Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 May 2025
301. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice the number of applicants that have applied for residence permission for their spouse/ partner under the ‘de factor relationship with an Irish National’ process in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21838/25]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that a De facto partnership is where a non-EEA national is in a long-term relationship but is not married to, or in a civil partnership, with the sponsor.
If a non-EEA national wishes to move to Ireland as a de facto partner, they must apply from outside the State and be granted permission prior to travel.
Visa required nationals will need to apply for a Join Family visa, while non-visa required nationals must apply for pre-clearance in advance of travelling.
For individuals already resident in the State on an existing immigration permission and who are eligible for De facto partnership permission, they can apply to the Domestic Residence and Permissions (DRP) division using the online portal, which can be accessed here: https://inisonline.jahs.ie/user/login.
Further information on the requirements and application process are available on my Department's Immigration Service website at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/my-situation-has-changed-since-i-arrived-in-ireland/de-facto-partner-of-an-irish-or-non-eea-national/#who.
Table 1 below outlines the number of people who applied for either a visa, or pre-clearance, to enter the State as a de facto partner of an Irish citizen from 2020, up to 31 March 2025.
Table 2 below outlines the number of De facto applications received by the DRP Division from 2020, up to 31 March 2025.
Table 1
|
Year |
Join Family (Irish nat.)(de facto partner) |
Preclearance – Join Family (Irish nat.)(de facto partner) |
|
2020 |
29 |
1 |
|
2021 |
64 |
77 |
|
2022 |
53 |
71 |
|
2023 |
39 |
57 |
|
2024 |
55 |
54 |
|
2025 (Up to 31 March) |
12 |
19 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing
Table 2
|
Year |
De Facto Relationship |
|
2020 |
308 |
|
2021 |
320 |
|
2022 |
391 |
|
2023 |
369 |
|
2024 |
567 |
|
2025 (Up to 31 March) |
233 |
* Please note, figures are correct at time of issue, however, all statistics may be subject to data cleansing
