Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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1191. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his Department has plans to put in place a pathway towards longer-term visas for spouses of Irish citizens who are non-EU citizens, as currently only very short-term visas are being issued in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12240/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Where a person is married to or in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen, they may apply for immigration permission to live in Ireland with their spouse or partner. Further information is available on my Departments Immigration Service website at:

www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/spouse-civil-partner-of-irish-national-scheme/

Immigration permissions issued to spouses of Irish nationals are initially granted for a duration of 12 months. Upon renewal and satisfying the relevant criteria, a further permission of 12 months is granted, followed by a 36 month immigration permission. Spouses of Irish nationals are exempted from paying a registration fee.

All applications for renewals of immigration permissions are handled using the online renewal system at : inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login. The online system has made the renewal process easier for applicants, allowing them to easily fill in the relevant forms, upload the required documents and submit their application online.

The validity periods for permissions are kept under ongoing review by my Department; however, there are no current plans to extend any validity periods.