Ireland · Spouse visas
Ireland Spouse of a resident
Income needed: €30k+ a year ≈ $34k
Family reunification permission for the spouse or partner of a non-EEA permit holder in Ireland
Checked against official sources on Record corrected 12 Oct 2026Change log
Key facts
Spouse of a resident is a spouse visas route for Ireland. Applicants need income of €30k+ a year ≈ $34k. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €30k+ a year ≈ $34k
Cost, time and long term
Shown, not spent€30k+/yr ≈ $34k · €40k+/yr ≈ $44k
- EUR 30,000 a year (≈ $33,500)Category C sponsors such as General Employment Permit holders, couple with no children: gross income above this in the previous year, expected to be maintained. Category B sponsors such as Critical Skills holders have no income test; only one sponsor's income counts.
- EUR 39,780 a year (≈ $44,400)Only when a Category C sponsor is also joined by minor children: net income in the previous year above the Working Family Payment limit, which for 2026 is EUR 39,780 (≈ $44,400) with one child (about EUR 50,200 (≈ $56,100) gross), EUR 45,032 (≈ $50,300) with two and EUR 50,284 (≈ $56,200) with three; the table goes up to eight or more children.
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of residence
Stamp 3 and Stamp 4 are reckonable for naturalisation, which needs 5 years of reckonable residence.
Presence rulesAway max 70 days in 12 months
For naturalisation, you must not have been outside Ireland for more than 70 days in the 12 months before applying.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from United Kingdom
What you'll need
Who can apply7
- The sponsor holds an eligible permission such as a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit, or Stamp 4.
- Category C sponsors have been in the State on an eligible permission for 12 months; Category B sponsors have no waiting period.
- Student, graduate-programme and temporary-protection holders and UK or EU nationals cannot sponsor under this policy.
- The spouse or civil partner is at least 18 and the marriage is lawful, freely entered and recognised under Irish law.
- A de facto partner needs at least 2 years of cohabitation in a relationship akin to marriage.
- The spouse of a sponsor is subject to the same waiting period as the sponsor.
- The sponsor has not mainly relied on State supports for 2 years or longer before applying.
What you must show2
- Category C sponsors earned more than EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) gross in the previous year (couple with no children), expected to be maintained.
- A Category C sponsor who is also joined by minor children needs a higher net income: above EUR 39,780 (≈ $44,400) with one child in 2026 (about EUR 50,200 (≈ $56,100) gross), rising with each child.
Steps1
- Visa-required family members are applied for before they travel to Ireland.
After you arrive2
- Expected processing time is about 12 months.
- After 5 years as a dependant a spouse can apply for Stamp 4 at the next online renewal.
When you become tax resident
How Ireland decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax yearResident if present in Ireland 183 days or more in the tax year.
- At least 280 days in the current and preceding tax year combinedResident if present 280 days or more across two years, provided more than 30 days are spent in Ireland in the current year.
- Foreign-source income
Remittance basis (non-dom)
An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland.
- Special regime
Remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled · Tax relief
All tax rules for Ireland Tax records checked
Full official text
For the spouse, civil partner or de facto partner of a non-EEA national who holds an eligible Irish permission such as a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit. The spouse gets a permission whose stamp depends on the sponsor category. 1 2
What you must show
- Income of over EUR 30,000 a year (≈ $33,500) · Category C sponsors such as General Employment Permit holders, couple with no children: gross income above this in the previous year, expected to be maintained. Category B sponsors such as Critical Skills holders have no income test; only one sponsor's income counts. 2
- Income of over EUR 39,780 a year (≈ $44,400) · Only when a Category C sponsor is also joined by minor children: net income in the previous year above the Working Family Payment limit, which for 2026 is EUR 39,780 (≈ $44,400) with one child (about EUR 50,200 (≈ $56,100) gross), EUR 45,032 (≈ $50,300) with two and EUR 50,284 (≈ $56,200) with three; the table goes up to eight or more children. 2 1
Requirements
- The sponsor holds an eligible permission such as a Critical Skills or General Employment Permit, or Stamp 4. 2 1
- Category C sponsors have been in the State on an eligible permission for 12 months; Category B sponsors have no waiting period. 1
- Student, graduate-programme and temporary-protection holders and UK or EU nationals cannot sponsor under this policy. 2
- The spouse or civil partner is at least 18 and the marriage is lawful, freely entered and recognised under Irish law. 1
- A de facto partner needs at least 2 years of cohabitation in a relationship akin to marriage. 1
- The spouse of a sponsor is subject to the same waiting period as the sponsor. 1
- The sponsor has not mainly relied on State supports for 2 years or longer before applying. 2
- Category C sponsors earned more than EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) gross in the previous year (couple with no children), expected to be maintained. 2 1
- A Category C sponsor who is also joined by minor children needs a higher net income: above EUR 39,780 (≈ $44,400) with one child in 2026 (about EUR 50,200 (≈ $56,100) gross), rising with each child. 2 1
- Visa-required family members are applied for before they travel to Ireland. 1
- Expected processing time is about 12 months. 1
- After 5 years as a dependant a spouse can apply for Stamp 4 at the next online renewal. 1
Stay
- Permission is tied to the sponsor's status: Stamp 1G for Critical Skills and General Employment Permit sponsors, Stamp 4 for investor and entrepreneur sponsors, Stamp 3 for other Stamp 4 and Stamp 5 holders.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EEA nationals; EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens do not need this permission. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Spouses of Critical Skills, General Employment Permit and intra-company sponsors receive Stamp 1G; Stamp 4 for investor and entrepreneur sponsors.
Family
Minor unmarried children can be reunited under the same policy.
Official sources
- Policy on non-EEA family reunification (12 June 2026) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration) · checked 2026-10-11
- Financial thresholds for non-EEA family reunification · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration) · checked 2026-10-11
- Become an Irish citizen by naturalisation · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration permission/stamps (which stamps are reckonable) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11
Spouse of a resident and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spouse of a resident | Needs income of €30k+ a year ≈ $34k | – | – |
| Spouse of a citizen | Needs income from €40k ≈ $45k | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a citizen Portugal | – | – | – |
| Spouse of a resident Spain | Needs income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010 | – | Yes |
| Spouse of a resident Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Spouse of a resident?
Income of over EUR 30,000 a year (≈ $33,500). Category C sponsors such as General Employment Permit holders, couple with no children: gross income above this in the previous year, expected to be maintained. Income of over EUR 39,780 a year (≈ $44,400). Only when a Category C sponsor is also joined by minor children: net income in the previous year above the Working Family Payment limit, which for 2026 is EUR 39,780 (≈ $44,400) with one child (about EUR 50,200 (≈ $56,100) gross), EUR 45,032 (≈ $50,300) with two and EUR 50,284 (≈ $56,200) with three; the table goes up to eight or more children.
How long can I stay on the Spouse of a resident?
Permission is tied to the sponsor's status: Stamp 1G for Critical Skills and General Employment Permit sponsors, Stamp 4 for investor and entrepreneur sponsors, Stamp 3 for other Stamp 4 and Stamp 5 holders.
Can I work on the Spouse of a resident?
Spouses of Critical Skills, General Employment Permit and intra-company sponsors receive Stamp 1G; Stamp 4 for investor and entrepreneur sponsors.
Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a resident?
Minor unmarried children can be reunited under the same policy.
Who can apply for the Spouse of a resident?
Non-EEA nationals; EU, EEA, Swiss and UK citizens do not need this permission. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Is there a tax break for Spouse of a resident holders in Ireland?
Ireland: remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled: An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Ireland: remittance basis for residents who are not Irish-domiciled
Tax relief
Details
- On: Actual sums remitted to Ireland out of foreign-source income
An individual resident in Ireland who is not Irish-domiciled is taxed on foreign-sourced income and foreign capital gains only to the extent they are remitted to Ireland; Irish-source income is taxed in full and the income of a non-Irish employment is taxable on the remittance basis only for duties performed outside Ireland.
Taxed on
Actual sums remitted to Ireland out of foreign-source income (Schedule D Case III) and foreign gains; Irish-source income and Irish gains on the arising basis at ordinary rates (20% standard rate band and 40% higher rate in the Revenue example for 2026).
Who it applies to
- Resident in Ireland for the tax year and satisfies Revenue that they are not domiciled in the State (section 71 TCA 1997).
Exclusions
- Duties of a non-Irish employment performed in Ireland are taxed under Schedule E on the arising basis.
- UK-source income is taxed on the arising basis (section 18 FA 2008).
- Other statutory exceptions are listed in Part 7 of the manual.
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in tax year · Resident if present in Ireland 183 days or more in the tax year.
- At least 280 days in current and preceding tax year combined · Resident if present 280 days or more across two years, provided more than 30 days are spent in Ireland in the current year.
Tax residence
Residence is by days of presence under section 819 TCA 1997; domicile is a separate general-law concept.
Visas
Not tied to a visa; SARP is a separate employment-income relief.
Other taxes
USC and PRSI follow their own rules; the Revenue manual notes the remittance basis is also available for foreign gains.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Ireland
Spouse and partner visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Policy on non-EEA family reunification (12 June 2026) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration) · checked 2026-10-11
- Financial thresholds for non-EEA family reunification · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration) · checked 2026-10-11
- Become an Irish citizen by naturalisation · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration permission/stamps (which stamps are reckonable) · Immigration Service Delivery (Department of Justice) · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.