Refugees and Beneficiaries of Subsidiary Protection: From 12 June 2026, you are no longer eligible to apply for family reunification under the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy. You must instead apply through a separate procedure under section 205 of the International Protection Act 2026, unless the application is regarding a relationship that formed after your entry to the State (subject to a minimum waiting period of 2 years from the date on which you were granted international protection, which cannot be waived). Please visit: Family Reunification of International Protection Holders
You may apply to join your non-EEA/non Swiss/non-UK member spouse, civil partner, de facto partner or parent (if you are a minor child under 18 and unmarried) immediately if their status falls under:
Category B:
Critical Skills Employment Permit holder
Investors with permission under the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP)
Entrepreneurs with a permission under the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP)
Researchers on Hosting Agreements
ISD-approved Scholarship programme students (e.g. KASP)
Intra-company Transferees
PhD Students (subject to conditions, including no recourse to social welfare payments)
Full time non-locum doctors in employment
Minister of Religion (under the relevant Scheme (subject to conditions including having no recourse to State funds).
(For all other family members, a Category B sponsor can apply after 2 years in the State on an eligible permission immediately prior to making an application).
You may apply to join your spouse, civil partner, de facto partner or parent (if you are a minor child under 18 and unmarried) after they have been legally working in Ireland for a year if their status falls under:
Category C:
Non-Critical Skills Employment permit holders
Independent Stamp 4 holders not covered by categories set out as above, who are eligible to sponsor a family reunification application.
Those granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status in the State, who are resident in Ireland, will be considered as Category C sponsors where the application is regarding a relationship that formed after they entered the state. This will be subject to a minimum waiting period of 2 years from the date on which the sponsor was granted international protection, which cannot be waived.
(For all other family members, a Category C sponsor can apply after 5 years in the State on an eligible permission immediately prior to making an application).
Ineligible Sponsors:
All other non-EEA nationals are not eligible for sponsorship, Including
UK nationals—See here for separate scheme
EU nationals exercising rights of free movement – See here for separate scheme
Beneficiaries of people receiving temporary protection
Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection
Those in Ireland as students (except for those listed in Category B)
Graduates under the Third Level Graduate Programme
All applications are subject to the non-EEA family reunification policy, including the required financial thresholds.
Please note that you may be refused leave to land if you present at the border and you are not in compliance with the terms of the policy.
What is your relationship to the non-EEA family member you want to join?
I am the de facto partner or dependent child of a critical skills employment permit holder or researcher on a hosting agreement
The de facto partner or dependent child of a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holder or researcher under a Hosting Agreement may apply to join their family member in Ireland.
I am the dependent adult child
If you are the adult child over the age of 18 of a non-EEA/non-Swiss/non-UK national parent and you are dependent on the care of that parent for your subsistence due to a serious medical or psychological condition that makes independent life unsustainable, please note there are additional qualifying conditions and there is a higher minimum financial threshold. Read the information here carefully
I am the de facto partner
If you are the de facto partner of a non-EEA/non Swiss national life partner (the Sponsor) and would like to live with them in Ireland.
I am the child
The dependent minor child under 18 and unmarried of a non-EEA/non-Swiss/non-UK national residing in Ireland, may apply to join their parent and reside in Ireland with them.
I am the dependent parent
The dependent parent who wishes to join their non-EEA/non Swiss/non-UK adult child who has permission to remain in Ireland, should read how they may apply to join their family member here.
Other family member
If you are not a nuclear family member, dependent parent or dependent adult child of a non EEA/non Swiss/non UK national, you will generally not be eligible for family reunification. However, you may apply where exceptional circumstances arise, see section 13 of Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification.
I am the spouse/civil partner or dependent child of a Minister of Religion
A Minister of Religion may bring immediate family members, this means a spouse or dependent child. Certain conditions apply which you should read carefully here.
I am the spouse/civil partner
The spouse/civil partner of a non-EEA/non Swiss person, may be eligible to join them or accompany their family member to Ireland.
