Ireland De Facto Partner Visa
If you are in a de facto relationship with an Irish citizen or a person legally residing in Ireland, you might be able to apply for the De Facto Partner Visa and come live with them in Ireland.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to receive assistance with your application.
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What is the De Facto / Unmarried Partner Visa?
A de facto partner is someone who is in a genuine long-term relationship that is not marriage or civil partnership. The De Facto Partner Visa is intended for non-EEA citizens who are in de facto relationships with Irish citizens or Irish permanent residents. Successful applicants have the right to come to Ireland to join their loved one and stay there for more than 3 months.
Both homosexual and heterosexual individuals can qualify for the De Facto Partner Visa provided that they meet the eligibility requirements.
If you obtain the De Facto Partner Visa, you will be able to work in Ireland without having to apply for an employment permit. You will also have the right to study or start your own business, and you will have access to state funds and services.
Our lawyers can assess your situation and determine whether you are eligible for the De Facto Partner Visa.
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What are the eligibility requirements?
For your relationship to qualify as a de facto relationship for immigration purposes, it has to meet the following criteria:
- You can prove that you and your partner are in a genuine and ongoing relationship
- You have lived with your partner for at least two years
- You are not related to your partner
- You plan to live with your partner in a way similar to marriage or civil partnership in practice but not in law
- Your partner is an Irish citizen or has permanent residency in Ireland
- You and your partner have enough funds to support yourself as a couple after you join them in Ireland.
As part of the de facto application process for this particular Irish visa, you have to submit documents that prove that you meet these criteria.
Those who are citizens of EU/EEA countries can come to Ireland to join their partners without a visa. That means that they do not have to meet any specific requirements to be able to enter Ireland.
What is the application process for an Irish De Facto Visa?
Before you can submit the application for the De Facto Partner Visa to Ireland, you have to apply for Irish Immigration Preclearance. The application for it costs €100. All non-EEA citizens who want to come to Ireland as de facto partners of Irish citizens or permanent residents have to apply for it. Only after you have been granted a Preclearance letter, can you apply for your Irish Visa. Non-visa-required nationals can complete their Irish De Facto visa application through the online application system.
The next step is to pay the visa application fee of €60 for a single-entry permit or €100 for a multi-entry one. After making the payment, you have to start gathering supporting documents that prove your eligibility for the De Facto Partner Visa.
You have to send all of them to the application office mentioned on the summary application form displayed after you submitted your online application form. You have 30 days from submitting the online application to provide all the required documents.
When you land in Ireland, you have to register at an immigration service registration office to receive permission to stay in Ireland for more than 3 months.
What supporting documents are required?
The exact documents you have to provide during the application process will depend on your individual circumstances. Nevertheless, evidence that everyone has to submit includes:
- A valid passport or travel document
- Two passport-size photographs in color
- A letter of application detailing why you want to come to Ireland
- Proof confirming that your relationship with the Irish citizen or permanent resident is genuine and pre-existing
- Evidence showing that you and your partner lived together for at least two years
- Details about your relationship, including information about how and when you met
- Information about your and your partner’s finances.
Once you submit all the documents, an immigration officer will review them and determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements for the De Facto Partner Visa.
There is no specific waiting time to hear the decision regarding the application for this type of visa as they are processed in chronological order. Nevertheless, on average, applicants wait around 6 months for immigration services to process their application.
If you hire one of our immigration lawyers, they can help you prepare a complete portfolio of evidence. It is advisable that you consult a lawyer before submitting your supporting documents as the failure to include some of them could lead to your application being delayed or rejected.
What are the financial requirements for the De Facto Partner Visa?
To be able to obtain the De Facto Partner Visa, you have to prove that you and your partner have enough money to support yourselves as a couple after you join them in Ireland.
As part of the application, you have to provide extra supporting documents of your finances, as well as those of your de facto partner living in Ireland. The financial information you have to submit includes:
- Statements from your and your partner’s bank accounts for the period of 6 months immediately before prior your De Facto Partner Visa application
- Your partner’s P60s for the period of 3 years immediately prior to your application (if they are resident in Ireland)
- Your partner’s 3 most recent consecutive payslips (unless they are self-employed)
You have to make sure that all the documents you submit are originals. Photocopies will be rejected.
How can IAS help?
Applying for the De Facto Partner Visa can be difficult as there are many criteria you need to meet and documents you have to provide.
At IAS, we have a team of highly qualified immigration lawyers who can guide you through the whole process, making sure you understand all the requirements. Thanks to their help, you can be certain that there are no mistakes in your application and that your case is as strong as possible. This way you can maximize the chances of your De Facto Partner Visa application being approved.
Our lawyers are committed to helping couples avoid separation and they can help you obtain your De Facto Partner Visa and come to Ireland to live with your loved one.
Call us today on +1 844 290 6312 to find out more about how we can help.
Legal Disclaimer
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, the law may change, and the information may not reflect the most current legal developments. No warranty is given regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information, and we do not accept liability in such cases. We recommend consulting with a qualified lawyer at Immigration Advice Service before making any decisions based on the content provided.
Last modified on May 2nd, 2024 at 8:22 am
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Frequently Asked Questions
You check the progress in the processing of your De Facto Partner Visa application by visiting the website of the Department of Justice. You need to use your reference number to get information regarding the status of your application.
If your visa application is rejected, you will receive a refusal letter explaining the reason for the refusal. You can appeal the decision within 8 weeks. The appeal process is free but you can only go through it once.
The Irish Immigration Preclearance is a process that all applicants for the De Facto Partner Visa to Ireland have to go through before they can apply for their actual visa. The cost of applying for a preclearance letter is €100 and everyone who wants to obtain the De Facto Partner Visa has to go through it, no matter their nationality.
If your application for preclearance is approved, you will be issued a preclearance letter. You will have to show it to immigration officials after you arrive in Ireland. Your letter will be valid for 6 months. If you do not arrive in Ireland within these 6 months, you will have to apply for preclearance again.
Obtaining the De Facto Partner Visa does not automatically guarantee you entry to Ireland. When you arrive in the country, an immigration official will review your documents and decide whether or not to grant you permission to enter.
If they allow you in, you will receive a landing stamp on your passport. Then, you will have to go to an immigration office to register and get permission to spend more than 3 months in Ireland.
The cost of the De Facto Partner Visa depends on whether you want to obtain a single-entry or a multiple-entry permit. For the former, you have to pay €60 and for the latter €100. This fee is non-refundable even if your application is rejected or withdrawn. This is why you should hire an immigration lawyer and make sure that your application has been completed to the highest standard.
In addition to the visa application fee, you have to pay €100 for the Irish Immigration Preclearance. There might also be additional fees, for example, for having your documents issued or translated.