Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1669. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current processing times for a visa type (details supplied); if he is aware of any delays regarding applications for this visa from a country; if efforts are underway to reduce processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46517/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Based on the information supplied, it has unfortunately not been possible to locate the applications the Deputy refers to. If the Deputy can provide the relevant Visa Application numbers by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, my officials can provide an update on the status of the applications.

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. Additionally, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade processes certain visa applications in Irish Embassies abroad under delegated sanction from my Department.

The people referred to may experience different processing times for join family visas as the entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the immigration permission held by the sponsor. If a non-EEA national is moving to Ireland because they have been granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit they can apply for join family visas at the same time as their own employment visa. When these visas are applied for together, they are processed in tandem and are typically completed in under eight weeks.

My Department aims to process join family visa applications made in other circumstances within 12 months. This target applies to applications processed by the Dublin Visa Office and those processed in the seven overseas Visa Offices.

I can advise the Deputy that 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. I acknowledge that some join family visas applications can take considerably longer to progress to finalisation than average.

Processing times for all visa applications are influenced by a number of factors and some applications may take considerably longer than average to progress to finalisation. 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 join family 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.