Irish citizens and residents hoping to sponsor non-EEA family members will need to prove they earned at least €75,000 over the previous three years under amendments to the Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy that took effect this month. Immigration boutique Berkeley Solicitors highlighted the changes in a 24 June blog post, noting that the Department of Justice formally raised the threshold from €40,000 after a policy review completed on 12 June 2026.
The new rules apply to spouses, de-facto partners, dependent children and certain elderly relatives. In practice, the €75,000 benchmark equates to roughly €25,000 in gross earnings per year for the three years preceding the visa application, and the sponsor must show evidence—such as employment contracts or audited accounts—that the income level is likely to continue.
Officials argue that higher thresholds better reflect Ireland’s cost of living and align family-reunification requirements with the Minimum Essential Standard of Living calculated by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. But migrant-rights groups fear the move will disadvantage lower-income Irish nationals—particularly recent graduates and returnees from lower-salary international postings—who now face a longer wait before meeting the criteria.
![Income threshold for Irish sponsors doubles under revised Non-EEA Family Reunification Policy]()
If you or your family are unsure about how these revised thresholds affect a forthcoming application, VisaHQ offers step-by-step support—from eligibility assessments to document checklists—through its dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/). Their advisors can liaise with ISD and keep applicants informed of policy changes, helping to minimise delays and maximise approval chances.
For employers, the policy shift may complicate talent-retention strategies. Multinationals that hire non-EU staff frequently rely on the family-reunification route when local hires later naturalise as Irish citizens. HR teams should advise affected employees to start gathering P60s, payslips and tax clearance certificates well in advance of visa submissions, and consider salary-top-up mechanisms or assignment allowances where feasible.
Legal practitioners expect a spike in appeals and requests for Ministerial discretion, especially in humanitarian cases. The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has promised updated guidance notes in July and a dedicated helpline to handle transitional queries.
The new rules apply to spouses, de-facto partners, dependent children and certain elderly relatives. In practice, the €75,000 benchmark equates to roughly €25,000 in gross earnings per year for the three years preceding the visa application, and the sponsor must show evidence—such as employment contracts or audited accounts—that the income level is likely to continue.
Officials argue that higher thresholds better reflect Ireland’s cost of living and align family-reunification requirements with the Minimum Essential Standard of Living calculated by the Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice. But migrant-rights groups fear the move will disadvantage lower-income Irish nationals—particularly recent graduates and returnees from lower-salary international postings—who now face a longer wait before meeting the criteria.
If you or your family are unsure about how these revised thresholds affect a forthcoming application, VisaHQ offers step-by-step support—from eligibility assessments to document checklists—through its dedicated Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/). Their advisors can liaise with ISD and keep applicants informed of policy changes, helping to minimise delays and maximise approval chances.
For employers, the policy shift may complicate talent-retention strategies. Multinationals that hire non-EU staff frequently rely on the family-reunification route when local hires later naturalise as Irish citizens. HR teams should advise affected employees to start gathering P60s, payslips and tax clearance certificates well in advance of visa submissions, and consider salary-top-up mechanisms or assignment allowances where feasible.
Legal practitioners expect a spike in appeals and requests for Ministerial discretion, especially in humanitarian cases. The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has promised updated guidance notes in July and a dedicated helpline to handle transitional queries.
