If you want to join a family member in Ireland and you are a non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss national, you will need to apply for the relevant permission.
Read more below about the different joining options.
Joining options
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside for more than 3 months with a family member who is an Irish citizen you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa.
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside with a UK national family member you will need to apply (depending on nationality) through a preclearance or visa scheme.
If you wish to come to Ireland for more than 3 months as a family member of an EU citizen you can apply for a ‘Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen’ (also referred to as an EU Treaty Rights application).
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside for more than 3 months with a family member who is a non-EEA or non-Swiss national who is lawfully resident in Ireland you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa.
Family Reunification under the International Protection Act 2015 gives certain family members an immigration permission allowing them to live in Ireland with the holder of an international protection declaration.
If you wish to come to Ireland as the family member of an Afghan national under the Afghan Admission Programme you can read about that scheme here.
Other join family information
In this page we will explain what you have to do after you arrive in the State. As you are staying for more than 90 days you will have to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau or Immigration Service Delivery Registration Office.
A step-by-step guide on how to use the visa application system can be found at this page. This guide can be translated into a number of different languages by simply clicking on the ‘Choose your language’ link at the top of that page.
This section provides answers to questions you may have.