Now all non–EEA De Facto partners who want to live in Ireland with their Irish National partners need to show that they’ve been living together for more than two years instead of one.
After reviewing the rules around De Facto Immigration Permissions, the Irish Government have reverted the relaxed one year rule back to two years to ensure it is consistent with other relevant immigration rules such as the EU Rights De Facto Treaty Scheme.
The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service say the purpose of these applications is to allow people in genuine long term relationships to continue.
A person is considered a De Facto partner if:
- they have a mutual commitment to a shared life together as though they were married
- the relationship between them is genuine and continuing
- they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
- they are not related by family
This type of immigration permission is for people who have an Irish citizen or Irish resident life partner (the Sponsor) and would like to live with them in Ireland. If the relationship ends, the permission to stay will end too.
Couples will need to produce evidence that they have been living together (cohabiting) for two years such as dated documentary evidence of cohabitation for at least the preceding two years immediately prior to the date of application. Partners who are not living together at the time of the Application will be required to give compelling reasons for this.
See more information on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service’s website.