Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1525. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of an applications for long stay (D) join family visas which have not been processed for 13 months, longer than the maximum typical processing time an applicant may expect (details supplied); if he will request his officials to provide this update directly to the applicants in terms of how long more they can expect to wait; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45261/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that the applications referred to were created on 14 June 2024 and the 21 June 2024. Supporting documentation was received in the Ljubljana office on 1 July 2024. The applications were received in the Dublin Visa Office on 12 July 2024 where they await examination and processing.

My Departments business target for join family visa applications is 12 months. It must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service and some applications can take longer than others. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.

While I acknowledge the personal difficulties an applicant might be experiencing, it is not possible to give a definitive date as to when these applications will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt.

While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.

The current processing times for Dublin visa decisions is available here: www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.

The date published on the website is the oldest date of application currently being processed under a given category. However, it should be noted that the Visa team continue to process and make decisions on applications received after the published processing date. If a particular application takes longer to consider this may result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these applications has halted overall.

I am acutely aware that join family applications are very important for the people impacted. I understand that people are eager to have their families join them in Ireland and I am committed to improving the service my Department provides.

To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website to provide processing times for decisions on visa applications at the Dublin visa office.

The person concerned can now directly check the status of their immigration application on the Immigration Service’s new Customer Service Portal. They can register for, or log in to their existing account, at: www.portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.

As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1526. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current waiting time for an appeal of a refused join family visa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45278/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. While the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade processes certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department, appeals of Join Family Visa applications are only considered by the Dublin Visa Office or by one the seven overseas Visa Offices.

Processing times for all applications and appeals are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged. I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who is appealing a visa decision that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible.

The appeals process allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave rise to that decision. All visa applicants are advised that the responsibility is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on our website. People that carefully follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision.

When making an appeal, applicants should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in their refusal letters. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered. People will find further details on the appeals process at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/appeal-a-negative-decision/.

The tables below detail information regarding processing times for join family visa appeals by the Dublin Visa Office and the overseas Visa Offices. Please note that processing times for join family appeals considered by the Moscow, Abuja and Abu Dhabi office are not available at this time.

Table 1. Join Family Appeals Dublin Visa Office

The date published on the website of the Dublin Visa Office is the oldest date of appeal currently being processed. However, it should be noted that the Visa appeals team continue to process and make decisions on appeal received after the published processing date. If a particular appeal takes longer to consider this may result in the published processing date remaining unchanged. I can assure you that this does not indicate the processing of these appeals has halted overall.

My Department is committed to providing the best possible service to applicants. To provide greater clarity, officials in my Department are currently in the process of updating the Immigration Service website for processing times for decisions on visa appeals by the Dublin Visa Office.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1527. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of visa applications currently pending, by category, to date in 2025; and how this compares to the same date in 2023 and 2024. [45279/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that there are currently seven overseas Visa Offices in addition to the Visa Office in Dublin. They are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi. In addition, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade process certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.

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. These increases have continued, in the first eight months of 2025, my Department's Visa Division received approximately 151,000 visa applications and has issued over 134,000 decisions. This reflects an increase in applications of 5% compared to the same period in 2024. My officials are working to meet the increased level of demand, and over 5,500 additional visa decisions have issued in the first eight months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

It is not possible to provide the current number of pending visa applications with comparisons to this point in previous years. The tables below detail the number of visa applications received and the first instances decisions issued in the first eight months of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Table 1. Type C Short stay applications received, granted and refused in the first eight months of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.

Table 2. Type D Long stay applications received, granted and refused in the first eight months of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

* A decision made in a particular year may relate to an application submitted in a previous year.

Visa and preclearance applications provide legal avenues for people moving to Ireland for employment, study and family reasons and also to facilitate visitors who wish to travel for business and/or tourism. It is important to recall these applications are screening processes, designed to establish that the person has a legitimate reason to come to Ireland prior to travel. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete. The vast majority of visa applications are determined in a matter of weeks. However, some applications, in particular those to join family members here, can take considerably longer.

Processing times for all applications and appeals are influenced by a number of factors. The time it can take varies depending on the type and complexity of application; individual circumstances; peak application periods; such as holidays or the start of the school year; and, crucially, the quality and completeness of the application lodged.

I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants, and I want to assure anyone who has made an application for a visa that my Department is doing everything possible to progress these applications as quickly as possible. 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 all applications.