D Joining your UK national family member (Long Stay ‘D’ Join Family UK National Visa / Preclearance)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Preclearance / Long Stay ‘D’ Join Family (UK National)
Stay	Initial 12 months upon registration; renewable
Cost	€60 single entry; €100 multiple entry
Eligibility timing	UK sponsor moved to Ireland after 31 December 2020
Work rights	Not stated in the source
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Private medical insurance required
Travel facility	Single or multiple entry
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Sponsor must be a UK national
Visa record	Valid for 6 months to travel

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Purpose and Scope

This scheme allows non-EEA/non-Swiss nationals to join or accompany a UK national family member who came to live in Ireland after 11:00 pm on 31 December 2020.

• UK nationals living in Ireland on or before 31 December 2020 and their eligible family members fall under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.
• The scheme applies only to intended stays of longer than 3 months.
• Depending on nationality, applicants must obtain either a Preclearance Letter of Approval (non-visa required nationals) or a Long Stay ‘D’ Visa (visa-required nationals) prior to travelling.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicant Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national residing ordinarily outside Ireland.
• Be of good character (able to provide police clearance from any country of residence in the past 5 years).
• Intend to live together permanently with the UK national sponsor in Ireland.
• Maintain private medical insurance from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) of Ireland, covering private hospitalisation for at least 1 year from entry.
• Fall under one of the qualifying relationship categories:
  • Category 1: Spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner (must be aged 18 or older).
  • Category 2: Dependent child (under 18, under 23 in full-time education, or dependent adult child) of the sponsor, spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner.
  • Category 3: Dependent parent aged 66 or older of the sponsor, spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner.

Sponsor Requirements

The sponsor must:

• Be a UK national who is self-sufficient and resident (or intending to be resident) in Ireland.
• Not be reliant on Irish social welfare benefits or public funds.
• Not have been completely or mainly reliant on benefits for 2 years or longer immediately prior to the application.
• Not have sponsored another spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner within the previous 7 years.
• Satisfy minimum financial thresholds:
  • Gross income over the previous 3 years exceeding the Department of Social Protection's Working Family Payment (WFP) threshold for families with children.
  • Minimum assessable income of €20,000 per annum (net of state benefits) for couples without children.
  • Higher thresholds apply for multiple dependents or dependent parents.
• Provide suitable accommodation without recourse to public funds.
• Sign a legal undertaking of complete financial responsibility (and reimbursement of any state funds availed of) if sponsoring a dependent parent.

Application Fees

• Single Journey (Preclearance or Visa): €60 (non-refundable).
• Multiple Journey (Visa only): €100 (non-refundable).
• Additional administrative or local submission fees may apply depending on the processing office.

How to Apply

1. Complete Online Application: Apply through the AVATS Online System:
   • Visa-required nationals: Select Visa type ‘Long Stay (D)’, select ‘Single’ or ‘Multiple’ entry, and choose ‘Visa – Join Family (UK National)’.
   • Non-visa required nationals: Select Preclearance type ‘Long Stay (D)’, select ‘Single’ entry, and choose ‘Preclearance – Join Family (UK National)’.
   • Print, sign, and date the generated summary application form. (Parents/guardians must sign for children under 18).
2. Compile Documents and Pay Fee: Gather all original supporting documentation and fee payment receipts.
3. Submit Application: Submit the signed form, passport, and supporting materials within 30 days of completing the online form to the designated office listed on the summary sheet.
   • If submitting by post, use recorded delivery in a padded envelope. Do not use clips, staples, or folders.
   • Separate envelopes must be used for each applicant if sending multiple family applications in one package.

Required Supporting Documentation

From All Applicants

• Passports: Current passport valid for at least 12 months from proposed entry, plus full-colour copies of all pages of any previous passports.
• Photographs: Two passport-sized photographs conforming to official photo rules.
• Letter of Application: Outlining personal details, reasons for coming, addresses over the last 5 years, family ties in Ireland/UK/EEA, and a commitment to observe immigration conditions.
• Police Clearance: Required for all applicants aged 16 and older (issued within the last 6 months covering every country of residence in the previous 5 years; checks by private companies are invalid).
• Financial Evidence: 6 months of certified bank statements on headed paper (handwritten or uncertified internet printouts not accepted).
• Medical Insurance: Proof of HIA-authorised private health cover valid for 1 year covering private hospital accommodation.
• Biometrics: Required for visa applicants resident in China, Hong Kong, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan (subject to standard exemptions).
• Immigration & Criminal History: Full details and original documentation regarding any previous visa refusals, deportations, overstays, or criminal convictions.

Relationship-Specific Documents

• Spouse / Civil Partner: Marriage or civil partnership certificates (multilingual standard form or apostilled/attested translation if issued outside the EEA/Switzerland); evidence of cohabitation or full relationship history.
• De Facto Partner: Evidence of at least 2 years of cohabitation (joint leases, joint bank accounts, shared utilities) and relationship history.
• Children under 18: Birth/adoption certificates, evidence of current location/schooling, and sole custody court orders or formal consent and passport copies from the non-accompanying parent.
• Children over 18 / Students under 23: Evidence of continuous full-time education, financial dependence, living costs, or medical condition precluding employment.
• Dependent Parents (66+): Evidence of familial link, sustained financial dependence, medical necessity, living expenses, and proof that no alternative care exists in their home country.

From the Sponsor

• Full-colour copies of all current and past passports.
• Letter of sponsorship and signed undertaking.
• Proof of accommodation in Ireland.
• Police clearance certificate for any country lived in over the past 5 years (not required for time spent in Ireland).
• Evidence of finances and employment:
  • 3 years of tax returns / Revenue assessments.
  • Work contract, letter from employer, and 3 recent payslips (or 6 months of business bank accounts and tax filings if self-employed).
  • 6 months of certified personal bank statements.

Document Standards & Translations

• All submitted documents must be originals.
• Non-English/Irish documents must include certified translations containing the translator's details, date, and accuracy statement.
• Documents issued outside the EEA/Switzerland (and translations done outside the EEA/Switzerland) must be apostilled/attested by the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After Approval, Arrival, and Registration

• Validity: Preclearance approval letters and Long Stay ‘D’ visas are valid for 6 months to travel to Ireland. If not used within this window, a new application must be submitted.
• Border Control: Entry is not guaranteed; immigration officers inspect preclearance letters, visas, and proof of private health insurance at the border.
• Immigration Registration: After arrival, register with an immigration registration office before the border landing stamp expires:
  • Successful applicants receive permission to remain for an initial 12 months (children under 16 do not register).
  • Dependent parents are granted Stamp 0 permission.
• Renewals: Apply to renew permission approximately 6 weeks before it expires.

Change of Circumstances & In-Country Rules

• Visitor Status: You cannot enter Ireland as a visitor and apply for this permission from within the State. Applicants must remain outside Ireland while the application is processed.
• Existing Irish Permission: Individuals already in Ireland on a valid long-term permission (such as work or study) who become a spouse, civil partner, or de facto partner of a UK citizen may apply for a change of status to ISD.
• Notification Requirement: Notify ISD within 2 weeks of any critical change in circumstances (death or departure of the sponsor, divorce, or relationship breakdown) to request permission to remain on an individual basis.

Appeals

• Refusals may be appealed free of charge within 8 weeks of the decision date.
• Appeals must be submitted by post (emails and faxes are not accepted).
• Only one appeal is permitted per application.
• Applications refused due to false or misleading information cannot be appealed and may lead to a 5-year ban on future applications.