Civil Partnership

Notice: Immigration Arrangements for Civil Partners

The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 (No.24 of 2010) entered into force on 13 January 2011. The immigration changes arising from this Act are as follows:

 

(1) Definition of a Civil Partner

A civil partner for immigration purposes is defined as either of two persons of the same sex

 

(a) who are parties to a civil partnership registration carried out in Ireland in accordance with the Act where the partnership has not been dissolved or is the subject of a decree of nullity,

(b) who are parties to a legal relationship of a class specified in an order made under Section 5 of the Act. To date two Orders have been made - S.I. No. 649 of 2010 Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2010, S.I. No. 642 of 2011 Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2011 and S.I. No. 505 of 2012 Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2012. See attached Orders.

 

S.I. No. 649 of 2010 CIVIL PARTNERSHIP (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) ORDER 2010 This document is a pdf 

S.I. No. 642 of 2011 CIVIL PARTNERSHIP (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) ORDER 2011 This document is a pdf

S.I. No. 505 of 2012 Civil Partnership (Recognition of Registered Foreign Relationships) Order 2012 This document is a pdf

 

(2) Treatment of Civil Partners in immigration cases 

A civil partner, as defined above, will be treated as equivalent in immigration matters to a person who is married to another person of the opposite sex where the marital relationship has not been dissolved or is the subject of a decree of nullity. In summary, the immigration authorities will treat a civil partnership in the same way as marriage.

Any references to marriage in the information notices on this site can be read as applicable in like manner to civil partnership.

 

(3) Partners

There is no change in the manner in which partners who are neither civil partners (as defined above) nor married persons are dealt with. The existing arrangements continue to apply and the gender mix in such partnerships is not material to the immigration decision.

 

07 January 2013