Bringing Your Family to Ireland: New Non-EEA Rules Explained

Overview

On 26 November 2025, the Department of Justice published a completely revised policy on Non-EEA Family Reunification, replacing the previous policy from 2016.

These new rules affect Irish citizens and most legally resident non-EEA nationals, other than international protection holders and EEA citizens, who want to bring family members from outside the EEA to live with them in Ireland.

The changes took effect immediately on 26 November 2025.

Who does this policy cover?

This policy applies to Irish citizens and legally resident non-EEA nationals who wish to sponsor a family member to join them in Ireland.

It does not apply to EEA citizens, who have separate EU Treaty Rights rules, or to most international protection holders, who use the International Protection Act process.

The policy divides sponsors into three categories.

Category A — Irish citizens and certain other sponsors

This covers Irish citizens and individuals who have been granted international protection but who cannot apply under the International Protection Act route.

Category A sponsors must have earned a cumulative gross income of at least €40,000 over the three years prior to the application to sponsor a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner.

No financial threshold applies to applications for the sponsor's minor children under 18.

There is no waiting period. Applications can be made at any time.

Category B — Certain privileged permit holders

This covers holders of certain specialist immigration permissions, including participants in the Immigrant Investor Programme, the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme, and Ministers of Religion.

Category B sponsors may apply for immediate family reunification with no financial threshold.

They may bring nuclear family members, including a spouse, civil partner, and children under 18, as soon as they meet the programme requirements.

Category C — General Employment Permit holders and others

This is the largest group and covers most migrant workers on General Employment Permits, healthcare workers, care workers, agricultural workers, and similar.

Category C sponsors must wait at least 12 months on their eligible permission before applying to bring nuclear family members. This is reduced from the previous two-year wait.

They must wait five years before applying for any other family members, such as dependent parents or adult children.

To sponsor a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner, they must show gross income of at least €30,000 in the year immediately before the application.

To sponsor a child, they must show net income above the Working Family Payment threshold, which in 2025 is approximately €44,300 net for one child. Higher thresholds apply for additional children.

Key changes introduced in November 2025

One of the most significant changes is that only the income of the Irish resident sponsor will be considered. Previously, it was possible in some cases to combine incomes.

For the first time, sponsors must provide evidence of suitable accommodation for the family members they are sponsoring. This must be demonstrated at the time of application.

Application fees have also been introduced for the first time under this policy. Previously, there was no fee for submitting a family reunification application under this route.

Dependent adult children and elderly parents

The definition of eligible family members has changed for adult children. Children aged 19 to 23 are no longer treated as dependent children for the purposes of family reunification.

Previously, a child in full-time education could be included up to age 23. Children between 16 and 18 may now work in Ireland once they arrive.

Applications to sponsor dependent elderly parents remain possible but are subject to very high income requirements. The sponsor must demonstrate gross annual income of at least 185% of average Irish earnings for one parent, and 250% for two parents.

Stamp 4 and work rights

There are some improvements. Family members of certain categories of sponsor who are granted permission will now receive Stamp 4.

This allows them to live and work in Ireland freely without needing a separate employment permit.

Summary: what has changed?

The wait time for Category C sponsors to bring nuclear family members has been reduced from two years to one year, which is a positive change.

However, the new accommodation requirement, application fees, and the rule that only one income counts represent a tightening of the policy.

The income required to sponsor a spouse under Category C remains €30,000 gross in the previous year.

The income required to sponsor a child under Category C is linked to the Working Family Payment threshold and is now approximately €44,300 net for one child.

The age limit for dependent children has been tightened to 18, instead of 23.

These changes have been criticised by NGOs including the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, who argue that the income thresholds put family reunification out of reach for essential workers in care, food production, and agriculture.