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International-protection family reunification — spouse

IrelandFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in Ireland Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

A husband or wife qualifies, provided the marriage took place before the sponsor applied for refugee status in Ireland.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The list sits after a note on 2015 Act applications; the page does not state explicitly whether it applies unchanged to 2026 Act applications.

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

A holder of a current declaration as Convention refugee, Programme refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection under the International Protection Act 2026; the sponsor cannot apply until 2 years after the grant of protection.

See recorded sources

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

After the initial written application, ISD sends a questionnaire, to be returned within 28 days, which lists the documents/evidence required. The official page does not state the specific relationship documents.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The specific relationship documents are not listed on the page; they are set out in the questionnaire.

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The sponsor must show they can support the family without becoming a burden on the State, as set out in S.I. 251, 252 and 253 of 2026. The official page does not state specific income, accommodation or insurance thresholds.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The detailed thresholds are in S.I. 251-253 of 2026, which were not captured.

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Family reunification gives the family member an immigration permission to live in Ireland with the protection holder. If approved, a grant letter covers travel documents, visas and registration on arrival. The permission can be withdrawn if the family does not enter by the date in the grant letter, the sponsor loses protection status or right to remain, false information was given, or for national security or public policy reasons. The official page does not state the permission type, its duration or any path to independent or longer-term status.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Permission type, duration and any route to independent/long-term status are not stated on the page.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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