Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 January 2026
449. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe for deciding upon visa applications and appeals in cases where an Irish citizen born in this State is the named party providing assurances of financial support for the applicant or appellant. [2993/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to Join Family (Irish national spouse) and Join Family (Irish national de facto) visa applications. I would like to clarify for the Deputy that no distinction is made between Irish citizens based on place of birth or the pathway through which Irish citizenship was obtained.
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. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.
I can assure the Deputy that while processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices and Irish Embassies, the majority of visas are processed within stated target times.
I can assure the Deputy the majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office and the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:
www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
It should be noted that some applications can take considerably longer. Processing times for all applications are influenced by a number of factors. 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. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.
In 2025, approximately 206,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 2% compared to 2024, with over 3,900 additional applications received. My officials are working to meet the increased level of demand, and over 8,700 additional visa decisions have issued in 2025, compared to 2024.
All visa applicants are advised that the responsibility is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on my Department's Immigration Service website. People that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision.
An appeals process is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision.
Table 1 below details the average processing time for Join Family (Irish national spouse) and Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner) in 2025.
Table 1. Processing time for Join Family (Irish national spouse) and Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner) applications and appeals in 2025.
|
Visa Type |
Average processing time for 1st instance decision |
Average processing time for an appeal decision |
|
Join Family (Irish national spouse) |
291 days |
570 days |
|
Join Family (Irish national)(de facto partner) |
248 days |
242 days |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing.
* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application received in a previous year.
* The Department does not collate statistics on the birthplace of sponsors to a visa application regardless of the sponsor's nationality.
* All figures are calendar days and based on a 7-day week.
