Can I be sponsored by my Irish Partner?

Question

I am moving to Ireland in the winter to be with my Irish partner. Can I stay longer than 90 days by giving proof that my partner can fully support me and more? I am trying to stay in Ireland as long as possible before we decide to get married.

Also how long would it take to be allowed to live in Ireland after marrying an Irish national?

Answer 1

Unfortunately your Irish partner cannot sponsor you to stay in Ireland if you intend to stay for more than 90 days unless you are married.

The law doesn't recognize relationships outside of marriage and so you have no legal rights to stay in Ireland for more than 90 days without the appropriate visas, which are immigrant visas, work visas and study visas. For more information on each then visit the website for the Irish Embassy in your home country.

Regarding the time-frame after you are married this all depends. You can live there straight away but you would not be entitled to work, study or seek benefits from government funds to support you until your visa application is processed and granted, this could takes months, in some cases years.

Answer 2

Just on the off-chance, you have checked you don't have an Irish Grandparent - if you do, you can register yourself as an Irish citizen as a right.

Also, if you can claim 'citizenship by descent' of any European Union country.- Greek, Spanish, polish, French, British etc, then you have the right to live and work in any other EU country (ie Ireland).

Just worth mentioning it.

Answer 3

Yes (s)he can. I sponsored my US citizen boyfirend by doing this. Just went into the head garda immigration office in Dublin city center with my Irish passport & him & wrote a letter of support. They were totally cool about it, just stamped his passport for an extended period. It's not like the US where you need to apply for a visa if you intend to stay over 90 days. When you arrive in Ireland you must have a return ticket to the states with a date less than 90 days away & say you intened to leave within 90 days. Then before the 90 days are up go to the Garda immigration office with him/her and ask for permission to stay longer. You will not be allowed to work but with the letter offinancial support for him you will be fine. Just always make sure to go in & ask for an extension before your dates for permission to stay are up. Irish immigration laws are very lax. As I say, did this with my US boyfriend & was no problem at all, the stamped his passport on the spot (only thing was it was a long wait in line to be seen; my advice, get there really early!)

Good luck!