Master prompt
Short-stay C to long-stay D visa transition + spouse / civil partner preclearance (Ireland)
Map the path from a short-stay C visit to a long-stay D visa (D visa filed from outside Ireland), the spouse / civil partner of Irish citizen route, and preclearance schemes for non-EEA dependants.
IrelandVisitor visaC to D transitionSpouse visaCivil partnerPreclearanceStamp 4Family reunification
Map the C-to-D transition for [CLIENT_NAME].
CLIENT SUMMARY
- Current status: [CURRENT_STATUS]
- Irish-side anchor: [IRISH_ANCHOR_DETAILS]
- Relationship: [RELATIONSHIP_TYPE]
- Intended D purpose: [INTENDED_D_PURPOSE]
- Preclearance required: Yes - verify
- Timing: [TIMING_CONSTRAINTS]
§1 — IRON RULE: C VISA CANNOT BE UPGRADED IN-COUNTRY TO D
A short-stay C visa CANNOT be extended or converted to a long-stay D visa from within Ireland. This is settled ISD policy under the Immigration Act 2004 framework:
(a) The C visa is granted for a specific short-stay purpose, capped at 90 days
(b) D visa categories (employment, study > 3 months, join family long-term) require a fresh application FROM OUTSIDE IRELAND
(c) Limited exceptions:
- Marriage to an Irish citizen WITHIN Ireland on a C visa: post-marriage Stamp 4 application can in narrow cases be made inland, but ISD policy historically prefers outland application; verify current ISD practice
- Medical emergency: discretionary in-country extension via DRPD (separate from D visa) - this is NOT a C-to-D upgrade
- Asylum / international protection: a separate statutory pathway (International Protection Act 2015) - this is NOT a C-to-D upgrade
(d) Attempts to "use the C visa to get a foot in the door + apply for D inland" are explicitly anticipated by ISD and refused; they may also trigger an immigration breach finding
State the iron rule explicitly to [CLIENT_NAME]. The path is: DEPART IRELAND -> APPLY FOR D VISA FROM INDIA (OR OTHER COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE) -> GRANTED D VISA -> RE-ENTER IRELAND -> REGISTER FOR IRP AT GNIB / ISD.
§2 — D VISA CATEGORIES MATCHED TO [INTENDED_D_PURPOSE]
For [INTENDED_D_PURPOSE]:
D Join Family (Spouse of Irish citizen) - Stamp 4
(a) Spouse must be Irish citizen
(b) Marriage must be lawful (Civil Registration Act 2004 compliant; foreign marriages recognised if validly contracted under lex loci)
(c) Relationship genuine + subsisting (Family Reunification Policy 2016)
(d) Sponsor (Irish citizen spouse) meets financial threshold or relies on policy waivers (e.g. caregiver / disability cases)
(e) PRECLEARANCE: YES - non-EEA spouses of Irish citizens must obtain preclearance from outside Ireland before travelling (current ISD policy)
(f) Grant: Stamp 4 on arrival; renewable; pathway to Long-Term Residence + citizenship
(g) Spouse application from India: file at Mumbai / New Delhi / Chandigarh / Chennai Visa Offices
D Join Family (Spouse / Dependant of Stamp 1 CSEP) - Stamp 3
(a) Sponsor must hold CSEP (Critical Skills Employment Permit)
(b) For CSEP holders, immediate family reunification is permitted at any time during the permit (more lenient than GEP)
(c) GEP holders: family reunification permitted after 12 months on permit
(d) Spouse applies for D Join Family from country of residence
(e) Grant: Stamp 3 (dependant, no work) on arrival; transitions to Stamp 4 when sponsor reaches Stamp 4
D Join Family (Civil Partner of Irish citizen)
(a) Civil partnership recognised under Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (now largely superseded by marriage equality)
(b) Foreign civil partnerships recognised if equivalent
(c) Same preclearance requirement as spouse
D Join Family (De facto partner > 2 years)
(a) Recognised under Family Reunification Policy 2016
(b) 2+ years cohabitation evidence required (joint bank accounts, joint lease, joint utilities, photographs over time)
(c) Preclearance applies; case-by-case
D Employment (own CSEP)
(a) Applicant has secured CSEP independently
(b) Sponsor is the Irish employer
(c) No preclearance for the visa itself; the CSEP from DETE precedes the D visa application
(d) Grant: Stamp 1 on arrival; renewable
D Study (degree > 3 months at ILEP institution)
(a) Letter of Acceptance from ILEP institution
(b) Tuition paid in advance
(c) Funds for living expenses (EUR 7,000+ baseline)
(d) Private health insurance for study period
(e) Grant: Stamp 2 on arrival; renewable up to programme duration
State which D category applies + the preclearance position for [CLIENT_NAME].
§3 — PRECLEARANCE FOR SPOUSE / CIVIL PARTNER OF IRISH CITIZEN
The Family Reunification Policy + ISD preclearance scheme requires non-EEA spouses / civil partners of Irish citizens to apply for preclearance BEFORE travelling to Ireland for D visa entry.
Workflow:
(a) Sponsor (Irish citizen) submits Preclearance Application via ISD online portal (irishimmigrationonline.ie)
(b) Application bundle includes:
- Sponsor's Irish passport
- Sponsor's proof of residence in Ireland (utility bill / lease / mortgage)
- Marriage certificate (apostilled if foreign)
- Relationship evidence (joint financial, photographs, communications, cohabitation history)
- Sponsor's financial means (payslips, tax records, savings) - to assess no recourse to public funds
- Applicant's passport biographical page
- Applicant's PCC (Police Clearance Certificate from India - via VFS or Passport Seva)
- Applicant's TB clearance (for stays > 6 months from TB-prevalent country - India qualifies)
- Applicant's medical evidence if relevant
(c) Preclearance decision: typically 8-16 weeks (verify) // 2026-05 — verify
(d) Preclearance granted: applicant then files D visa via AVATS (separate fee, separate application) using preclearance reference
(e) D visa decision: 4-8 weeks after preclearance reference cited
(f) On grant: travel to Ireland within visa validity; register for IRP within 90 days of arrival at registration office (Burgh Quay Dublin or local GNIB)
(g) Stamp 4 issued on first IRP
§4 — D VISA APPLICATION (post-preclearance, where applicable)
For [INTENDED_D_PURPOSE]:
A. AVATS application (avats.inis.gov.ie) - separate application from any prior C visa
B. AVATS summary PDF + cover letter
C. Documents:
- Preclearance decision letter (if required)
- Passport (valid 12+ months beyond intended entry; 2+ blank pages)
- Sponsor's IRP / Irish passport (relationship anchor)
- Marriage / civil partnership certificate (apostilled)
- Sponsor's last 6 months bank statements + tax records
- Applicant's funds / employment / business evidence in India (showing return capability if D refused)
- Accommodation in Ireland (sponsor's lease / mortgage)
- TB clearance (for India - approved clinic certificate within 6 months) // 2026-05 — verify TB policy
- Health insurance for first 12 months in Ireland (private)
- Relationship evidence package
- PCC from India (Passport Seva or VFS)
- Photographs (35x45mm)
- Fee (long-stay D fee differs from C - verify current schedule; typically higher)
D. Submit at VFS Global India (for Indian residents) or relevant Irish Embassy
§5 — ON ARRIVAL IN IRELAND POST-D VISA
(a) Land at Dublin Airport (or Cork / Shannon / Knock)
(b) Border immigration: D visa label endorsed; permission stamp into passport
(c) Within 90 days of arrival: register for IRP at:
- Dublin: Burgh Quay Registration Office
- Outside Dublin: local GNIB station
(d) Bring: passport with D visa, sponsor's IRP / Irish passport, marriage certificate, accommodation evidence, fee (EUR 300 per IRP - verify)
(e) Stamp issued:
- Spouse / civil partner of Irish citizen: Stamp 4 (5-year IRP typically)
- Dependant of CSEP holder: Stamp 3 initially, transitions to Stamp 4 when sponsor reaches Stamp 4
- Own CSEP: Stamp 1
- Study: Stamp 2
(f) PPSN application at local Intreo office (Social Welfare) for work / tax / health
(g) GP registration; bank account opening; school enrolment for children
§6 — IF [CURRENT_STATUS] = "IN IRELAND ON C VISA"
The path requires:
(a) Plan a departure from Ireland BEFORE the C visa expires (avoid overstay)
(b) Return to India (or applicant's country of residence)
(c) Initiate preclearance (if required for [INTENDED_D_PURPOSE]) from India
(d) After preclearance grant, file D visa via AVATS
(e) After D visa grant, return to Ireland and register IRP
(f) Total time outside Ireland: typically 4-8 months from C visa departure to D-visa-enabled return
If the C visa is expiring imminently ([TIMING_CONSTRAINTS] indicates urgency):
- Confirm exact C visa expiry date
- Plan departure flight 7-14 days before expiry to allow buffer
- Save all Irish-side evidence (cohabitation, joint accounts opened during C visit, photographs) for use in preclearance file
- DO NOT attempt to convert C-to-D inland; ISD policy is firm
§7 — MARRIAGE IN IRELAND ON C VISA (Special Case)
If [CLIENT_NAME] entered Ireland on a C visa AND is marrying an Irish citizen during the C visit:
(a) 3-month Notification of Intention to Marry under Civil Registration Act 2004 - filed jointly with the Irish citizen partner BEFORE the wedding
(b) Marriage performed by HSE Civil Registrar OR religious officiant authorised under the Act
(c) Post-marriage: ISD has historically required the non-Irish spouse to DEPART Ireland and apply for preclearance + D visa from country of residence
(d) Some inland routes exist in narrow circumstances (extreme compassionate cases, established cohabitation + marriage); however the default expectation is offshore application
(e) Attempting to circumvent by overstaying the C visa post-marriage is treated as a breach of Immigration Act 2004 conditions
State the iron position to the client: marriage in Ireland on a C visa does not auto-confer Stamp 4 inland; preclearance + D visa from country of residence is the safe path.
§8 — TB CLEARANCE FOR D VISA FROM INDIA
For stays > 6 months from TB-prevalent countries (India is on the list):
(a) Pre-entry TB screening at Irish-recognised clinic in India - typically arranged via VFS
(b) Approved clinics in India operated by panel physicians designated by ISD - confirm current list at irishimmigration.ie
(c) TB clearance certificate valid 6 months
(d) Required for D visa file - missing TB clearance = refusal under public health grounds
(e) For children under 11 and pregnant women: modified screening (clinical exam without chest X-ray); coordinate with panel physician
§9 — TIMING PLAN FOR [CLIENT_NAME] (based on [TIMING_CONSTRAINTS])
Construct a dated plan:
- T-0: Plan departure from Ireland (if currently in Ireland on C visa)
- T+0 (post-return to India): Begin preclearance application (if applicable)
- T+8-16 weeks: Preclearance decision
- T+16-24 weeks: D visa AVATS application + TB clearance + PCC
- T+24-32 weeks: D visa grant
- T+24-36 weeks: Travel back to Ireland; register IRP within 90 days
Provide specific dates from [TIMING_CONSTRAINTS].
§10 — RED FLAGS
- Overstaying C visa to "wait for" D visa: breach of Immigration Act 2004; future visa refusals likely
- Marrying on C visa without 3-month notification: marriage void; D visa refused
- Inadequate relationship evidence: preclearance refused
- Sponsor's financial means insufficient: preclearance refused under Family Reunification Policy means test
- TB clearance missed: D visa refused on public health grounds
- PCC from India delayed: D visa decision paused; plan PCC application 8-12 weeks before D filing
End with: "DRAFT C-to-D transition plan - for solicitor or qualified immigration consultant review. Verify against current ISD Family Reunification Policy + preclearance workflow + TB-prevalent country list + AVATS D visa workflow before client submission. Iron rule: C visa cannot be converted to D inland; departure from Ireland + offshore D application is the safe path. Not legal advice."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt