Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the work being done to improve processing times for visa applications, citizenship applications and stamp applications at his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53868/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I understand the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to join family and employment visas.

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 process 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. Most short-term applications are determined in a matter of weeks.

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.

I can assure the Deputy 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 sponsored by an Irish national was 230 days. This figure includes join family visa applications made by spouses, children and other family members.

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/ .

It should be noted that 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. Verifying an application is an important part of our immigration system and the checks involved can take time to complete.

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 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.

Staffing levels are kept under ongoing review having regard to demands placed on my Department’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) 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.

Finally, regarding applications for renewing immigration permissions, to ensure an efficient service for our customers, all nationwide applications for renewal of permissions are submitted using the ISD online renewal portal. Applicants do not need to attend the Burgh Quay Registration Office in person to renew their permission, and applications for renewal are accepted up to 12 weeks prior to expiry to allow sufficient time for processing. The Registration Office are currently processing renewals applications from the week starting 9 September 2025.

Further information on how to renew, along with processing times, are available on the ISD website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/registering-your-immigration-permission/how-to-renew-your-current-permission/renewing-your-registration-permission-if-you-live-in-the-republic-of-ireland/ .