Irish Civil Partner Visa

Individuals from a non-EEA country who would like to apply for a civil partner or spouse visa need to be able to meet the following requirements:

• The applicant must be at least 18 years old at the time of application
• Both partners must have entered into a valid civil partnership that was conducted in a lawful manner recognised by Ireland
• The applicant must be in a civil partnership with an Irish national
• The applicant is residing in the same household as a family unit with their Irish civil partner
• Both civil partners intend to continuously reside together in Ireland
• The Irish partner has earned €40,000 in the last 3 years (this sum must be over and above any State benefits received)
• The non-EEA partner is of ‘good character’ with no serious criminal offenses

A civil partnership can be classified as legal recognition of a relationship entered into by two people who are not related to each other. Both same-sex and opposite-sex couples can enter into civil partnerships.

Due to the Marriage Act 2015, civil partnerships entered into after 16 May 2016 will not be recognised in Ireland. Instead, civil partners are encouraged to apply for marriage. If married, the civil partnership will automatically dissolve.

For more information regarding marriage or civil partnership, visit the Irish Department of Justice and Equality website.

Non-EEA nationals who would like to join their partner in Ireland will need to be sponsored for a visa by their partner. Eligibility for sponsorship will depend on the sponsor’s immigration status. Those who can sponsor their family members for a visa include the following:

• An Irish national (either currently residing in Ireland or has future plans to settle in Ireland)
• Foreign nationals who are Employment Permit Holders and thereby are lawful residents
• Foreign nationals who possess Stamp 4 immigration permission and are therefore lawful residents
• Foreign nationals who possess Stamp 5 immigration permission and are therefore lawful residents
• Researchers in Ireland who are under a Hosting Agreement (this includes individuals with a Critical Skills Employment permit)
• Ph.D. students who are studying for a doctorate at an accredited Irish educational institution
• Ministers of Religion who have obtained Stamp 3 immigration permission

EU nationals and partners who are from a non-visa-required country can enter Ireland and then apply for a civil partner/spouse visa once in the country.

However, individuals who are from a non-EEA country will first need to apply for entry into Ireland. To do this, the civil partners may apply for a long-stay (join family) visa under Ireland’s Family Reunification scheme. This visa will grant the partner temporary permission to remain in Ireland until they receive approval for their civil partner visa.

Non-EEA civil partners can have their sponsors apply for a Join Family Member (D) visa on their behalf online through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

Once the online application form has been completed, the supporting documents have been sent to INIS, and the visa fee has been paid, the visa application will then be sent to the nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate in the country where the foreign partner resides.

It should be noted that all necessary supporting documents must be sent to INIS within 30 days of when the D visa application was submitted.

Once in Ireland, the civil partner will then need to apply for residency permission by completing ‘Application for permission to remain in the State on the basis of marriage/civil partnership to an Irish national’ form. This application will need to be submitted in writing and sent by registered post to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) along with any supporting documents to the following address:

Spouse/Civil Partner of Irish National Unit
Residence Division – Unit 6
Immigration Service Delivery
PO Box 12695, Dublin 2

If the Civil Partner visa Ireland application is approved, the applicant will receive a letter of approval which they must submit to the immigration officer in person. This can be done by scheduling an appointment with the local immigration office to register the partner’s immigration permission. Both the civil partners will need to attend this appointment together.

If you are applying for this Join Family Member (D) visa to come to Ireland, you will need to submit the following documents after completing your online application:

• The fully completed and signed D visa application form
• Your current passport (passport must have four clean pages in it and have at least 12 months validity remaining)
• Any previous passports (if applicable)
• The visa fee receipt
• 2 colour passport photos
• Sufficient evidence of a relationship to the sponsor (ex. civil partnership certificate)
• A full account of the relationship history (it should be noted that relationships that developed solely over the internet or by phone/text will not be considered as bonafide. There must be physically present face-t0-face meetings between both parties. )
• A signed letter that outlines the reason for coming to Ireland along with details of your civil partner who is in Ireland along with any other family member who may be residing in Ireland as well.
• Any documents or evidence which prove the sponsor’s current permission to be in Ireland and their eligibility for sponsorship
• Detail of past visa refusal (if applicable)
• Evidence of you and your civil partner’s finances (ex. bank statements, pay slips, income tax forms, etc)
• Evidence of the foreign national’s medical or travel insurance

When applying for a civil partner visa, the following documents must be sent with the application form:

• The completed application form (This needs to be signed and dated by both partners)
• The original civil partnership certificate
• The foreign partner’s original passport
• The original birth certificate of the foreign partner
• The sponsor’s (Irish national) original and valid passport (passport cards will not be accepted)
• The sponsor’s (Irish national) original birth certificate
• Divorce papers from either  partner’s previous marriages (if applicable)
• Bank statements from the past 6 months from the accounts of both partners
• Any evidence which proves that the foreign partner has private medical insurance
• Any financial evidence that can prove the sponsor (Irish national) has earned at least €40,000 in the previous 3 years (ex: payslips, P60s/Employment Detail Summary, P21 Revenue Commissioner Statements, etc)
• Any evidence that can prove joint accommodation of the couple (ex: tenancy/lease agreements, mortgage statements, proof of homeownership, etc)
• Any documents which have your joint address and both partners’ names on them (ex: utility bills, television license, letters addressed to both partners/partners from their child’s school, etc)
• Photocopies of all original documents

All original documents will be returned after visa processing. Photocopies of the original documents will be kept and retained on file. It is important to include all necessary documents with your fully completed application form. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the sender.

The cost of a civil partner or spouse visa will depend on whether or not the foreign national is in Ireland or will need immigration permission to enter, that is, a Join Family Member (D) visa. In general, the visa fees are as follows:

• Single Journey visa (this will allow you to stay in Ireland for up to 90 days): €60
• Multi-journey visa (this will allow you to enter Ireland multiple times for up to 5 years): €100
• Irish Residence Permit (if granted permission to remain after 90 days): €300
• Private medical insurance: costs will vary
• Certified translations of documents that are not in English or Irish: costs will vary

For more details regarding the total cost of a civil partner or spouse visa, contact an immigration attorney who is experienced in Irish law.