Summary of key changes introduced by the Revised Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification on the 26th November 2025 (‘the 2025 Policy Document’)

On 26 November 2025, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration introduced an updated policy governing Non-EEA Family Reunification (“the 2025 Policy Document”). This publication replaces the earlier policy issued in December 2016 and provides revised guidance on how certain legally resident individuals in Ireland may apply to have family members join them in the State. The updated policy outlines the eligibility requirements for family reunification and introduces several notable amendments to the previous framework. An overview of the most significant changes is set out below.

Sponsor Eligibility

The policy establishes three categories of individuals who may act as sponsors for family reunification applications.

Category A covers Irish citizens and individuals who have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection but who cannot apply for reunification under sections 56 or 57 of the International Protection Act 2015. Individuals within this category are not subject to a waiting period and may apply for family reunification at any time.

Category B includes individuals who hold permissions under certain specialised immigration programmes. These include the following:

  • Participants in the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP), 
  • Those holding permission under the  Start-up Entrepreneur Programme Scheme, (STEP), 
  • Holders of Critical Skills Employment Permits, 
  • Researchers working under Hosting Agreements, 
  • Students participating in immigration service delivery-approved scholarship programmes, 
  • Intra-company transferees, 
  • PhD permission holders, – (subject to the condition that they have no recourse to state funds)
  • Full-time non-locum doctors employed in the State, 
  • Ministers of Religion operating under the relevant scheme. (subject to the condition that they have no recourse to state funds)

Sponsors within Category B may apply immediately to bring members of their nuclear family to Ireland once all of the requirements of the Policy are met and they have obtained entry-visas where applicable. However, applications relating to dependent parents or dependent adult children may only be submitted after the sponsor has been resident in the State for two years.

Category C applies to individuals holding General Employment Permits, Reactivation Employment Permits, or Stamp 4 holders not covered by the categories as outlined above.

These sponsors must first hold a qualifying immigration permission for a minimum of 12 months before applying to reunite with nuclear family members. Applications relating to other eligible relatives are subject to a longer waiting period of five years.

Categories of Eligible Family Members

The revised policy identifies three distinct groups of family members who may be considered in reunification applications: members of the nuclear family, dependent parents, and dependent adult children.

The nuclear family category includes  a sponsor’s spouse, civil partner, de facto partner and any unmarried children under the age of 18. One significant change from the 2016 policy concerns children between the ages of 18 and 23 who are enrolled in full-time education. Previously, these individuals could be treated as part of the nuclear family; however, the new policy removes them from this category. An adult child will only qualify under the revised policy where they are considered dependent on the sponsoring parent due to serious medical or psychological circumstances. In such cases, the dependency must be so substantial that independent living would not be viable without the support of the parent. Official verifiable medical documentation must be submitted to support the application. 

Financial Eligibility Criteria

Under the updated policy framework, financial assessments focus solely on the income of the individual sponsor. Income from other parties will not be considered when determining whether the required financial criteria have been met. 

Sponsors within Category A must demonstrate a combined gross income of at least €40,000 during the three years preceding the application when seeking to sponsor a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner.

In contrast, Category B sponsors are not required to meet a financial threshold when applying to reunite with their spouse or partner, as these sponsors are permitted to apply for immediate family reunification. 

For Category C sponsors who do not have children, the policy now requires evidence of a gross income of €30,000 in the year immediately prior to the application when sponsoring a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner. This represents a revision of the earlier requirement, which assessed income over a two-year period.

Where children are involved, the financial requirement for Category C sponsors increases. In these situations, the sponsor’s net income must exceed the threshold used by the Department of Social Protection in determining eligibility for the Working Family Payment (WFP). The expectation is that this level of income will be maintained. Detailed figures outlining the applicable income levels are provided in Appendix D of the policy document.

Applications for Dependent Adult Relatives

Applications involving dependent adult relatives are subject to significantly higher income requirements across all sponsor categories.

Sponsors must demonstrate a gross annual income that exceeds 185% of the national average yearly earnings when sponsoring one adult relative. Where two relatives are involved, the requirement increases to 250% of the average annual income. Higher thresholds apply where additional dependants are included in the application. The minimum income levels associated with these applications are also set out in Appendix D of the policy.

In addition to financial requirements, the policy emphasises that the Minister will carefully examine the sponsor’s ability to provide both adequate financial support and appropriate accommodation for the family member seeking to enter the State.

For further details on the impact of these changes and how they may apply to an individual’s specific circumstances, please contact Sinnott Solicitors.

Please note that this article reflects immigration law and policy as currently in force, which may change over time. 

If you have any requires relating to Family Reunification and bringing your family members to Ireland, please do not hesitate to call Sinnott Solicitors on 003531 4062862 or email us  info@sinnott.ie