Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:193. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the current processing times for each visa type submitted through an office (details supplied), in tabular form. [15284/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 February 2026
Ceisteanna (193, 194)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he is aware of delays to join family applications of CSEP holding spouses submitted through an office (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.
I propose to take PQs 15284/26 and 15285/26 together.
I can advise the Deputy that my Department currently operates seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. These are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated authority 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. However, 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.
The current processing times of applications for “join family” visas 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 typically receive a first instance decision within the 10-12 week business target.
People who make a “join family” visa applications separately from the above process, and for those here on General Employment Permits, they will generally receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target.
In 2025, the Abuja Visa Office received a total of 890 visa applications across the various Join Family categories and issued a total of 493 first instance decisions.
The table below shows the current target processing times for visa applications submitted to the Abuja Visa Office.
Table 1. Target processing times for visa applications processed in Abuja Visa Office.
|
Visa category |
First instance decision |
|
Employment |
6 weeks (Category A*) |
|
|
10 weeks (Category B*) |
|
Join family** |
12 months |
|
Study |
8 weeks |
|
Business/Conference/Event |
4 weeks |
|
Visit |
6 weeks |
* Categorisation is based on section 16.4 of the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy Document.
** Some Join family applications fall under Dublin-based processing
Applicants can now directly check the status of their application on the Immigration Service’s Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at:
portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.