Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
584. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason the majority off all join family visa applications are being sent to visa HQ in Dublin when several embassies hold powers to process in-house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35950/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra585. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the average processing time for join family visas processed in Dublin HQ given the 72-day processing time stated by him in previous parliamentary questions is not in line with processing times stated on the ISD website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35951/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 584 and 585 together.
I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. While the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade processes certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department, this sanction does not extend to the consideration of join family visa applications in all circumstances.
Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are only delegated to consider join family visas when they are submitted alongside an application for an employment visa for holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits. All other join family visa applications must be considered by the Dublin Visa Office or by one of the seven overseas Visa Offices.
Join family visas require a detailed and often complex assessment of the person and their family member’s individual circumstances. If a join family visa is refused, this potentially has very serious consequences for the family concerned. Therefore, it essential that these applications are considered by officials from my Department's Visa Division who have the necessary skills, expertise and experience.
Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors and some applications may take considerably longer than average to progress to finalisation. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.
The current processing times of join family visa applications varies depending on the circumstances when the application is made. If a non-EEA national is moving to Ireland because they have been granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit they can apply for join family visas at the same time as their own employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed in under eight weeks. My Department aims to process join family visa applications made in other circumstances within 12 months. This target applies to applications processed by the Dublin Visa Office and those processed in the seven overseas Visa Offices.
I can advise the Deputy that the majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within the 12-month business target. In 2024 the average processing time for all types of join family visa application was 72 calendar days.
The processing dates of the Dublin Visa Office published on my Department’s website are different to the average processing time figure for 2024, because they refer to the oldest date of application currently being processed by the Dublin Visa Office. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.
My Department is committed to providing the best possible service to applicants. To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website for processing times for decisions on visa applications by the Dublin Visa Office.
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect will reduce the waiting times for all applications.
In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to 2023, with over 35,000 additional applications received. These increases have continued, in the first five months of 2025, my Department's Visa Division received approximately 88,400 visa applications and has issued over 76,900 decisions. This reflects an increase in applications of 14%, compared to the same period in 2024.
My officials are working to meet the increased level of demand, and over 5,400 additional visa decisions have issued in the first five months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.
