Spouse & Civil Partner Visa
If you are married to or in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen, you may qualify to live in Ireland with your partner. This permission can also extend in certain cases where your spouse or partner is from the UK, EEA, Switzerland, or a non-EEA national holding valid work permission in Ireland.
The application process usually takes four to six months and requires completing the correct forms, providing original documents, and meeting eligibility criteria. Careful preparation of your application helps ensure smoother processing and a higher chance of approval.
Table of Content:
Introduction
If you are married to, or in a civil partnership with, an Irish, UK, EEA, or Swiss national, or a non-EEA national work permit holder in Ireland, you may be eligible to live in Ireland with your spouse or partner. A change of status may apply if you are already residing in Ireland under a different permission and your circumstances change due to marriage or civil partnership.
The application process typically takes four to six months, so it is important to plan accordingly.Civil Partnerships in Ireland
Civil partnerships entered into before 16 May 2016 outside Ireland are still recognised under Irish law. However, those entered into after this date are no longer recognised, as Ireland now recognises marriage equality under the Marriages Act 2015.
Same-sex marriages conducted abroad before the law change in 2015 are now officially recognised in Ireland from 16 November 2015 onward. More details can be found on the Department of Justice website.How to Apply ?
The process depends on your spouse or partner’s status in Ireland:
If your spouse/partner is an Irish national:
You need to complete the Spouse/Civil Partner of an Irish National Application Form and submit it with original documents to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD).
If your spouse/partner is a non-EEA work permit holder:
You must complete the dependent application form and provide all required supporting documentation.
Eligibility Criteria
- Your spouse must hold a valid permission such as Stamp 1, Stamp 4, or Stamp 5.
- You must have entered Ireland legally. Applications from people unlawfully present will be refused.
- Applications will not be accepted if you are under a deportation order or any requirement to leave the State.
- You must have good character and follow Irish laws.
- You must provide proof of relationship and evidence of your spouse’s current legal activity in Ireland.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if my application is approved?
What happens if my application is refused?
What are the conditions of my Stamp 4 permission?
If you are granted Stamp 4 permission, the following conditions apply to your temporary permission to remain in Ireland:
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You must live in the same household as your Irish spouse or civil partner as part of a family unit.
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You are required to obey the laws of Ireland and must not engage in any criminal activity.
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You and your spouse/civil partner must reside continuously in Ireland, meaning full-time residence as indicated by the stamps in your passport.
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You should make every effort to gain employment. If you fail to work without a reasonable explanation and become a burden on the State, your permission may not be renewed.
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Granting your permission does not entitle any other person to enter or remain in Ireland.
You may only be absent from Ireland for short periods, such as holidays, family emergencies, or work-related commitments within the State. For spouses or civil partners of Irish nationals, absences should not exceed three months in a year.
Important: Long absences from Ireland may affect your renewal of Stamp 4 permission and could have a negative impact on any citizenship application in the future.