International Legal Partners

Ireland Long Visa

If you are interested in traveling and remaining in Ireland for a period spanning longer than 3 months, then you will need to seek entry clearance and apply for a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa. This visa allows you to work, study or to join and settle with existing family members in the country.

There are various routes that are encompassed under the Long Stay Visa umbrella, and you will have to apply separately for the visa that suits your circumstances and needs.
These are:

The Study Visa

You can apply for a study visa if you are planning to come to Ireland to undertake a course of study for more than 3 months. A dedicated ILP immigration lawyer will be able to inform you after evaluating your case the options best suits you and will guide you every step of the way throughout your journey to Ireland.

The Family Member Visa–As Spouse/Civil Partner, Child or De facto Partner

You need a ‘Join Family’ Long Stay D Visa if you intend on joining your spouse, partner or any other family members in Ireland for a period longer than 3 months, regardless of whether your sponsor is Irish-born or not.
Under the Family Member category, you can apply as:

• A Spouse or Civil Partner
• A De Facto Partner
• A Dependent Child

That being said, this isn’t an exhaustive list: there may be other routes that better apply to your unique circumstances that your ILP immigration lawyer will suggest for you instead.

Spouse/Civil Partner

If you wish to join your spouse/civil partner who is an Irish citizen or who is lawfully resident in Ireland and you wish to stay for longer than three months, you may be eligible to do so under Ireland’s Family Reunification scheme.

The individual who is residing in the State – your spouse/civil partner – will be considered your ‘sponsor’ throughout the entire immigration process.

The ability to join your spouse/civil partner residing in Ireland is dependent on many factors, including:

• Your spouse/civil partner’s nationality (whether they are an Irish/EU/non-EEA national)
• The immigration permission they have been granted whilst residing in Ireland (whether they are allowed to bring family members such as their spouse/civil partner to reside in Ireland with them depends upon the immigration stamp they have been given)
• If your spouse/civil partner is a recognized refugee in Ireland

A De Facto Partner

A de facto partner is a general term for anyone who is in a genuine long-term relationship, which is not a marriage or civil partnership. In Irish immigration law, a relationship must meet the following conditions in order to be considered de facto:

• The relationship is akin to a marriage or civil partnership
• The partners share a mutual commitment to living a shared life, at the exclusion of others
• The partners have been cohabiting for at least two years

If your relationship meets these conditions, you could be eligible for the Join Family Member Visa as the de facto partner of an Irish citizen/resident.

The Employment Visa–As General, Scientific Researcher or Van der Elst route

You can apply for an Employment (Permits etc.) visa after you have obtained your employment permit from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation (DJEI).

There are different types of employment permits issued by DJEI including Critical Skills Employment Permits and Work Permits. DJEI will shortly introduce a new range of employment permits. The correct visa type for a holder of any type of employment permit issued by DJEI is the Employment (Permits etc.). You can apply for an Employment (Permits etc.) visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to Ireland.
These permits are:

• The General Employment Permit
• The Critical Skills Employment Permit
• The Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit
• Reactivation Employment Permit
• Contract for Services and Employment Permit
• Intra-Company Transfer Employment Permit
• Exchange Agreement Employment Permit
• Internship Employment Visa
• Sports and Cultural Employment Permit

In addition, there is also the Employment (Scientific Researcher) Visa, the Employment (Van der Elst) Visa, the Immigrant Investor Programme and the Start-up Entrepreneur Programme. If you are visiting another state prior to travelling to Ireland, you must have the relevant visa for that state in your passport before applying for an Irish visa.

The Minister of Religion Visa

Permission to remain in Ireland as a Minister of Religion, allows qualifying religious personnel to remain in the State for up to three years, where there is a demonstrated need for their services and subject to compliance with all other immigration requirements that apply in individual cases. Permission to work as a Minister of Religion allows you to work as a Minister of Religion with an eligible religious body or faith community subject to certain conditions.