Non-EEA Family Reunification

Non-EEA family members of non-EEA residents in Ireland don’t get any automatic right of reunification. They only qualify for family reunification depending on the resident permit of the family member in Ireland.

Usually, you can join your family in Ireland if they hold certain employment permits or if they’re on refugee status. For instance, Critical Skills Employment Permit holders can bring their family members to Ireland immediately.

In addition, their family members get Stamp 4 in their passports and can work in Ireland without seeking an employment permit.

For other employment permit holders, like General Employment Permit, your family members can only qualify for family reunification after working for a year. Importantly, your salary must be above the limits for Family Income Supplement.

Qualifying family members include civil partners, spouses, and children below 18 years. If you’re a dependent family member above 18 years old and not a spouse or civil partner, you can’t apply for family reunification.

Irish visas are processed in date order. Nevertheless, your Long Stay ‘D’ Join Family Visa should take a maximum of 6 months to apply, from the date you submitted your complete documentation.

The application process takes that long due to the detailed assessment the immigration will carry out to confirm your relationship with the Irish citizen/resident. However, different visa offices and embassies have different processing times; you should confirm the duration from where you applied.

The visa office will not process your Long Stay ‘D’ Join Family Visa for family reunification if you don’t submit all necessary documents. These documents include;

• Signed and dated application summary
• Two colour passport-sized photographs
• International passport
• A signed letter of application
• Proof of status of your sponsor (Irish citizen/resident family member)
• Proof of relationship between you and your sponsor
• Proof of your finances and those of your sponsor
• Proof of dependency (most especially for permitted family members)
• Medical or travel insurance
• Previous visa refusals (if any)

You can apply for a review of the decision if your residence card application is unsuccessful. For this, you’ll complete the EU4 application form. In the form, you’ll state why you believe the decision on your application is wrong.

You must apply for a review of the decision within 2 months of receiving the refusal letter. However, if your application for review of the decision is refused, you’ll have to exit Ireland subject to a removal order.

As mentioned earlier, the Stamp 4EUFAM lasts for 5 years. After that, you can apply for a permanent residence card or simply renew your Stamp 4EUFAM. You can apply for Irish permanent residence if you have lived in Ireland consecutively for five years.

Application for permanent residence involves completing the EU3 application form. You have to provide documentary evidence to show that you meet all the requirements for permanent residence.

Application for permanent residence usually takes six to eight months to process. However, in some particular circumstances, it can take longer.

Non-EEA family members of refugees can join them in Ireland if the Irish resident has official refugee status or is under subsidiary protection. In addition, family members can only apply for reunification within 12 months of the Irish resident getting refugee status or subsidiary protection.

Qualifying family members include spouses/civil partners and children not over 18 years. If the Irish resident who is a refugee or under subsidiary protection is under 18, the qualifying family members are parents and minor siblings.

Family members of refugees in Ireland can apply from within or outside Ireland. For the application, the refugee must write to the INIS Family Reunification Section requesting family reunification for each family member.

If INIS approves the application, they’ll send a letter of approval. Then, the refugee will complete a questionnaire and submit it to the Irish embassy or consulate in their family member’s resident country. The beneficiary must also submit other necessary documents for the visa application.

These documents include:

• Signed and dated application form
• Family reunification approval letter from the INIS
• Two coloured passport-sized photographs
• International passport or travel document

If the visa application is successful, the applicant can now travel to Ireland. They’ll follow the same steps as mentioned earlier, including applying for a residence card and registering with immigration for a residence permit upon entering Ireland.