After you have received the immigration permission (e.g. the employment permit), you need to apply for a long stay (D) visa at the local Irish embassy. The applications must be submitted online via the AVATS Online Application Facility.
There are different types of visas. Below you can find information about the employment visa and family dependent visa (national long-term visa category).
Employment Visa
You can apply for an Employment visa after you have obtained your employment permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (DJEI). You can apply for an Employment visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland. Visa applications are submitted online. 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.
For the application, original documents must be provided. If documents are not in English/Irish, they must be accompanied by a full translation.
The signed and dated summary application form and the appropriate fee (where applicable) must be accompanied by the following supporting documentation:
Two colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Note: Your name and visa application reference number must be printed clearly on the back.
Your current passport and a full copy of all previous passports. Note: Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
A signed letter of application including your full contact details
outlining your reason for wanting to come to Ireland,
giving details of any members of your family who are currently in Ireland, or any other EU Member State,
giving details of how long you intend to stay in Ireland,
giving details of where you intend to stay while you are in Ireland,
undertaking that you will observe the conditions of your visa, that you will not become a burden on the State, and that you will leave the State on the expiry of your permission to remain.
Employment Permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation.
Employment Contract
Letter from employer in Ireland confirming details of the job you will take up and the salary you will be paid, and if the employer is providing you with accommodation, details of the accommodation.
Evidence of qualifications and previous work experience. Examples in which experience and qualifications could potentially be demonstrated include - your 3 most recent payslips, regular salary payments to your personal bank account, employment letter from your current employer, personal tax statements, professional certificates, training certificates and so on.
Finances:
You must provide an up-to-date bank statement, showing what money has been paid into and out of the account over the last six months, and showing sufficient funds to cover your costs.
Bank statements must be on headed paper - internet printouts will not be accepted.
Your name, address, account number and account type must be visible on the statement. Any large lodgements must be explained.
If you are sending a bank statement from a deposit/savings account, you must also include a letter from your bank confirming that you are allowed to withdraw money from that account.
Medical/Travel Insurance: Evidence of medical/travel insurance does not need to be provided with your application. However, the Visa Officer may request it before they make a decision on your application. If your visa is approved, you must have evidence of medical/travel insurance when you arrive at the port of entry (airport/seaport) and must present it to the Immigration Officer on request.
Previous Visa Refusals: If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details. The original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country must be provided with your application.
Original documents such as marriage/birth/death certificates will be returned to you. However, other documents such as bank statements or letters of invitation will not be returned. If there are particular documents that you wish to have returned, please provide a list of these documents with the application.
Processing time
Processing times can vary between countries. They can also vary during high volume periods during the year. However, you can generally expect a decision within 8 weeks from the date on which your application is lodged at the Visa Office/Embassy/Consulate.
Family visa
If you wish to come to Ireland to reside for longer than 3 months with a family member, your family member needs to apply for an entry visa. Family of a CSEP holder can apply for the visa at the same time. If you are a General Employment holder, your family cannot accompany you directly. They must either apply for their own employment permit, or apply after you have lived in Ireland for one year.
The signed and dated summary application form and the appropriate fee (where applicable) must be accompanied by the following supporting documentation:
Two colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old. Note: Your name and visa application reference number must be printed clearly on the back.
Your current passport and a full copy of all previous passports. Note: Your current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after your proposed date of arrival in Ireland.
A signed letter of application including your full contact details:
Outlining your reason for coming to Ireland.
Providing details of the family member in Ireland who is sponsoring your application.
Giving details of any other members of your family who are currently in Ireland, or any other EU Member State.
Sponsor’s status /eligibility to sponsor:
In the case of a sponsor who is an Irish citizen and residing in Ireland, a clear and legible copy of their passport or other documentary evidence attesting to their Irish citizenship.
In the case of a sponsor who is an Irish citizen and residing in a country other than Ireland, a clear and legible copy of their passport showing evidence of their residency in the country in which they are residing.
In the case of a sponsor who is a non-EEA citizen:
A clear and legible copy of all pages of their passport
Where relevant, a copy of their certificate of registration (a document issued by the Irish immigration authorities)
a copy of their current employment permit/researcher (scientific) hosting agreement or other evidence of eligibility to sponsor
Evidence of a claimed relationship. Note: The nature of the evidence required will depend on the relationship claimed e.g. spouse, civil partner, de facto partner, child. Below are some of the main types of relationships claimed and supporting documentation required.
Spouse or civil partner:
Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate – marriages/civil partnerships must be capable of recognition under Irish law for other purposes outside of the immigration system.
If your sponsor (spouse/civil partner) is residing in Ireland and you have not resided together since your marriage/civil partnership, you must also provide a full account of your relationship history (where and when you met evidenced by e.g. visas, entry/exit stamps on the passport of your spouse, photographs, correspondence by e-mail, telephone etc.).
For immigration purposes it is not sufficient for a relationship to have developed solely over the internet or by telephone/sms. A relationship must include a number of face to face meetings (excluding webcam) between the parties.
Child (under 18 years and unmarried):
Birth certificate, adoption order.
In the case of a child from a previous marriage or relationship, evidence that you have been given full custody and access rights to the child i.e. a court order.
In the case of a child from a previous marriage or relationship, where the other parent has some custody or access rights, a sworn affidavit by that parent consenting to the child being removed from their home country.
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)
Evidence that will support the existence and durability of your relationship e.g. registration certificate of partnership (if applicable), evidence of common ownership of property, joint tenancy of property, on-going correspondence addressed to both partners at the same address, financial dependence/interdependence or any other relevant documentary evidence.
A full account of your relationship history (where and when you met evidenced by e.g. visas, entry/exit stamps on the passport of partner, photographs, correspondence by e-mail, telephone etc.)
Finances: 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:
A detailed statement of your bank accounts covering a six month period immediately prior to your application.
A detailed statement of your sponsor’s bank accounts covering a six month period immediately prior to your application.
In the case of a sponsor who is resident in Ireland, evidence that they meet the minimum level of earnings required – Employment Detail Summary from Revenue for the 3 years immediately prior to the date of your application and 3 recent consecutive payslips or if self employed you must submit Notices of Assessment of income from self employment for the three most recent years, and evidence of earnings in the period since the most recent tax return was filed.
In the case of a person who is eligible to sponsor applications for immediate family reunification, evidence of projected earnings e.g. copy of contract of employment etc.
In the case of a person who is eligible to sponsor applications for family reunification after 12 months:
Evidence that they meet the minimum level of earning required – P60s for the previous 2 years (or previous 1 year in the case of a employment permit holder who has been in Ireland for 1 year only), or if self employed you must submit Notices of Assessment of income from self employment, as appropriate),3 recent consecutive payslips
In the case of an employment permit holder a copy of their contract of employment of at least 1 year from your proposed date of entry giving their annual salary is also required.
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 dependent on your sponsor. While the nature of the documentary evidence may vary from case to case evidence of the following will normally be relevant:
Amount, frequency and duration of the financial support provided by your sponsor (e.g. copies of your sponsor’s bank statements showing transfers to your account, copies of your bank statements showing receipt of those amounts)
Any other sources of income that you may have
If you have no other source of income, evidence of why you are unable to work, why you are not eligible for state benefits etc.
Your living costs (e.g. evidence of mortgage/rent, utility, food, medical, education payments),Details of any other family members in your country of residence
Your medical condition (where relevant), relationship with the sponsor including evidence of active and continuous involvement in your life e.g. evidence of visits, correspondence.
Medical/Travel Insurance: Evidence of medical/travel insurance does not need to be provided with your application. However, the Visa Officer may request it before they make a decision on your application. If your visa is approved, you must have evidence of medical/travel insurance when you arrive at the port of entry (airport/seaport) and must present it to the Immigration Officer on request.
Previous Visa Refusals: If you have been refused a visa in the past for any country, you must provide the details. The original letter issued to you by the authorities of that country must be provided with your application.
Following nationalities do not require an entry visa for Ireland. If you hold one of the below mentioned nationalities, you can enter Ireland after receiving the employment permit:
Note: For de facto partners (non-married) a pre-entry clearance is required.
Processing times
Processing times depend on the type of sponsor. 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.