With effect from 12 June 2026, amendments have been made to the revised non-EEA Family Reunification Policy and to Family Reunification for those granted International Protection.
The main changes for Irish nationals and certain non-EEA nationals are:
- General Employment Permit holders and other Category C sponsors will be required to provide supporting documentation to demonstrate that they are in a position to accommodate their joining family members, while all sponsors will be ineligible if they are in certain supported accommodation.
- The financial thresholds for Irish citizens applying to be joined by spouses and children are also increasing. A sponsor must now show a gross income over 3 years of €75,000 (€25,000 per year) an increase from €40,000 (€13,333 per year).
- Other financial thresholds will increase in line with indexation.
The main changes for people granted international protection are:
- People granted international protection status will be required to wait two years from the date they were granted protection before becoming eligible to apply for family reunification under the new International Protection Act.
- Such sponsors must also demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to support family members without placing an undue burden on the State. There are certain exceptions to this where the sponsor is a minor.
- The sponsor must also not be in receipt of certain social protection payments or housing supports and must not owe a debt to the State for a defined period prior to submitting an application.
- Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, regardless of when they received their declaration, will no longer be eligible under the Family Reunification Policy, unless they are applying for family members where the relationship formed after they entered the State. (Refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection can still apply for Family Reunification under the International Protection Act).
This revised Family Reunification Policy can be accessed on the Immigration Service Delivery website at the following link:
Family Reunification Policy 12 June 2026