Bangladesh → Ireland: the Join family in Ireland roadmap
The "Join Family in Ireland" route lets a non-EEA spouse, civil partner, dependent child or, in limited cases, dependent parent join a sponsor who is an Irish citizen or settled resident, with the most common path being joining an Irish citizen and receiving Stamp 4 permission to live and work without an employment permit. From June 12, 2026, the income test tightened sharply: an Irish citizen sponsor must now show €75,000 gross cumulative income over the previous three years (up from €40,000), plus accommodation evidence. Fee and processing figures (€60/€100 visa, €300 IRP, roughly 6 to 12 months) are confirmed across official and reputable sources; some category-specific thresholds were still being indexed in mid-2026, so treat edge cases as subject to change.
Moving from Bangladesh
- You apply for the Join family in Ireland at the Ireland consulate, embassy, or visa application centre that serves Bangladesh, confirm the office and the current appointment wait for your region.
- Qualifications and work experience earned in Bangladesh usually need a credential assessment or recognition before they count toward Ireland's requirements.
- Budget for certified translation and apostille or legalisation of your Bangladesh documents (degree, police certificate, civil records).
- Check whether a Bangladesh passport needs a short-stay visa for any in-person biometrics or interview steps.
General guidance for any Bangladesh to Ireland applicant; the eligibility and fees below are set by Ireland.
At a glance
Who qualifies
- Sponsor is an Irish citizen, or a non-EEA national lawfully resident on an eligible permission, able to support the family member
- Genuine, subsisting relationship: marriage, civil partnership, de facto partnership (typically 2+ years cohabitation), or parent-child dependency
- Irish citizen sponsor meets the income test: €75,000 gross cumulative over the previous 3 years (effective 12 June 2026)
- Sponsor not predominantly reliant on social welfare in the 2 years before applying, and not in state-supported housing (from June 2026)
- Sponsor can provide evidence of suitable accommodation for the joining family member(s)
- Applicant of good character with valid passport; visa-required nationals apply for a Join Family (D) visa before travel
Your step-by-step roadmap
Prepare and qualify
- Confirm the relationship and sponsor category (Irish citizen vs settled non-EEA resident)
- Gather income evidence meeting the €75,000/3-year threshold plus proof of accommodation
- Compile relationship proof (marriage/civil partnership certificate or cohabitation evidence) and passports
Apply for the Join Family visa
- Complete the online AVATS Long Stay (D) Join Family application
- Pay the visa fee (€60 single-journey or €100 multi-journey) and submit supporting documents and a sponsor letter
- Await a decision, typically 6 to 12 months
Travel and register in Ireland
- Enter Ireland and book an immigration registration appointment
- Register for the Irish Residence Permit (IRP) and pay the €300 fee to receive Stamp 4
- Use Stamp 4 to live and work freely without a separate employment permit
Settle and naturalise
- Maintain continuous lawful residence and renew the Stamp 4 / IRP as required
- Track reckonable residence toward naturalisation (3 years for spouse/partner of an Irish citizen, otherwise 5)
- Apply for citizenship by naturalisation, paying €175 on application and €950 on approval
Government fees
Timeline & path to citizenship
Timeline: From application to arrival typically takes about 6 to 12 months for the Join Family (D) visa, after which the family member registers for Stamp 4 within days of entering Ireland.
Citizenship: Stamp 4 provides long-term, renewable residence that counts toward settlement; a spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen can apply for citizenship by naturalisation after 3 years of marriage plus 3 years of reckonable residence, while other family members generally need 5 years of reckonable residence.
This is general information to help you plan, not legal advice. For case-specific guidance, consult a licensed immigration professional.