The above categories of persons can apply for immediate family reunification for:

• Spouses and children under the age of 18 (or up to 23 if in full-time education).
• Parents and other family members may also be sponsored, but a more restrictive approach is applied. See Family Reunification for Non-EEA Elderly Dependent Parents of Irish Citizen Children for details.

Financial Requirements for Family Reunification

• Family reunification may be granted before any earnings are accrued, as certain categories (e.g., CSEP holders, researchers) are assumed to meet income requirements either immediately or in the future.
• Sponsors must maintain their permission and provide evidence of continued eligibility at the time of renewal.
• CSEP holders and researchers must meet projected earnings levels, while PhD students must show academic progress.
• No recourse to social welfare payments is permitted.

Pre-Clearance and Visa Requirements

All family members of CSEP holders and researchers must apply for pre-clearance with Immigration Service Delivery before entering Ireland, regardless of whether they are from visa-required or non-visa-required countries.

• Visa-required family members must submit a long-stay D visa application online and provide supporting documents to the relevant Irish Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Office in Dublin.
• Supporting documents must be submitted within 30 days of completing the online visa application.
• Visa processing can take up to 8 months, though some cases may be processed faster.

Approval and Registration Process

• If the visa is approved, the spouse or de facto partner can travel to Ireland.
• Upon arrival, they must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) in Dublin or the local immigration office outside Dublin.
• Spouses or de facto partners will receive Stamp 1G permission, allowing them to work in Ireland without needing an employment permit.

Registration Appointment Requirements

Both the sponsor and their spouse/de facto partner must attend the appointment together and bring:

✔️ Original marriage/civil partnership certificate (if applicable).
✔️ Sponsor’s original passport.
✔️ Spouse/civil partner’s original passport.
✔️ Original Critical Skills Employment Permit / Researcher Permit.
✔️ Proof of joint address in Ireland.

Residence Permission

• Initially granted for one year.
• Renewable as long as the marriage or de facto partnership continues and the CSEP/Researcher permit holder remains in Ireland.

If the visa application is refused, a written explanation must be provided, and the applicant has the right to appeal within two months.