Spouse Visa In Ireland: All You Need To Know

The Emerald Isle, with its enchanting landscapes and rich history, is a dream home for many.

If joining your better half in Ireland is on the horizon, understanding the spouse visa process is paramount.

Let’s unravel this Gaelic gateway, ensuring your Irish union is as smooth as a pint of stout.

What Is Spouse Visa For Ireland?

Spouses of Irish citizens of non-EEA nations can immigrate to Ireland using the spouse/civil partner visa.

The spouse/civil partner visas often include long-term ‘D’ visas (join family), allowing you to live and work in Ireland without needing an employment permit.

It should be emphasized that just because you are married to or in a civil partnership with an Irish national does not automatically grant you the immigration right to live in Ireland.

You must apply for a spouse/civil partner visa to live in Ireland with your spouse or civil partner.

If you’re from an EEA nation or an Irish visa-exempt nation, you can visit them without getting a visa. You must present proof of your relationship with your husband or civil partner at the port of entry.

Requirements To Get A Spouse Visa

In Ireland, certain conditions and steps must be taken to receive a Spouse Visa, also known as the Join Family Visa.

With the help of this visa, you can live with your spouse or civil partner who is an Irish national or a valid resident of Ireland.

Your circumstances and your spouse’s will determine the requirements for this visa category.

However, there are still fundamental and standard prerequisites that all applicants must satisfy, such as:

The minimum age requirement is 18 when applying.
You and your spouse shouldn’t communicate only through the phone or the Internet. You must have had a few in-person encounters with your companion.
A valid marriage or civil partnership certificate must be shown.
You and your civil partner or spouse must show proof of your sincere relationship.
You must both agree to live as husband and wife or civil partners long-term.

How To Apply For An Irish Visa Online

A visa application must be made online. This online application’s questions are all in English; you must respond in English.

In some categories, assistance recommendations that describe the type of information being requested will be available.

We advise keeping the following data close at hand:

Passport and information about any previous passports, including number and expiration date
Information about any prior applications for an Irish visa or preclearance, as well as information about any prior country-specific visa denials
Information on any current or past criminal charges
Contact information for your Irish host or your sponsor
Tour Itinerary

You can save your application at any time, leave the online form, and come back to it later (within 30 days) to finish it.

After completing the online application procedure, you must adhere to the directions on the Application Form that the online system generates. Information on where to send your supporting documents can be found on the application form.

You must print, sign, and date the application form before submitting it with the required supporting files.

Your biometric data might need to be submitted as part of the application process.

Visa Processing Fee

The visa fee, an administrative expense, covers processing your application. Even if your application is rejected or withdrawn, this cost is non-refundable.

You might have to pay extra fees, such as those for submitting your paperwork. Information on additional fees and any local payment methods can be found on the website of the Visa Office, Embassy, or Consulate.

You can also check the website mentioned above for any exemptions to the visa fees.

The following are the overall visa costs:

60 euros will get you a single-journey visa, letting you stay in Ireland for up to 90 days.
Visa for multiple entries (which enables you to enter Ireland several times for a maximum of five years) 100 euros.
An Irish residency permit costs 300 euros (if allowed to stay after 90 days)
Transit Fee is 25 euros.

Visa Processing Time

Date order is followed for processing applications. Before knowing the outcome of your visa application, you should avoid buying travel tickets.

After receiving all necessary paperwork, your application should be processed within six months. This processing period reflects the thorough evaluation that must be done concerning applications for family reunions.

It doesn’t imply that a request not handled within the allotted period will be resolved in your favor if there isn’t a decision within that time, and it doesn’t even amount to a legal requirement.

The website of the visa office, embassy, or consulate handling your application will provide information regarding the processing times.

Reasons For Refusal Of Spouse Visa

The spouse/civil partner visa application procedure can be challenging to manage because of the evidence and supporting documentation you need to present to show your relationship is sincere.

Your application might be turned down if:

You or your partner have criminal histories that are relevant to immigration.
It is believed that you or your spouse poses a risk to the general public’s welfare, safety, or policies.
You needed to offer more details and supporting data to establish your relationship’s presence, intensity, and longevity.
You are believed to have entered the civil partnership or were married just to obtain Irish residency.
Your spouse is financially unable to provide for you in Ireland.

Sponsorship Application For A Spouse Or Partner Visa

Your application will be sponsored by your spouse or civil partner who lives in Ireland.

However, they must fall under one of the following categories of Irish residents to qualify:

Citizens of Ireland who live in Ireland or intend to go there
Individuals who are not Irish citizens but have an Irish employment permit
Nationals of other countries and legal residents with a Stamp 4 permit. Long-term residents are included here as well.
Foreign nationals and authorized residents with a Stamp 5 are eligible.
D. students visa type enrolled in a doctoral program in Ireland that is approved
Religious leaders holding a Stamp 3 permit.
Researchers who have a hosting agreement or a critical skills employment permit

Joining Your Non-EEA Partner/Spouse In Ireland

Your application for a Join Family Visa is mainly impacted by your spouse’s or civil partner’s immigration status if you and they are both non-EEA citizens.

Your spouse or civil partner must fit into one of the following categories to qualify for sponsorship:

Critical Thinking holders of employment permits
Investors or entrepreneurs, owners of business permits
Researchers
Students participating in the INIS Scholarship Program
Transferees Within the Company
D. students Under specific circumstances
Full-time, permanent physicians

Your spouse or civil partner may sponsor your family reunification application if they have lived in Ireland for over a year and do not fit into the above mentioned categories.

If they fit into any of the following groups, that is:

Non-Critical Competencies holders of employment permit
Holders of a stamp 4 who are not under more advantageous arrangements
Religious leaders

Suppose neither of the criteria outlined above applies to your spouse or civil partner, a non-EEA national living in Ireland. In that case, they cannot sponsor your visa application.

The salary of your spouse or partner is another crucial deciding factor. Your civil partner or spouse who is not an EEA citizen must be able to support you while you are a visitor in Ireland.

Joining Your Spouse Or Civil Partner Who Is An Irish Citizen In Ireland

You must apply for an extended stay and join the family visa to stay in Ireland with your spouse, an Irish citizen currently residing there.

If your sponsor did not heavily rely on Irish State benefits for the two years before your application, the immigration officer will consider your case.

Additionally, three years before your application, your sponsor had to have a cumulative gross income of at least 40,000 euros and earnings above State benefits.

When you arrive in Ireland, you must receive authorization to stay for more than 90 days. You must register with immigration to stay in Ireland for over 90 days, even if you hold a long-stay D visa and get through the border check.

You must bring the following paperwork to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Registration office closest to you to do this:

your passport for travel abroad
Your original marriage license or civil union certificate
evidence of your shared address
original international passport of your husband or civil partner who is Irish

Joining Your EEA/EU Spouse/Swiss Civil Partner In Ireland

You should apply for a “Residence Card of a Family Member of a Union Citizen” if your spouse or civil partner resides in Ireland and is an EU/EEA/Swiss national.

There are two kinds of residence cards. Thus, you will explicitly apply for a “Residence card for a qualifying family member of a Union citizen.”
In order to do this, your spouse must use their EU Treaty Rights to sponsor you.
The processing time for a resident card application might take up to 12 months because numerous papers and supporting documents must be submitted.
You will be sent a letter after submitting the required paperwork and application papers.
The letter may allow you to stay in Ireland until a decision is made on your application, depending on your specific situation.

After your application is approved, you must register for a visa to stay in Ireland for over 90 days.

Conclusion

From the Cliffs of Moher to the bustling Dublin streets, Ireland offers a heartwarming embrace. With the spouse visa mysteries now unveiled, you’re a step closer to making your Irish dreams a shared reality. Sláinte to new beginnings!

Emerald Embrace!

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