Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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675. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for a join family visa (category B), by month, from January 2019 to August 2025 for those whose family reside in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51325/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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676. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the average waiting time for a join family visa (category B), by month, from January 2019 to August 2025, for those whose family reside in India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51326/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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677. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the reason there is a difference in waiting time for a join family visa (category B) for those whose family reside in Pakistan and India; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51327/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 to 677, inclusive, together.

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. Most join family visa applications made by residents of India are considered by the Visa Office in New Delhi. All join family visa applications made by residents of Pakistan are considered by the Dublin Visa Office.

The current processing times of applications for join family visas varies depending on the circumstances when the application is made. 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.

My Department does not collate average processing times in the manner requested but I can assure the Deputy that while processing times can vary across the different Visa Offices 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 a join family application was 100 days. However, some applications can take considerably longer.

I can advise the Deputy that currently the New Delhi Visa Office’s target processing times for join family visas sponsored by a Category B sponsor is 60 working days for a first instance decision.

At this time the Dublin Visa Office is considering applications in this category received from 07 February 2024, the date published on the website of the Dublin Visa Office 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. Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office and the Overseas Visa Offices can be checked at the following link:

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.

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. Staffing levels are kept under ongoing review having regard to demands placed on my Department’s Immigration Service Delivery function generally. This year additional resources and staff have been assigned to my Department’s Visa Division in response to the growing demand for these services.