Ireland visaJoin family in IrelandIreland join family visa for Indian spouses, partners and children
Spouses, civil partners, de facto partners and dependent children of Indians living in Ireland apply from India for a long stay D join family visa (EUR 60 single entry) under the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. Critical Skills Employment Permit holders, researchers and Stamp 4 holders sponsor immediately; General Employment Permit and other Stamp 1 holders wait 12 months and must have earned above the Working Family Payment threshold for their family size in each of the 2 years before applying. The New Delhi visa office takes 6 to 12 months for family files, de facto partners must show 2 years of cohabitation, and spouses of Critical Skills holders receive Stamp 1G with full work rights on arrival. Each family member registers for the Irish Residence Permit (EUR 300).
6 min read Verified 30 October 2026 against irishimmigration.ie · How we verify
Ireland join family visa: quick answers
- Who qualifies to join family in Ireland?
- The spouse or civil partner (married at least when the application is made, aged 18 or over), a de facto partner with 2 years of cohabitation, and children under 18 (or dependent children aged 18 to 23 in full-time education) of a sponsor who is an Irish citizen, a Critical Skills Employment Permit holder, a researcher on a hosting agreement, a Stamp 4 holder, or a General Employment Permit or Stamp 1 holder who has completed 12 months in Ireland. Parents are admitted only in exceptional cases with an income test of EUR 60,000 (one parent) or EUR 75,000 (both) over 3 years. Students on Stamp 2 cannot sponsor family.
- What does it cost?
- EUR 60 per person for a single-entry D visa (EUR 100 multiple) paid at VFS Global with its service fee of about INR 2,300, and EUR 300 per adult for the Irish Residence Permit on registration in Ireland (children under 16 are exempt from the registration fee). Marriage and birth certificates need an MEA apostille (about INR 50 per document plus agency fees). Vistolane charges the EUR 60 fee per person at the official rate and shows the apostille and IRP separately.
- How long does it take from India?
- Family reunification visas take longer than other D visas: the Irish Immigration Service aims to decide within 6 months of a complete file, and Indian cases through the New Delhi visa office commonly take 6 to 12 months, with requests for further evidence resetting the clock. Apply as soon as the sponsor qualifies and keep the file complete at lodgement.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa type | Long stay D join family visa; Stamp 1G (Critical Skills spouses) or Stamp 3 after registration |
| Government fee | EUR 60 per person (EUR 100 multiple); IRP EUR 300 per adult |
| Processing | 6 to 12 months for Indian files; 6-month service target |
| Sponsor wait | Critical Skills, researchers, Stamp 4 and Irish citizens: immediately; General permit and Stamp 1: after 12 months |
| Income | Irish citizens EUR 40,000 over 3 years; permit holders above the Working Family Payment threshold for 2 years |
| Work rights | Critical Skills spouses full work on Stamp 1G; others Stamp 3 (no work) unless they obtain their own permit |
| Documents | MEA apostille on marriage and birth certificates |
| Verified | 30 Oct 2026 against irishimmigration.ie |
Who can sponsor, when, and the income tests
| Sponsor | When family can apply | Income test | Spouse's permission on arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Skills Employment Permit holder | Immediately | Permit salary suffices | Stamp 1G: full work rights without a permit |
| Researcher on a hosting agreement | Immediately | Hosting agreement salary | Stamp 1G |
| Stamp 4 holder | Immediately | Above the Working Family Payment threshold for 2 years | Stamp 3; may apply for own permit |
| General Employment Permit or Stamp 1 holder | After 12 months on the permit | Above the Working Family Payment threshold for the family size in each of the 2 preceding years | Stamp 3; may apply for own permit |
| Irish citizen | Immediately | EUR 40,000 gross over the 3 years before the application | Stamp 4: full work rights |
The Working Family Payment thresholds are the weekly income limits for a family of that size (for example about EUR 705 a week for a couple with one child in 2026), and the sponsor shows them with P60 or Employment Detail Summaries from Revenue for the 2 preceding years plus recent payslips. Critical Skills sponsors are exempt because their permit salary already exceeds the limit. Social welfare payments do not count as income, and the sponsor must have suitable accommodation.
Marriages must be valid in India and recognised in Ireland, evidenced by the registered certificate with the MEA apostille; de facto partners show 2 years of living together with joint tenancy, bills and finances. Children need birth certificates and, where one parent remains in India, that parent's consent. Family members of EU citizens exercising treaty rights follow the separate EU Treaty Rights route with no fee.
Fees and what they cover
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Long stay D join family visa | EUR 60 per person | EUR 100 for multiple entry; not refunded |
| VFS Global service fee | About INR 2,300 | Per application |
| Irish Residence Permit | EUR 300 per adult | Children under 16 exempt; renewed yearly or with the sponsor |
| MEA apostille | INR 50 per document plus agency fees | Marriage and birth certificates |
| Translations | INR 500 to 1,500 per page | For non-English documents |
| Own employment permit for a Stamp 3 spouse | EUR 1,000 | If the spouse finds a qualifying job |
Vistolane charges the EUR 60 fee per family member at the official rate and shows the apostille, translation and registration costs separately.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Confirm the sponsor qualifies
Critical Skills, researcher, Stamp 4 or citizen now; General permit and Stamp 1 after 12 months with 2 years of income above the WFP threshold.
- 2
Legalise the family documents
MEA apostille on the marriage and birth certificates; translations; cohabitation evidence for de facto partners.
- 3
Complete AVATS and lodge at VFS Global Ireland
Each family member's form, passport, photos, letter of application, sponsor's IRP, permit, payslips and Revenue summaries; pay EUR 60 each; biometrics.
- 4
Decision in 6 to 12 months
The visa office may request accommodation or income evidence; respond quickly to avoid delay.
- 5
Travel and register
Enter on the D visa; register within 90 days for Stamp 1G or Stamp 3 and the IRP (EUR 300 per adult).
Timeline for an Indian family
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sponsor qualifying period | 0 or 12 months | Depends on permit type |
| Apostille and documents | 2 to 6 weeks | MEA and translations |
| Visa office decision | 6 to 12 months | Service target 6 months |
| Travel | Within the visa validity | Usually 90 days to enter |
| Registration | Within 90 days of arrival | Stamp 1G or 3; IRP card |
Critical Skills hires should lodge the family visas together with or straight after the worker's visa so the family arrives within the first year; General permit holders should prepare the income record from the first payslip.
After arrival: work, school, healthcare and settlement
Spouses of Critical Skills holders and researchers hold Stamp 1G and may take any employment without a permit; spouses on Stamp 3 may not work unless they obtain their own employment permit, after which they switch to Stamp 1. Children attend state schools free, and the family accesses public healthcare on the same basis as the sponsor. Family permissions are renewed with the sponsor's (EUR 300 per adult each time) and move to Stamp 4 when the sponsor does.
Time on Stamp 1G, Stamp 3 and Stamp 4 counts toward the 5 years of reckonable residence for naturalisation, and the spouse of an Irish citizen can apply after 3 years of marriage and residence. The Ireland citizenship route page covers the count, the EUR 175 and EUR 950 fees and the ceremony.
Document checklist: relationship
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Marriage certificate with MEA apostille | Registered in India; translation if needed |
| Children's birth certificates, apostilled | Other parent's consent if not travelling |
| Cohabitation evidence (de facto partners) | 2 years: tenancy, bills, joint finances |
| Photographs, communication and visits | Evidence of a genuine relationship |
Sponsor
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Irish Residence Permit and passport | Stamp 1, 1G, 4 or Irish passport |
| Employment permit and contract | Critical Skills or General; 12 months completed where required |
| Revenue Employment Detail Summaries for 2 years and 3 payslips | Above the Working Family Payment threshold |
| Accommodation evidence | Lease or ownership, suitable for the family |
Each applicant
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport valid 12 months | Plus previous passports |
| AVATS summary, two photos, letter of application | Lodged within 30 days |
| Medical insurance | Recommended for the first months |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Sponsor not yet eligible
General permit holder applying before 12 months.
The fix. Wait for the anniversary and build the 2-year income record.
Income below the threshold
Earnings under the Working Family Payment limit in one of the 2 years.
The fix. Add a second income in the household or wait for a full qualifying year.
Relationship not evidenced
No apostille, or a de facto couple with under 2 years of cohabitation.
The fix. Apostille the certificates; gather tenancy and financial evidence.
Accommodation unsuitable
No lease or a room-share unfit for a family.
The fix. Secure a suitable lease before lodging.
Application incomplete
Missing sponsor documents at VFS.
The fix. Lodge the full set; family files are refused rather than returned for gaps.
Official sources
Ireland join family visa questions
Other Ireland routes
Visit Ireland
Short stay visa (type C)
EUR 60 single entry (EUR 100 multiple entry); free with a qualifying UK visa under the Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme
Read the route
Study in Ireland
Study visa (type D) and Stamp 2
EUR 60 single entry D visa (EUR 100 multiple); Irish Residence Permit EUR 300 after arrival
Read the route
Work in Ireland
Employment permit and work visa (type D)
EUR 60 single entry D visa after the employment permit (EUR 1,000 for a 2-year permit, paid by the employer or worker)
Read the route
Settle in Ireland
Long-term residence and citizenship by naturalisation
EUR 175 naturalisation application; EUR 950 certificate fee on approval (EUR 200 for minors)
Read the route
