A group representing international doctors working in Ireland has called for reform of the visa processing system, to enable family members join them.
The Irish Society of International Doctors (ISID) said hundreds of doctors have been facing lengthy delays in getting visas for their spouse and children to join them, or for their parents to visit for a short period.
Dr Liqa ur Rehman of the ISID told RTÉ News the delays are affecting the mental, social and family lives of international doctors who want to stay working in the Irish health system and who contribute greatly to it.
He said that an ISID survey has found the rejection rate for visas is around 50%.
In a statement, the Department of Justice said there are several different legal pathways available to doctors who wish to practice in Ireland and the entitlement to family reunification varies depending on the permission granted.
It added that the overall approval rate for family reunification visas is approximately 95%.
The department said that doctors from outside Europe make an enormous contribution to the health service and that changes have been made in recent years to make Ireland a more attractive place for doctors to relocate to.
The department said that doctors who are residing in the State under Critical Skills Employment Permits (CSEP) and two-year multi-site General Employment Permits (GEP) can apply for immediate family reunification.
It added that this means that they can apply for family at the same time as their own visa permission is being sought and they are processed in tandem.
If the doctor chooses not to apply for immediate reunification, applications for Join Family visas are carried out in the same manner as for Category A sponsors which means they can apply for reunification after they enter the State at any time.
The department said it believes the rejection rate for family reunification of a doctor's family members is not 50%, as suggested.
Studies show that the Irish health system is heavily dependent on doctors from outside of the European Union, making up over half of those newly registered in Ireland.
Dr Rehman said that if someone's spouse or child is not able to join them here for years, there will be a brain drain as they may emigrate to other countries in the EU, or Australia or the US.
He said that the international doctors have the skills and capabilities to go anywhere in the world and come to Ireland in good faith and want a future here.
The ISID said it has been trying to engage with the visa section of the Department of Justice to establish what the difficulties are but so far without success.
Dr Rehman is from Pakistan and came to Ireland in 2016 as a doctor with his family and said he loves working here.
He trained here for eight years and works as a paediatrician.
The ISID was set up in 2021 to improve the social, family and career prospects of these doctors.
The most recent Medical Council workforce report found that the Irish health service is heavily reliant on posts filled by overseas doctors not in training, some of whom report being overworked, undervalued and experience discrimination.
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The experience of Dr A
Dr A qualified in medicine in 2014 and has worked in a number of countries.
He asked not to be identified due to concerns that this could affect his application for a joint family visa.
He works for the HSE and says he came to Ireland due to the traditional hospitality and kindness of Irish people.
Dr A married in 2019 and first applied for a visa for his spouse and daughter to join him in 2021.
"I found the process and documentation so lengthy and cumbersome that I was unable to complete it at the time and had to give up," he told RTÉ News.
Dr A said he applied again in 2023 and after a nine-month wait was refused because he had not signed a name and date on the photos of his spouse and daughter that had been submitted.
"It is very difficult. It causes me depression and decreases my energy level and enthusiasm," he said.
"Once my spouse and child are here it will lift my mood."
Dr A said he was thankful to the HSE as they had taken note of the issues.
He also said the Minister for Health had asked for a list of all of the doctors affected to help solve the matter.
