Ireland dependent visa

The sponsor must already hold a qualifying permission in Ireland — an Irish citizen, a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit holder, a researcher on a Hosting Agreement, or a settled Stamp 4 resident — and their category sets the rules, the waiting period and the rights your permission will carry. Each family member files a separate application: one for the spouse, one for each child. As an Indian applicant you complete the online AVATS form, then attend a VFS Global visa centre in India to submit documents and give biometrics; a successful applicant registers for their IRP after arriving in Ireland.

Who this visa is for

• ✓Spouses and registered civil partners of the sponsor, on the strength of a genuine, subsisting relationship — one formed solely online or by phone is not accepted.
• ✓De facto (unmarried) partners in a durable relationship, generally evidenced by around two years of cohabitation.
• ✓Dependent children under 18, and in some cases unmarried dependent children aged 18 to 23 who are in full-time education.
• ✓Dependent elderly parents only in exceptional cases, where the sponsor gives a written undertaking of full financial responsibility and arranges private medical insurance.
• ✓The sponsor must hold a qualifying immigration status; students on a Stamp 2 generally cannot sponsor family reunification.
• ✓Financial and accommodation tests apply — from 12 June 2026 an Irish-citizen (Category A) sponsor must show gross income, over and above any State benefits, of EUR 75,000 across the three years before applying, and General Employment Permit (Category C) sponsors must meet the gross income threshold set for their category and, from the same date, evidence suitable accommodation for the family members joining them.

Visa options for Ireland

Documents typically required

• ✓Signed AVATS online application summary sheet with a recent colour photograph.
• ✓Current passport valid for at least 12 months with blank pages, plus any previous passports.
• ✓Two colour passport-size photographs no more than six months old, with your name and application reference on the back.
• ✓A signed cover letter setting out the reasons for travel and full details of both the applicant and the sponsor.
• ✓Proof of relationship — marriage or civil partnership certificate; for de facto partners, evidence of a durable relationship and cohabitation; for children, birth certificates naming the sponsor.
• ✓Evidence the relationship is genuine and subsisting: records of meetings, communication, shared living and joint responsibilities.
• ✓Sponsor's documents — passport or IRP card, current employment permit where relevant (Critical Skills or General), and proof of lawful residence in Ireland.
• ✓Sponsor's financial evidence (Employment Detail Summaries/P60s and payslips, generally covering the three-year period, plus bank statements), sufficient to meet the threshold for their category.
• ✓Proof of suitable accommodation in Ireland (required for General Employment Permit / Category C sponsors from 12 June 2026).
• ✓Police clearance certificate; for a child travelling with one parent, a signed consent letter from the other parent; and private medical insurance where applicable.

Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.

Indian nationals are visa-required, so you must apply before travelling. Complete the online application on the Immigration Service's AVATS system, then print and sign the summary sheet. Book an appointment and lodge your documents in person at a VFS Global Ireland Visa Application Centre — VFS runs a network of centres across India in cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad — where you also give biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph). VFS only collects and forwards the file; the application itself is assessed by the Irish visa office, and the final decision rests with the Department of Justice's Immigration Service.

Frequently asked questions