We never forget that assignees/ employees have family and ensure a sustainable immigration route is achieved for qualifying family members.

Qualifying family are:

  • Spouses
  • De Facto Partners (co- habitation akin to marriage of no less than 2 years and subject to pre – clearance for CSEP Holders) 
  • Civil partners
  • Dependent children aged 18 and under, or up to 23 years of age if they are in full time education. Older dependent children with a medical/ psychological condition.

Pre – Clearance for the De Facto Partners of CSEP Holders

Spouses, civil partners and the qualifying children of CSEP holders may apply to enter Ireland immediately with the Holder. De facto partners (intending to remain in Ireland for longer than 90 days) must apply for a preclearance letter of approval (this applies to both visa -required and non – visa required nationals). Benefits are as follows:

  • Allows you to seek employment in the State, on a Stamp 1G basis, without the need to obtain a separate work permit. 
  • Work on a full or part time basis without the need for an Employment Permit from the Department of Business Enterprise and Employment (DBEI).
  • Do additional voluntary work.
  • Study.
  • Travel abroad for short periods and return to Ireland.
  • Bring your qualifying dependent children.
  • The duration of the permission granted to you will be in line with the duration of permission granted to the CSEP holder.

You may apply for permission to enter the State as a De Facto Partner of a CSEP Holder if you satisfy the following criteria:

  • Aged 18 or older.
  • A non – EU/EEA and non-Swiss citizen are being sponsored by an eligible person.
  • You are of good character and good standing – you can provide a current police clearance certificate for any country you have resided in for 6 months or more in the past five years.
  • You have resided with your De Facto Partner for at least two years prior to your application.
  • You intend to live together permanently with your De Facto Partner in Ireland.
  • You have medical insurance from a company authorised by the Health Insurance Authority of Ireland to cover you and your dependent children, if applicable, in place on your arrival in the State for the entire duration of your stay in Ireland. 
  • All applicants must be ordinarily resident outside the State when making the pre- clearance application.   
  • Your sponsor in the State must hold a Critical Skills Employment Permit or a Hosting Agreement and meet other conditions (please contact us for details
  • Visa required qualifying family members must be granted with a D class entry visa to join the family member (permit holder). 

The pre – clearance application can present challenges, particularly in the documentation requested and detail of information required. Please contact us for further information on this matter.

Qualifying Family Members of GEP and CSP Holders

The family of GEP and CSP Holders are obliged to wait until the Holder has been on the permit for 12 months prior to applying to enter Ireland as dependents. If the family member is a visa required national, they will need to apply for a Spousal/ Dependent Visa. Please see our visa section for further details.

Qualifying Family Members of ICT Holders

The qualifying family of ICT Holders enter immediately as the dependent(s) of the Holder. They cannot work on the basis of their relationship to the ICT holder; but may apply for an employment permit in their own right. If the family member is a visa required national, they will need to apply for a Spousal/ Dependent Visa. Please see our visa section for further details.

Residence Card of a Family Member of an EU/ EEA or Swiss Citizen

EU Treaty Rights allow EU/ EEA/ Swiss nationals to move between EU countries for work purposes. The Residence Card facilitates the family members of this national to move with them. You may apply for a Residence Card, if you are the qualifying family member (spouse, child, grandchild, dependent parent or dependent grandparent) or permitted family member (long term, de facto partner) of an EU/EEA or Swiss family member who resides in Ireland. To obtain a card, your family member must use their EU Treaty Rights to sponsor an application by you. EU Treaty Rights allow EU/ EEA/ Swiss nationals to move between EU countries for work purposes. The Residence Card facilitates the 

A successful application leads to a Stamp 4, which allows residence and work in Ireland without the need for an employment permit.

The EU application can present challenges, particularly in the documentation requested and detail of information required. Please contact us for further information on this matter.

Visa policy of Ireland