Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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1572. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average wait time for a join family visa to be processed for a family where a non-EU citizen is joining their Irish spouse; the average wait time for a join family visa to be processed for a family where a non-EU citizen is joining their non-Irish EU citizen spouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19467/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a join family visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible.

The entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the permission granted to the sponsor of the application. My Department aims to process join family visas applications within 12 months, this target applies to spouses and other family members. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.

The majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within the 12 month business target. In 2024 the average processing time for all types of Join Family visa application was 72 calendar days. The average processing time for join family applications for family members of Irish citizens was 139 calendar days and for family members of non-EEA citizens was 67 days.

The average processing times for applications sponsored by non-EEA citizens includes applications sponsored Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP) holders. CSEP holders can sponsor join family visas when they apply for their employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed within 12 weeks. However, join family applications which are not processed in tandem with a Critical Skills Employment Permit sponsor, can take significantly longer.

In 2024, approximately 201,000 visa applications, of all types, were received by the Visa Division of my Department. This reflects an increase of 21%, compared to 2023, with over 35,000 additional applications received. Approximately 22,000 join family visa applications were received by my Department in 2024; this represents an increase of 14% compared to 2023, with 3,000 additional applications received.

I am acutely aware that join family applications, are very important for the persons impacted and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides. In recent months, additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division which I expect will reduce the waiting times for join family applications.