Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1685. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline for join family visas only where the sponsor is an Irish citizen and which have been processed in the past - 24 months, the average waiting time for visa applications sent to the Dublin visa office for further processing; the number of applications which have exceeded 12, 15 and 18 months in whole number and as a percentage of the total; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46891/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 processes 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.

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.

My Department does not collate the number of applications for which processing has exceeded 12, 15 or 18 months. However, I can advise the Deputy that the majority of join family visas receive a first instance decision within the 12-month business target. In the first eight months of 2025 the average processing time for join family visa applications, where the sponsor was an Irish national, was 230 days. This figure includes join family visa applications made by spouses, children and other family members.

The table below shows the number of Long Stay Join Family Visa applications for family members of Irish citizens received, decisions made, and applications granted from 2023 up to 31 August 2025.

Table 1 Long Stay Join Family Visa applications for family members of Irish Nationals

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

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.