Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
599. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of family reunifications that have been granted to people living in Ireland on a stamp 1 visas for each of the last five years; and the number that have been given the right to come to Ireland under these family reunifications for each of the past five years, broken down by the top five countries and other countries if possible. [31868/26]
View answer608. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the circumstances under which holders of stamp 1G permissions may apply for family reunification; and to clarify the way in which this aligns with the temporary nature of the permission. [31898/26]
View answer609. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the safeguards in place to ensure that family reunification permissions granted to temporary permission holders of stamp 1 and stamp 2 visas do not create unintended long-term residency pathways. [31899/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 599, 608 and 609 together.
I can advise the Deputy that a Stamp 1 indicates permission to work or operate a business in Ireland, subject to conditions. In order to obtain a stamp 1 permission, a person must hold a valid employment permit, or a letter from Immigration Service Delivery stating that they can work without an employment permit. This letter will also state if the person is allowed to set up a business or be self-employed in the State.
Stamp 1G is granted to someone who has finished their studies in Ireland and has permission to look for employment here under the Third Level Graduate Programme, subject to conditions. Stamp 1G may also be given to spouses or de facto partners of a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders or of researchers in the State on a Hosting Agreement (HA). Stamp 1G allows the holder to take up employment without the need to obtain an employment permit.
Stamp 2 indicates permission to study a full time course on the official Interim List of Eligible Programmes for a specified period, subject to conditions.
Those not eligible to sponsor an application for family reunification include:
• Students who are issued a Stamp 2 immigration permission (except for PhD students and those on certain recognised scholarship programmes);
• Those resident in Ireland on a Third Level Graduate Scheme, who are issued with a Stamp 1G immigration permission;
• Those resident in Ireland as a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection.
The Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification, which was revised in November 2026, details the different categories of sponsor with different requirements and entitlements as regards family reunification. The revised policy document is available at the following link:
assets.gov.ie/static/documents/f88cb36e/Revised_Family_Reunification_Policy.pdf.
