Family Reunification Process

Family Reunification for refugees under section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) can only be sought in cases where a person has been granted Refugee Status in Ireland.

• Persons who have residency rights in this State on any other basis are not eligible to apply for family reunification under section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended).
• Persons who have been granted permission to enter and reside in this State under section 18 of the Refugee Act, 1996 (as amended) are not eligible to apply for family reunification of their family members/dependent family members under the Act.

Applications for family reunification under section 18 of the 1996 Act must be made in writing to :

Family Reunification Section,
Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS),
13/14 Burgh Quay,
Dublin 2.

At no point does this Office, Family Reunification Unit (ORAC), accept family reunification applications from the refugee.

Applications for family reunification made to the Family Reunification Section (INIS) are acknowledged and referred to the Family Reunification Unit (ORAC) for investigation. Family Reunification Unit (ORAC) issues a questionnaire to the refugee for completion to assist in the investigation of the application. On completion of its investigation, the Family Reunification Unit (ORAC) submits a report to the Minister for Justice and Law Reform for a decision. The ORAC report sets out the relationship between the refugee and the person who is the subject of the application and the domestic circumstances of the person.

The refugee will receive written notification of the outcome of the application from Family Reunification Section (INIS) in due course.

• Family members who are resident outside Ireland at the date of a successful application will be required to apply for a visa to enter this State. Further information on documents required and the visa application process/fee may be found on www.inis.gov.ie. The visa application should be submitted to the Irish Embassy or Consulate in or accredited to the refugee's family member / dependent family member's country of residence. Details of all Irish Embassies can be found on www.dfa.ie
• Family members who are present in this State at the date of a successful application may be required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).