel in and out of Ireland with your permission

Access to Services

• You may have access to health, education, and other state services depending on your immigration permission
• Nuclear family members with Stamp 4 receive the strongest rights

Independent Permission

• After 5 years of lawful residence in Ireland, you may apply for independent Stamp 4 permission (non-sponsored long-term residence)
• Alternatively, if your sponsor naturalises as an Irish citizen, you may immediately apply for independent Stamp 4 permission without waiting five years
• In the event of divorce, dissolution of civil partnership, or separation, you may apply for independent permission if you have been in a subsisting relationship with your sponsor for at least 3 years, with the two most recent years spent residing in Ireland

Path to Irish Citizenship

• Spouses of Irish citizens may be eligible for Irish citizenship by naturalisation after 3 years of marriage and continuous residence in Ireland (compared to the general 5-year residency requirement)
• After 5 years on Stamp 4, you may be eligible for long-term residency status

Family Reunification for Your Own Family

• Once you obtain independent permission or Irish citizenship, you may be able to sponsor your own family members to join you in Ireland under separate family reunification provisions