Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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474. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current processing times for Short Stay (Type C) and Long Stay (Type D) visa applications; the efforts being made by his Department to reduce processing times for such visa applications; the additional resources and staff that have been assigned to the visa division over the course of the past year to reduce waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49966/25]

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.

I can assure the Deputy that while processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices and Irish Embassies the majority of visas are processed within stated target times. However, some applications can take considerably longer. Processing times for all applications 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.

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.

The tables below detail information regarding processing times for visa applications by the Dublin Visa Office and the overseas Visa Offices. Please note that processing times for the Moscow office are not available.

Table 1. Visa and Preclearance applications Dublin Visa Office

Table 2. Target processing times visa applications in the Overseas Visa Offices

Processing times and decisions at my Department’s Dublin Visa Office and the seven overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:www.irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/#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.