De Facto Relationship with an Irish National
If you are in a de facto relationship with an Irish national, you can apply for permission to live with your partner in Ireland. If you’re from a visa required country, you’ll need to apply for ‘Join Family (De Facto Irish)’ visa first. If you’re not from a visa required country, you’ll need to get preclearance before travelling to Ireland.
We can help you with the visa/preclearance application, making sure you are able to join your partner in Ireland.
Call us on 01 901 1355, email info@rnlsolicitors.ie or fill in the Free Online Enquiry Form. You can also request a call back and we will contact you at a convenient time.
What is a de facto partner?
If you’re from outside the EEA/Switzerland/UK, you can move to Ireland on the basis that you’re the de facto partner of an Irish national. A de facto partner means that you’ve been living together for two years or more, but you’re not legally married or in a civil partnership.
To qualify as de facto partners in Ireland, you must show that:
- You have lived together for at least two years; and
- You are in a durable, lasting relationship
As the applicant, you must also:
- Be aged 18 or older
- Be a non-EEA/Swiss/UK citizen
- Have a clean criminal record
- Have medical insurance
- Intend to live with your de facto partner in Ireland
Your Irish partner must sponsor you
Your Irish partner must act as your ‘sponsor’. He or she must meet the following requirements:
- Be an Irish national
- Intend to live in Ireland
- Not be on social welfare benefits, and not have been reliant on benefits for two years before the application
- Have earned at least €40,000 in the past three years (or more, if also sponsoring children)
- Not have sponsored (or have been sponsored by) anyone else in the past seven years
How to move to Ireland as the de facto partner of an Irish national
Before you begin the application process, you need to check if you’re from a visa required country on the Immigration Service Delivery website.
If you’re from a visa required country, then you need to get a long stay D Join Family visa before travelling to Ireland. Specifically, you need a ‘Join Family (De Facto Irish)’ visa. Once you land in Ireland, you and your de facto partner must register with a local Immigration Officer.
If you’re not from a visa required country, then you need to apply for preclearance before travelling to Ireland. Once you land in Ireland, you and your de facto partner must register with a local Immigration Officer.
Can my children join me?
Your children can join you in Ireland if you are the non-EEA de facto partner of an Irish national. This includes children under the age of 18, and children between the ages of 18 and 23 who are in full-time education. Your children will need to make a separate application. Also, your partner (as the sponsor) must show sufficient earnings to support both you and your child.
Get help with the application process
If you want to move to Ireland with your de facto partner, contact us at RNL Solicitors. We specialise in Irish immigration and can:
- Confirm whether you are eligible to join your de facto partner in Ireland
- Confirm whether your children are able to accompany you to Ireland
- Explain the requirements for both you and your sponsor
- Manage the visa/preclearance application process for you
- Guide you through an appeal
- Help you extend your immigration permission
The success of your application hinges on the documents you submit. Both you and your sponsor must provide evidence that you meet the requirements, as set out by the Immigration Service Delivery. This includes evidence of your relationship, your sponsor’s finances and your cohabitation. If you do not include the correct supporting documentation, your application will be rejected.
When you ask us for help, we’ll make sure that you meet the requirements and that your application is complete. We’ll manage the entire process for you, making it as simple and as straightforward as possible.
Contact us now
We work with individuals and corporations across the globe. We can be contacted outside of Irish office working hours and can communicate with you via phone, email and WhatsApp.
Call us on 01 901 1355, email info@rnlsolicitors.ie or fill in the Free Online Enquiry Form. You can also request a call back and we will contact you at a convenient time.
De Facto Relationship with an Irish National – quick facts
Can I join my Irish partner in Ireland?
As a non-EEA, non-UK or non-Swiss citizen, you can only join an unmarried partner in Ireland if:
- You have been living together for two years; and
- Your partner is an Irish national; and
- You partner is able to sponsor you
What if I’m from the EEA/Switzerland or the UK?
UK nationals are allowed to live and work in Ireland under the Common Travel Area. Citizens from EU/EEA member states and Switzerland can live and work in Ireland without restrictions. If you’re from one of these countries, you can join your de facto partner in Ireland without getting a visa or preclearance.
What is a de facto partner?
In Ireland, you are considered a de facto partner if you have been living together for at least two years but you are not legally married or in a civil partnership.
What happens when my visa/preclearance is approved?
Once your visa is approved, or you receive your preclearance letter, you have six months to travel to Ireland. If more than six months passes, you will have to apply again.
Can I work in Ireland as a de facto partner of an Irish national?
You’ll be granted Stamp 4 permission if your application is successful. This allows you to work in Ireland without an employment permit.
How long can I stay in Ireland as a de facto partner of an Irish national?
You will be allowed to stay for 12 months. You can extend your immigration permission six weeks before it expires.
Do you want to join your de facto partner in Ireland?
Call us on 01 901 1355, email info@rnlsolicitors.ie or fill in the Free Online Enquiry Form. You can also request a call back and we will contact you at a convenient time.
