Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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856. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria for requesting expedited processing of visa applications; and if pregnancy is considered in such cases. [47996/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that requests to expedite an application or for an emergency visa can be made through my Departments Customer Service Portal, which can be accessed at the following link: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/.

Expediting a visa application is usually confined to time-sensitive instances, such as, if family member has been hospitalised, in a life-threatening situation or in the unfortunate event of a bereavement. Each request is considered on its merits; the person concerned should also engage with the relevant Embassy of Ireland, explaining the nature of the emergency and provide any documentary evidence that may be available to them. A full list of Irish embassies is available at the following link:

www.ireland.ie/en/dfa/embassies/

Emergency visa applications and requests will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis but will, wherever possible, be processed speedily and sympathetically. In order to be fair to all those who have applied, not all requests to expedite an application can be granted.

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.

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.

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.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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857. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current processing times for each visa type submitted through an office (details supplied); if he is aware of delays to applications from this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47997/25]

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 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.

The table below details information regarding processing times for the Abuja Visa Office. Please note that processing times for Join Family visas are not currently available.

Table 1. Processing dates for Visa applications and appeals considered by the Abuja Visa Office

Processing times and decisions at the Abuja Visa Office can be checked at the following link: www.ireland.ie/en/nigeria/abuja/services/visas/weekly-decision-reports/.

Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office and the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:

www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/.

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.