Join Family Member Visa (long-stay)
Important: If you wish to apply for a visa as a family member of an EU citizen exercising or planning to exercise their free movement rights under Directive 2004/38/EC (transposed into Irish law by European Communities (Free movement of Persons) Regulations 2006 and 2008) the appropriate visa type is a Short Stay Visa. Please see webpage on Family Members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
1. Government Policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside for longer than 3 months with a family member who is an Irish citizen or who is lawfully resident in Ireland you can apply for a long stay (join family) visa.
A comprehensive statement of national immigration policy on the area of family reunification is contained in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification published on 31 December 2013.
The policies do not apply to:
- applications pursuant to Directive 2004/38/EC on the rights of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of Member States.
- applications for family reunification by recognised refugees or persons granted subsidiary protection.
Before you apply for a long stay (join family) visa please read the Policy Document carefully to find out:
- who is eligible to be a sponsor for the purposes of an application for family reunification,
- who may be sponsored and the eligibility requirements,
- whether waiting periods apply before a person becomes eligible to sponsor,
- whether a sponsor must achieve a minimum level of earnings prior to being eligible to sponsor,
- what a person who is granted a join family visa may do in Ireland,
- how dependency is measured when this is adduced in support of an application for family reunification.
2. When you can apply
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside for longer than 3 months with a family member who is an Irish citizen or who is permitted to reside in Ireland you can apply for a long stay (join family) single entry or multiple-entry visa.
Visa required nationals who hold a valid IRP/GNIB card no longer need a re-entry visa to travel to Ireland. The IRP/GNIB card and passport are sufficient. You are advised to apply for a multiple-entry visa if you intend to travel outside of Ireland within 4 months of your arrival and while you are awaiting issuance of your IRP card.
Children aged 0-15 are not issued with an IRP/GNIB card. Their parents or guardians will be able to apply for a re-entry visa for them, to ensure that they can travel in and out of Ireland while living here*. This re-entry visa can be applied for when living in Ireland (all other visas must be applied for from outside the State).
*Current information on re-entry visas can be found on here: Irish Immigration.
3. How to apply
You must apply online for a visa: https://www.dfa.ie/irish-embassy/china/visas/how-to-apply/
When you have completed the online application process, you must follow the instructions on the summary application form that is created by the online system. You will then be directed to the VFS website, https://visa.vfsglobal.com/chn/en/irl/, where you can make an appointment at one of our Visa Application Centres in China. The summary form which you must print, sign and date must be submitted with your supporting documentation at the Visa Application Centre.
You may be required to provide your Biometrics as part of the application process at the Visa Application Centre, please see this link: Biometric Information.
A guide to supporting documentation is set out below.
If you submit any false or misleading information, or false supporting documentation as part of your application, it may result in the refusal of your application without the right of appeal. It may also result in you being prevented from making further Irish visa applications for a period of 5 years.
4. Fees
For information on the fee that you are required to pay, or to see if you are exempt from the requirement to pay the visa fee please see here: Preclearance and entry visas fees.
You will be required to pay additional charges e.g. relating to the submission of your documents (Visa Application Centre fee). Details of these charges are available on the VFS website https://visa.vfsglobal.com/chn/en/irl/.
5. How long it will take
Applications are processed in date order. You are advised not to purchase travel tickets before you know the outcome of your visa application.
Business targets for the processing of join family visa applications are as follows:
- Sponsor is an Irish citizen
You can expect that your application will be dealt with within 6 months of receipt of all required documentation.
- Sponsor is a person who is entitled to apply for immediate family reunification
You can expect that your application will be dealt with within 6 months of receipt of all required documentation.
- All other sponsors
You can expect that your application will be dealt with within 12 months of receipt of all required documentation.
These business targets reflect the detailed assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification. They in no way constitute a legal obligation or convey any indication that an application not decided within the timeframe will, in default of a decision, be resolved in your favour.
If your application is being processed by the Visa Office, Irish Immigration Service, Department of Justice, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin you can check the date of the applications currently being processed here: Visa Decisions.
6. Supporting documentation
The documents below are important because they provide information about your personal circumstances.
The onus is on you to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted for the purpose sought.
The submission of any or all of these documents does not guarantee that your application will be successful.
Original documents must be provided.
If you submit a document that is not in English/Irish, it must be accompanied by a full translation. Each translated document must contain:
- confirmation from the translator that it is an accurate translation of the original document,
- the date of the translation,
- the translator’s full name and signature, and
- the translator’s contact details.
All letters submitted from a business, company or other organisation should be on official headed paper and give full contact details so that they can be verified. These must include a full postal address, name of contact, position in the organisation, telephone number (landline), website, and email address.
The Visa Officer considers each application on its merits and may request additional information or documentation.
|
GUIDE TO SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION |
1 |
Fully completed and signed application summary sheet. |
2 |
Payment confirmation receipt. |
3 |
2 colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old and complying with the photograph requirements on the photograph rules for visa applications. |
4 |
Your original current passport, original previous passport(s) 1 photocopy of your current and past passport(s), printed and verified by the VFS, showing bio-data page and all exit/entry stamps & visas. Full photocopy of all pages is not required. Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months from date of your proposed entry into Ireland. Your passport must have sufficient space for a visa to be inserted in it; at least 2 empty pages are required. If you are not a citizen of the country where you are applying from (the country of application), you must also submit evidence of your permission to reside in the country of application e.g. a residence card. NOTE: A police report must be submitted confirming reported lost/stolen passports. |
5 | Your original Hukou booklet, a full photocopy (all pages) and an English translation (Chinese Nationals only). |
6 |
A copy of your Chinese identity card or of your residence permit (for foreigner). |
7 |
A signed and dated letter of application including the applicant’s full contact details. The letter should:
|
8 |
Sponsor’s status/eligibility to sponsor:
|
9 |
Evidence of claimed relationship between visa applicant and sponsor:
|
|
Spouse or civil partner:
|
|
Child (under 18 years and not married):
|
|
De facto partner (a de facto partnership refers to a relationship akin to marriage including cohabitation for 2 years prior to the application for family reunification):
|
|
Elderly Dependent Relative:
|
10 |
Finances: Original, full photocopy and English Translation of all documents required You must provide evidence of your finances and those of your sponsor including evidence to show that your sponsor meets the minimum level of earnings required (please refer to Chapters 17 and 18 of the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification
|
11 |
Evidence of dependency: If you are making your application on the basis of financial and social dependency on your sponsor you must provide documentary evidence to establish that you are actually financially dependent on your sponsor:
|
12 |
Medical/Travel Insurance (not required at time of visa application):
|
13 |
Previous visa refusals:
NOTE: Not disclosing any previous visa refusals will result in your application being refused. |
14 |
Evidence of sufficient accommodation in Ireland:
|
15 |
Non-criminal record certificate:
NOTE: This requirement does not apply to family members of Irish or EU/EEA citizens. |
7. Return of documents
All documents accompanying your application must be originals.
You should keep copies of all the documents that you provided.
All documents (with the exception of your passport) will be returned to you at the VFS Visa Application Centre.
8. What activity is and is not permitted
The activities that will be permitted (e.g. right to work without an employment permit, establish or manage/operate a business) will depend on the immigration permission granted to you by the Irish immigration authorities following your entry to the State.
If you are an immediate family member of an Irish citizen you will receive a Stamp 4 immigration permission which will allow you to work without an employment permit or to establish or manage/operate a business.
If you are an immediate family member of a non-EEA sponsor or are a non-immediate family member of an Irish citizen you will have dependent status only and will continue to be subject to the employment permits requirements as operated by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. You will be entitled to apply for immigration status in your own right under the various channels available (e.g. student, work permit, business permission etc.).
If you require further assistance, please Contact Us