De Facto Partner Visa Ireland: Bring Your Unmarried Partner to Ireland

If your application is successful and you receive permission to live in Ireland as the de facto partner of an Irish citizen, you can work without applying for a separate employment permit.

You may also:

• Study or undertake voluntary work
• Travel abroad for short periods and return to Ireland, subject to the relevant entry requirements
• Apply to bring eligible dependent children under 18 to Ireland

However, this permission comes with conditions. You cannot:

• Bring other family members outside the eligible dependent children covered by the scheme
• Continue living in Ireland under this permission if your Irish partner leaves the country permanently
• Keep the same permission if your relationship ends
• Rely on public funds or State resources

Your initial permission is granted for 12 months and can be renewed if you continue to meet the relevant requirements.

If your relationship or circumstances change, you should seek immigration advice before assuming you can remain under the same permission.

If you want to join your Irish partner in Ireland, you must apply for the appropriate visa or preclearance before travelling.

The application depends on your nationality. Visa-required nationals must apply for a Long Stay D Join Family Visa, while non-visa-required nationals must obtain preclearance approval.

You must apply from your home country or a country where you are legally resident and remain outside Ireland while your application is being processed.

Step 1: Complete the Online Application

Start by completing the online application through Ireland’s Automated Visa Application and Tracking System (AVATS).

Select the following options:

For visa-required nationals:

• Visa/preclearance type: Long Stay (D)
• Journey type: Single or multiple entry
• Reason for travel: Visa – Join Family (De Facto Irish)

For non-visa-required nationals:

• Visa/preclearance type: Long Stay (D)
• Journey type: Single entry
• Reason for travel: Preclearance – Join Family (De Facto Irish)

Once you have completed the form, print, sign and date the application summary and declaration.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents and Pay the Fee

Gather the documents needed to demonstrate your identity, relationship, finances and eligibility.

The standard application fee is €60 for preclearance or a single-entry visa, or €100 for a multiple-entry visa. Some applicants are exempt, and additional document-handling charges may apply.

You must submit your supporting documents and applicable fee to the correct office within 30 days of completing the online form.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Send your passport, signed application summary and supporting documents to the office specified in your application instructions.

The submission location depends on where you live. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully, as sending documents to the wrong office could delay processing.

The Irish immigration authorities will review your application and may request further information before making a decision.

You should not make travel arrangements that depend on approval until you have received a decision.

You and your Irish partner must provide documents showing that your relationship is genuine, that you have lived together for at least two years and that you meet the immigration requirements.

The documents are divided into those required from the applicant, the Irish sponsor and both partners.

Documents Required From the Applicant

As the person applying to join your Irish partner, you will need:

• A completed, signed and dated application summary form
• Two recent passport-sized colour photographs
• A current passport valid for at least 12 months from your intended arrival date, along with copies of previous passports
• Evidence of payment of the visa or preclearance fee, where applicable
• A letter explaining why you want to move to Ireland, your intended stay and relevant personal circumstances
• Bank statements covering the previous six months
• Evidence of private medical insurance meeting Irish immigration requirements
• A police clearance certificate, issued within the previous six months, from your current country of residence and countries where you have lived during the previous five years
• Details of previous visa refusals, if applicable
• Evidence of lawful residence if applying from a country other than your country of nationality

Additional documents, including biometrics, may be required depending on your circumstances.

Documents Required From the Irish Sponsor

Your Irish partner must provide:

• Colour copies of every page of their current Irish passport and previous passports
• A signed sponsorship letter confirming their relationship with you and their intention to support your application
• Bank statements covering the previous six months
• Evidence that they meet the financial requirements for sponsoring a de facto partner
• An employment contract, three recent payslips, tax returns and an employer’s letter, where employed
• Business bank statements and tax assessments, where self-employed
• Evidence of other financial resources, where applicable

The sponsorship letter should also explain your partner’s address history, relevant family circumstances and any previous sponsorship applications.

Documents Required From Both Partners

You must also provide evidence of your relationship and living arrangements, including:

• Proof that you have lived together for at least two years, such as tenancy agreements, mortgage documents or utility bills
• A detailed history of your relationship, including when you met and began living together
• Evidence of your ongoing relationship, such as correspondence, travel records or other supporting documents
• Evidence of shared financial responsibilities, including joint accounts, transfers or shared purchases
• Details of your intended accommodation in Ireland
• Divorce, separation or death certificates where either partner was previously married

If you are not currently living together, you should explain the reasons and provide evidence of your previous cohabitation.

Documents must meet the Irish immigration authorities’ requirements for originals, translations and certification. If you cannot provide the requested document, include an explanation and any available alternative evidence.

Once the Irish immigration authorities receive your application, they will check that you have selected the correct application category, provided the necessary documents and paid the applicable fee.

Applications are processed in the order they are received. Processing times can vary, so you should check the latest updates from Immigration Service Delivery.

If Your Application Is Approved

If you are from a non-visa-required country, you will receive a preclearance approval letter.

Visa-required applicants will receive a Long Stay D visa in their passport.

Both the preclearance letter and visa are valid for six months. You must travel to Ireland within the validity period or submit a new application.

Before travelling, check that your approval details are correct and keep your passport, approval documents and evidence of medical insurance with you.

Approval allows you to travel to Ireland for the approved purpose. It does not guarantee entry, as an immigration officer makes the final decision at the border.

If Your Application Is Refused

If your application is refused, you will receive a letter explaining the reasons and whether you can appeal.

Where an appeal is permitted, it must be submitted to the relevant Irish immigration office within 8 weeks of the refusal letter.

The appeal is free and must be submitted by post. You should address the reasons for the refusal and provide additional evidence where needed.

Only one appeal is permitted per application. If your appeal is unsuccessful, you may be able to submit a fresh application, depending on your circumstances.

Our immigration lawyers can review the refusal decision and advise you on the next steps.

When you arrive in Ireland, you must present your passport and valid Long Stay D visa or preclearance approval letter to the immigration officer at border control.

You may also be asked to provide evidence of your relationship, accommodation and medical insurance.

If you are granted entry, you must register your immigration permission before your landing stamp expires.

Registering Your Immigration Permission

You must register your permission to remain in Ireland for more than 90 days as the de facto partner of an Irish citizen.

If your registration is successful, you will receive Stamp 4 immigration permission for an initial 12 months.

Stamp 4 allows you to work in Ireland without a separate employment permit, subject to the conditions of your permission.

Renewing Your De Facto Partner Permission

You must renew your immigration permission before it expires.

You should begin preparing for renewal around 6 weeks before the expiry date and ensure that you still meet the scheme’s requirements.

If you have dependent children aged 16 or over living with you in Ireland, they may also need to register and renew their immigration permission.

Your right to remain depends on continuing to meet the relevant conditions, including maintaining your qualifying relationship with your Irish partner.

Irish citizen sponsors must demonstrate that they have earned at least €40,000 in gross income over the 3 years immediately before the application, excluding State welfare payments.

The Irish immigration authorities assess the sponsor’s financial circumstances to determine whether they meet the requirements for supporting their partner in Ireland.

Supporting evidence may include employment records, recent payslips, bank statements and relevant tax documents, such as Employment Detail Summaries issued by Revenue.

Self-employed sponsors may need to provide business accounts and tax assessments.

The financial requirements may differ where the sponsor is not an Irish citizen or where additional family members are included in the application.

Our immigration lawyers can review your financial circumstances and explain the evidence needed for your application.