De Facto Partner – In
Ireland

People who are already living legally in Ireland on another permission, and who have lived with their partner for at least 2 years, may be able to apply for permission as that partner's de facto partner without leaving the country. The rules apply to same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Not everyone can apply from inside Ireland. The applicant must hold an existing permission: people who entered on a short stay visa or visa waiver, hold a Working Holiday Authorisation, are international protection applicants or are in Ireland unlawfully can't use this route. The partner sponsoring the application must be an Irish or UK national living in Ireland, or a non-EEA national holding Stamp 1, 4 or 5; people on Stamp 2 or Stamp 3 can't act as sponsors. The couple must show 2 years of living together, a detailed relationship history and financial interdependence, along with private medical insurance and police clearance certificates from foreign countries lived in during the past 5 years. Applications are made through the ISD Online Portal, and incomplete applications are returned. The permission granted depends on the partner: Stamp 4 for partners of Irish citizens, Stamp 4D for partners of UK nationals, and Stamp 1G for partners of Critical Skills holders, researchers and, since May 2024, General Employment Permit and ICT holders. A refusal can be reviewed if requested within 2 months.

Stamp 4, 4D and 1G all let you work without an employment permit. We'll confirm which applies to you.

You won't meet the de facto partner rules yet. We can talk through other options or when to apply.

Applications with missing documents are returned automatically, which costs time. We check everything before submitting.

Yes. You can request a review within 2 months of the decision, and a different officer carries it out.