Join Family Visa (Long Stay 'D')

Eligibility is determined by the relationship between the Applicant and the Sponsor.

Sponsor Categories

The person you are joining in Ireland must fall into one of three categories, which dictates when you can apply:

• Category A: Irish citizens and individuals with refugee or subsidiary protection status.
• Category B (Immediate): High-skilled workers, including Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders, Researchers on Hosting Agreements, Investors, Entrepreneurs, and PhD students. These sponsors can bring family members immediately.
• Category C (Delayed): General Employment Permit (GEP) holders and certain Stamp 4 holders. These sponsors must live and work in Ireland for at least 12 months before they can sponsor a spouse or child, and 5 years for other relatives.

Eligible Family Members

• Nuclear Family: Spouses, civil partners, and de facto partners (provided you can prove you have lived together for at least 2 years).
• Children: Unmarried children under the age of 18.
• Dependent Adult Children: Only eligible if they have a serious medical or psychological condition that makes independent life impossible.
• Dependent Parents: These applications are highly restricted. Parents must first apply for Stamp 0 pre-clearance and meet exceptionally high financial thresholds.

Financial Thresholds (2026 Standards)

As of January 1, 2026, sponsors must meet specific gross income targets to prove they can support the family without relying on Irish social welfare. Only the sponsor's income is counted for the initial application.

• Couples (No children): €30,000 per year (Category C) or €40,000 total over the last 3 years (Category A).
• Families with Children: Requirements scale by family size, starting at approximately €44,300 for one child and rising to over €64,200 for three children.
• Elderly Parents: The sponsor must show a sustained income of €92,789 for one parent or €125,390 for two parents.