In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the Department is currently focused on processing applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland.
Visas
If you want to make an application for a visa to join a family member already living in Ireland, please do so online at: https://www.visas.inis.gov.ie/avats/OnlineHome.aspx. For more information and to check if you meet the criteria please visit: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/. Eligible family members are generally dependent family including spouses, civil partners and children under the age of 18.
Elderly Dependents
If you are an elderly dependent of a family member living in Ireland, or if you wish to apply to bring an elderly dependent to live with you in Ireland, further information on applying for the relevant Stamp 0 permission is available here: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/joining-a-non-eea-non-swiss-national/dependent-elderly-relative/.
Family Reunification for International Protection Beneficiaries
If you have been granted international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection status) in Ireland, you may wish to make an application for family reunification for your immediate family members or you may have already done so. Our Family Reunification Unit is currently receiving very high levels of correspondence. To help us to respond to you as quickly as possible, we kindly ask you to send us just one request.
- Open applications: We are continuing to process open applications as quickly as possible. If additional information is required, a member of the team will be in contact with you. If you are providing additional documents, please help us by quoting your application reference number in the subject line.
- New applications: Before making an application, we encourage you to read all of the information available on our website at: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/. The better the quality of your application, questionnaire and supporting documents, the quicker a decision can be made
- Previously deemed ineligible / Refused applications: All applications are processed in line with the provisions of the International Protection Act 2015. If your application was previously refused, please consult the following section of the website: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/coming-to-join-family-in-ireland/family-reunification-of-international-protection-holders/#Application-refused.
International Protection Applicants
If you are an Afghan national currently awaiting a final decision on your international protection application, please note that the Department is now reviewing all current applications from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress. We will contact you directly when there is an update on your case.
Irish Refugee Protection Programme
Earlier this week, the Government announced that up to 150 Afghan people would be allocated places on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). All places on this programme have now been allocated, with priority given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women and girls, as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations. Any queries regarding the IRPP should be made to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth at: [email protected].
Any further updates will be posted on this website.
We thank all our customers for their patience and understanding while we work to prioritise these applications in the coming days and weeks.