Ireland Spouse Visa from Nigeria

Do You Want to Join Your Spouse in Ireland?

Our experienced immigration consultants at IAS have helped thousands of people join their spouses and partners in Ireland. We can assist you in gathering all the required documents for an Ireland Spouse Visa application and ensure you reunite with your spouse hassle-free.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +2342013306361 or +44 (0) 3316300929

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

What is an Ireland Spouse Visa?

The Ireland Spouse Visa is classified under the Join Family Visa. It is a type of Long Stay D Visa. The Spouse Visa allows its holder to enter and remain in Ireland for more than 3 months.

Nigerian nationals in a civil partnership or married to an Irish citizen/resident can obtain an Ireland Spouse Visa to join them.

If you have an Irish spouse, they don’t have automatic permission to bring you to the country. Similarly, your spouse residing in Ireland who is from a non-EU/EEA country, can’t bring you to the country automatically. Hence, you must be permitted by the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) to join your spouse in Ireland.

Your spouse must accept the responsibility of sponsoring your trip to Ireland. Your sponsor must also cater for your expenses when you enter Ireland. Your spouse must also fulfil several eligibility criteria before you can join them. When you enter Ireland with this visa, you will be permitted to live and work in the country.

It offers a path to permanent residency and Irish citizenship. You are a dependent of your sponsor (Ireland-based spouse), therefore, the validity of your visa will depend on the validity of your sponsor’s permission to stay in Ireland.

Eligibility Criteria for Ireland Spouse Visa

Your Ireland-based sponsor must meet one of these eligibility criteria to sponsor you to join them in Ireland. Your sponsor may:

• Have a Stamp 4 immigration permission and be a lawful resident in Ireland
• Be an Irish citizen residing in Ireland
• Be legitimately living in Ireland with an Employment Permit
• Be a doctorate (PhD) student enrolled in an accredited educational institution in Ireland
• Have a Stamp 5 immigration permission and lawfully residing in Ireland
• Have a Stamp 3 immigration permission and live in Ireland as a Minister of Religion
• Be a researcher who entered Ireland under a Hosting Agreement

You must meet additional Irish Spouse Visa requirements, including:

• Be at least 18 years old (including your spouse)
• Prove that your Ireland-based spouse has enough finances to sponsor you by meeting the financial requirements
• Prove that you have a genuine and subsisting relationship with your spouse
• Show that you meet the waiting period requirements if your sponsor is classified under Category B (Non-Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, Ministers of Religion and other Stamp 4 holders who don’t have more favourable arrangements)
• Prove that you’ll not become an undue burden to the country when you receive your permission
• Provide a valid marriage or civil partnership certificate legally acknowledged by Irish law
• Decide to live permanently with your spouse or civil partner in Ireland

Required Documentation

Nigerian nationals intending to join their spouse in Ireland must provide all the required documents for an Ireland Spouse Visa:

• Provide a completed Ireland Spouse Visa application form
• Get your Nigerian passport: It must be valid for at least 12 months after entering the country
• Provide two passport-size photographs that conform with the Irish photograph rules for visa applications
• Get your previous passports: Provide copies of all the stamps or visas and biography pages of your initial passports (if any). Mention details of any missing or lost passport you had
• Present your birth certificate
• Bring evidence of your private medical insurance
• Get your purpose for travel: You must explain your aim for travelling. You must also tell whether you have a friend or family member in Ireland to receive you, then provide their details
• Provide a marriage or civil partnership certificate with your Ireland-based sponsor: If your marriage is not registered and has no certificate, you must explain that in a written letter. Then, provide other evidence to prove that the marriage ceremony took place
• Get your divorce papers from previous marriages (if you were married before)
• Provide a receipt of your visa fee payment
• Provide a signed invitation letter from your Ireland-based sponsor: The invitation letter must confirm that they’re officially inviting you to come and stay with them in Ireland. The letter must state their financial status, employment status, residency status, whether they receive social benefits and their relationship history with you
• Submit copies of your sponsor’s current residence permit and previous employment permits
• Present your bank statements (including your spouse’s) dated from the last 1 year before applying for an Ireland Spouse Visa
• Provide evidence of joint accommodation such as mortgage payments, property deeds, rental agreements, etc.
• Prove that your sponsor meets the Ireland Spouse Visa financial requirements: Prove that your sponsor has earned €40,000 in the last 3 years.
• Assemble documentation addressed to you and your Ireland-based sponsor to prove you have lived together. These documents could be TV licenses, utility bills, letters written by their children’s educational institutions in Ireland, etc.
• Provide your Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued by the Nigerian Police within the last 6 months of submitting your visa application
• Present previous visa refusals: If your visa has been refused in the past, provide the letter explaining the refusals. Provide the visa refusal letter you received from a foreign country. The letter should contain dates, the country, the reason for the refusal, the reason for travel, etc.

Include certified translated copies of documents in a foreign language. Ensure they’re translated into English or Irish (Gaelic) and notarised. Depending on your situation, you may be required to provide additional documents to support your visa application. It’s ideal to consult an immigration lawyer to help you gather your documents for an Ireland Spouse Visa application.

Our immigration lawyers at IAS can assist you in assessing your situation to determine if you meet all the eligibility criteria. Our immigration lawyers can also help you assemble all the required documents, submit your application and make the whole process stress-free. Call us at +2342013306361 or schedule an in-person meeting with one of our immigration lawyers at our Lagos office for advice and support.

Submitting an Ireland Spouse Visa Application

Nigerian nationals intending to join their spouse in Ireland must apply for an Ireland Spouse Visa by taking the following steps:

Sponsor’s Permission Request

Before applying, your Ireland-based sponsor must request permission to bring you to Ireland. Your sponsor must write to the INIS Family Reunification Section. The letter must contain details such as:

• Your date of birth, name, address, nationality, and their relationship with you
• Your sponsor’s name, address and personal ID

Once the INIS receives the letter, they will issue your sponsor a questionnaire alongside a document checklist. Your sponsor must complete the questionnaire, provide all the required documents and return them to the INIS. If the INIS approves this request, you can apply for a D-Join Family Visa.

Apply for a D-Join Family Visa

Nigerians are non-EU/EEA citizens. Therefore, they must obtain a visa to enter Ireland. To join your Ireland-based spouse, apply for a D-Join Family Visa online (via AVATS) before travelling to Ireland. You must complete your visa application appropriately. You must state the reason for your travel and its duration and include all other required information in the application form.

Note that if you submit an incomplete visa application form, it won’t be processed and your application will be refused. After completing the online application form, you’ll get a summary. Print out the form and complete the date and signature sections. Once you apply, you’ll be directed to where you must send your supporting documents.

Submit Your Documents

You must gather all the required documents to start your Spouse Visa application process. You must submit all the required documents within 30 days of submitting your visa application. Never include any forged document or misleading information in your document. If the Irish immigration authorities find inconsistencies in your submission, your application may be rejected.

Submit your documents at the Ireland visa application centre in Abuja or Lagos (whichever is nearest you). If your application is approved, you’ll receive your Nigerian passport with your visa affixed to it. Should your circumstances change while your application is being processed, you must submit documents that reflect those changes.

Track Your Visa Application

You can track your Ireland Spouse Visa application using your application reference number. The Ireland visa application centre in Abuja provides weekly decision reports on visa applications and appeals. Don’t make travel arrangements until you know the outcome of your visa application.

Pass Through Border Control

Nigerians are non-EU/EEA nationals and must pass through border control to enter the country. At the border control (Irish airport) an Irish immigration officer will assess all your documents and decide whether you’ll be allowed to enter the country.

You should tell the immigration officer of your plans to apply for residency as your spouse. If the immigration officer is satisfied with your documents and approves your entry, they will affix a landing stamp on your visa. This stamp determines how long you’ll stay in Ireland, whether the initial period of 3 months for your D-Join Family Visa or otherwise decided by the immigration officer.

Register/Apply for a Residence Permit with the Immigration

Register with the Irish immigration authorities and apply for a residence permit within 90 days. Call or email your nearest registration office in Ireland to register. You must attend the appointment with your sponsor. Your sponsor’s biometric information (fingerprints and photographs) will be taken at the appointment. Provide the following documents for the appointment:

• Your original civil partnership certificate or marriage certificate
• Your original passport
• Your spouse’s original passport
• Proof of sufficient money to cater for your needs
• Proof of the place you live together in Ireland
• Registration fee of €300

If the immigration authorities approve your application, you’ll receive a Stamp 4 in your passport. You’ll then be allowed to live and work in Ireland for the stated period on the stamp.

Obtain an Irish Residence Permit

After your residency permission in Ireland is approved, you’ll be issued a registration certificate known as an Irish residence permit. It looks like a credit card card that contains some of your information. You will be issued a Stamp 4 which is valid for 3 years. Ensure you renew it before your permission to remain in Ireland expires.

Ireland Spouse Visa Processing Time and Fees

The waiting time for your Ireland Spouse Visa to be processed is 4 to 6 months on average. However, the processing time for the spouse visa in Ireland depends on your sponsor’s nationality and their permission to stay in Ireland. If your Ireland-based sponsor is under Category A (a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder), they can bring you to Ireland immediately, and the processing time could take 6 months. But if your sponsor is under Category B, they can bring you into Ireland after 1 year, and the processing time could be 12 months.

Cost of Ireland Spouse Visa

The visa cost you’ll pay to enter as the spouse of an Ireland-based sponsor depends on your purpose of entry. You can visit them for less than 3 months on a short-stay visa. Here are the fees you might pay to secure your spouse visa:

• Single-Entry Visa costs €60: This is an Ireland short-stay visa for individuals who want to stay in Ireland for 3 months
• Multiple-Entry Visa costs €100: You can obtain this visa if you intend to enter and leave Ireland several times. It can have a maximum validity of 5 years

You can pay your visa fees online via QR or in cash (in Nigerian naira only) at the Abuja or Lagos application centre, and POS. You can pay after submitting your visa application. You must also pay a service charge via debit/credit card while booking your appointment online.

Fee Waiver

Some Nigerian applicants may be exempted from the requirement to pay the Ireland Spouse Visa fees, including:

• A family member of an Irish citizen, including:
  • A child (under 18 years old)
  • A spouse
  • An adopted child (under 18 years old)
  • A widower or widow (subject to death certificate)
• Programme refugees (as contained in the International Protection Act 2015, Section 59)
• Holders of official, diplomatic, and service passports coming to Ireland for official purposes (and not for holiday)

Approval and Refusal Process for Ireland Spouse Visa

After submitting your Ireland Spouse Visa application, it will be processed, after which it can be approved or refused. If your application is approved, you’ll receive a message of approval from Immigration Service Delivery (ISD).

You must then schedule an appointment with your nearest immigration office. Attend the appointment with your spouse or civil partner and register your permission. If your application is refused, you’ll receive a letter of refusal from ISD with the reasons for it. You can appeal the decision within 60 days of receiving it.

Common Reasons for Refusal

Many factors can cause a refusal of your application, including:

Late Application

Applying late for your Spouse Visa can cause a delay in the processing time or a refusal of your visa application. Apply for the visa about 8 weeks before your expected departure date.

Incomplete Documentation

If you don’t provide all the required documents (such as proof of relationship with your spouse) for your Ireland Spouse Visa application, your application may be refused. The immigration authorities might ask you to provide those documents. This will delay the process. Ensure you follow the document checklist and provide all required documents.

Inconsistencies in Documents and Application Form

Your application for a spouse visa might be refused if the immigration officer processing your documents notices inconsistencies. This can result in a delay or rejection of your visa application. It could be deemed as if you provided false documents. Ensure your documents are original and current and align with the information in your application form.

Appealing a Decision on Ireland Spouse Visa

Nigerian applicants can appeal the refusal decision for their Spouse Visa application. You must consider the reasons for the refusal of your initial application. Therefore, you must ensure those reasons in your appeal are addressed accordingly. Once you’re done preparing the appeal, forward it to:

Spouse of Irish National Appeal Section
Unit C – Domestic Residence and
Permissions Division
Immigration Service Delivery
Department of Justice
13-14 Burgh Quay
Dublin 2, DO2

An immigration officer who didn’t assess your initial application will be assigned to review your appeal. If your appeal is successful, you’ll be issued a visa. If the appeal is unsuccessful, you may reapply for the visa and correct the mistakes you made in your initial application.

It’s important to consult an immigration lawyer to help you appeal your visa application. Our immigration lawyers at IAS have helped many Nigerians appeal their Ireland visa applications. We can help you assess your situation and offer support and guidance. We can also represent you in court proceedings and craft a comprehensive appeal for your visa application. Call us today at +2342013306361 or message us online for immediate assistance.

Conditions of Stamp 4 Permission for Spouse Visa Holders

A Stamp 4 is the permission the Registration Officer will affix on your passport as the spouse of an Ireland-based sponsor. Stamp 4 will permit you to live and work in Ireland for its attached time. Stamp 4 for a spouse is valid for 3 years. You can also establish and run a business and access some state funds and benefits in Ireland with Stamp 4 permission.

Renewal at the Immigration Office

Book an appointment and visit your nearest immigration office or apply online to renew it before it expires. Here are the documents you will bring to the immigration office to renew your Stamp 4 permission:

• Front and back copies of your valid Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card
• Your current passport’s biometric page copy
• Proof of the current residence address: This is the place you live with your spouse in Ireland
• The letter you received from the Department of Justice stating the conditions of your current Stamp 4 permission was issued (if required)

Online Renewal

The online renewal is for individuals living in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kildare, Meath, or Wicklow. You must have less than 12 weeks of validity in your Stamp 4 permission to use the online renewal system. You must:

• Fill out the online registration form
• Scan and upload all the required documents
• Pay the required fee costing €300
• Receive your reference number via email

The ISD processes applications chronologically. If your application is successful it can take 10 to 15 days to get your new residence permit. If you don’t renew your Stamp 4 permission, your Spouse Visa may be cancelled or you risk deportation.

How Can IAS Help?

Obtaining an Ireland Spouse Visa can be overwhelming. You must take appropriate steps to comply with the Irish immigration rules. At IAS, our immigration lawyers can help you submit a comprehensive application for an Ireland Dependent Visa for a spouse to join an Ireland-based partner. Our immigration lawyers can assess your situation, determine your eligibility for a spouse visa and help you gather all the required documents.

Our Ireland immigration lawyers can apply for the spouse visa on your behalf. If you already had an unfavourable visa application decision, we can analyse and create a comprehensive appeal for you. You can schedule an in-person consultation with one of our expert immigration lawyers at our Lagos office. You can contact us via video call, speak to us on the phone at +2342013306361 or complete our online enquiry form for immediate assistance.