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Join your UK national family member in Ireland through the official family reunification scheme. Expert legal assistance to make your relocation smooth and stress-free.

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Family Reunification in Ireland for UK Nationals After Brexit

If you wish to join your UK national family member living in Ireland, specific immigration procedures apply depending on your nationality and your relationship to the sponsor.

Following the end of the Brexit transition period, the Irish government introduced a dedicated Family Reunification Scheme for non-EEA family members of UK nationals. This allows certain relatives to apply for permission to live in Ireland with their UK sponsor.

While there is no automatic entitlement to family reunification, eligible UK nationals may act as sponsors for qualifying family members.

Eligibility criteria

You may be eligible to apply for the Join Family Visa – UK National Scheme if you meet the following conditions:

  • You are a non-EEA/non-Swiss national.
  • You are outside Ireland at the time of application.
  • You are being sponsored by a UK national who lives in Ireland or intends to live in Ireland.
  • You are ordinarily resident outside Ireland.
    • You can provide a police clearance certificate (issued within the last six months) for any country where you have lived in the past five years.
  • You can show documentary proof of your relationship to the UK national.
  • You intend to live together permanently in Ireland.
  • You have private medical insurance from an insurer approved by the Health Insurance Authority of Ireland.

Eligible family categories

Applicants generally fall under one of the following categories:

  • Category 1: Spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner of the UK national.
  • Category 2: Dependent child of the UK national or their partner.
  • Category 3: Dependent parents (aged 66 or older) of the UK national or their partner.

Please note that meeting these criteria does not guarantee approval. Each application is assessed on an individual basis and must satisfy the financial and character requirements.

Who can sponsor a family member

Your sponsor must meet the following conditions:

Be financially self-sufficient, not dependent on State social welfare

Be financially self-sufficient, not dependent on State social welfare.

Be capable of supporting the applicant(s) without relying on public funds.

In the case of a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner, the sponsor must not have sponsored another person within the past seven years.

Must not have been mainly reliant on State benefits for two consecutive years before the application.

Income requirements

To qualify as a sponsor, the UK national must have earned a gross income over each of the past three years that exceeds the income threshold used by the Department of Social Protection to assess Working Family Payment (WFP) eligibility.

For couples without children, the minimum annual assessable income is €20,000 (excluding State benefits).
This threshold increases depending on the number of family members and whether dependent parents are included in the application.

In addition to income, the Department of Justice will consider:

  • The conduct and immigration history of the sponsor.
  • Whether the sponsor has come to the attention of An Garda Síochána or immigration authorities.
  • The sponsor’s ability to support family members financially.
  • The genuineness and closeness of the relationship.

Important information about the policy

The current rules are based on the Policy Document published on 23 December 2020 by the Department of Justice.
This policy may be amended or suspended at any time, and the official Department document remains the definitive guide to eligibility and conditions.
At Gibson & Associates LLP, we help ensure your application aligns fully with current policy and legal requirements, maximising your chances of approval.

Application Process

Initial Consultation:

A detailed discussion of your situation and eligibility based on your relationship type.

Advice on Process and Documentation:

Guidance on which category applies to you, what documents to prepare, and how to meet financial or dependency criteria.

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Document Review and Application Preparation:

Our team completes and submits your online application and supporting legal submissions.

Liaison and Representation:

We liaise with the relevant immigration authorities and provide you with regular updates until a final decision is made

Why work with Gibson & Associates LLP

Our immigration team provides a complete legal service to make your application process clear, stress-free, and compliant with Irish law.

Why choose Us?

Our expertise (decades of in-depth knowledge and familiarity with application process).

We can provide expert guidance throughout the application process, helping you navigate requirements and address common challenges to present the strongest possible case.

Our legal teams will identify and utilise relevant legislation and case law that may impact your individual application.

Our Dedicated Immigration Team

Daireann Gibson
Managing Partner

Amanda Walsh
Partner

Helen Moakley
Senior Solicitor

Kellie McLaughlin
Solicitor

Maura Kavanagh
Solicitor

Sharon Shaw
Legal Manager

Leanne Mclean
Immigration Consultant

Megan McKeon
Immigration Consultant 

Aisling Harden
Senior Legal Support

Lorna Pyper
Senior Legal Support 

Irene Ayaru
Senior Legal Support 

Jade Mullhern
Immigration Consultant

Stacey McGrath
Legal Support

Laura Phelan
Legal Support

Kevina McFadden
Legal Support

Karley Keane
Legal Support

Join Family Visa FAQ's

1. What is the Join Family Visa in Ireland?

The Join Family Visa in Ireland allows certain non-EEA nationals to join a close family member who is legally living in Ireland. It is part of Ireland’s family reunification system and applies to spouses, partners, children, and other dependent relatives subject to the Department of Justice’s Revised Family Reunification Policy.

2. Who can apply for a Join Family Visa?

People who can apply for a Join Family Visa typically include spouses, civil partners, de facto partners, dependent children, and in some cases elderly dependent parents or other family members. Eligibility depends on the relationship with the sponsor, the sponsor’s immigration status in Ireland, and the sponsor’s capacity to comply with financial criteria.

3. When can I join my family member in Ireland?

When you can join your family member in Ireland depends on the immigration permission held by your sponsor. Some categories allow family reunification immediately, while others may require the sponsor to live and work in Ireland for a certain period before family members can apply.

4. What documents do I need for a Join Family Visa?

The documents required for a Join Family Visa usually include a valid passport, proof of relationship (such as marriage or birth certificates), evidence of the sponsor’s legal residence in Ireland, financial documentation, and accommodation details.

5. What proof of relationship must I provide?

The proof of relationship required depends on the family category. For example, spouses must provide a marriage certificate, civil partners must provide partnership documentation, and de facto partners must show evidence of a durable relationship such as records of living together. Other evidence such as call records, text messages, evidence of visits and regular communication is also recommended.

6. Do de facto partners qualify for a Join Family Visa?

Yes, de facto partners can qualify for a Join Family Visa if they can show that they have been in a genuine and durable relationship, usually supported by evidence of at least two years of living together.

7. Can I join my Irish citizen spouse in Ireland?

Yes, you can apply to join your Irish citizen spouse in Ireland through the family reunification process. You will need to show proof of the relationship, meet financial requirements, and demonstrate that the relationship is genuine.

8. Can I join a non-EEA partner living and working in Ireland?

Yes, you may be able to join a non-EEA partner living in Ireland, depending on their immigration permission and whether they meet the financial requirements. Certain work permits and residence permissions allow family reunification under Irish immigration rules.

9. Can UK nationals sponsor family members to join them in Ireland?

Yes, UK nationals living in Ireland may sponsor certain family members to join them under Ireland’s post-Brexit immigration arrangements, provided the family relationship, , financial eligibility and other qualifying criteria are met. A separate Policy applies to family reunification with UK Citizen family members.

10. Can I join my family member if they are an EU citizen living in Ireland?

Yes, you can join a family member who is an EU citizen living in Ireland under EU Treaty Rights rules. Eligible family members typically include spouses, partners, dependent children, and sometimes other dependent relatives and members of an EU Citizen’s Household

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