What is the Fiancé Visa in Ireland?
A fiancé visa in Ireland, also known as the marriage visa, is a type of visa for foreign citizens who are in a relationship with an Irish national and wish to tie the knot with them. With an approved fiancé visa, you can come to Ireland with the intention of marrying your Irish partner.
With that said, if you’re keen on formally saying your I do’s with your Irish partner, here is everything you need to know about the application process for a fiancé visa Ireland.
Understanding the Fiancé Visa in Ireland
With an approved fiancé visa in Ireland, you can visit Ireland and remain in the country for ninety days for the purpose of marrying your Irish partner. Visas that allow you to stay in Ireland for up to ninety days are considered Short Stay or C-type visas.
Once your fiancé visa expires, you will have to leave the country. Of course, you can apply for a Join Family visa if you wish to move to Ireland permanently to be with your partner.
Who is Required and Eligible to Apply for a Fiancé Visa in Ireland?
You must apply for a fiancé visa in Ireland if you come from a country that’s not part of the European Economic Area. If you fall under that category, you must also ensure to meet the following criteria to be able to apply for a marriage visa:
* Must have a valid passport
* Must be financially capable of supporting yourself throughout your stay in Ireland
* Must provide proof that your relationship with your Irish partner is genuine
* Must be visiting Ireland with the intention of getting married
Do note that you’re not allowed to work under this type of visa. That being said, if you plan to emigrate to Ireland for reasons outside of marriage, you can apply for other Ireland visas you’re eligible for.
Steps Involved in Applying for a Fiancé Visa in Ireland
If you’re interested in applying for a fiancé visa in Ireland, here is a brief step-by-step guide that can help you familiarise yourself with the application process:
1) Notify the Register Office in Ireland regarding your upcoming marriage
Before anything else, you must send a notice to a Register Office in Ireland regarding your upcoming marriage. You must inform them at least three months before the date of your planned marriage. Your partner can reach out to their local Civil Registration Service to get a postal marriage notification form and set an appointment with them.
Finally, you and your partner will wait to receive an acknowledgement form or a Marriage Registration Form (MRF) from the Register Office. This form serves as a marriage licence that grants you and your Irish partner permission to tie the knot. Moreover, obtaining the MRF means you can proceed with the fiancé visa application.
2) Fill out an online application and submit the required documents
The next step is to fill out an online application and submit the required documents to the corresponding authorities. After filling out all the necessary forms, you’ll be asked to print and sign an application summary form.
The application summary form includes the following steps you’ll take for the fiancé visa application process. Aside from the filled-out forms, here are the documents you need to submit:
* A valid passport
* Your printed and signed application summary form
* Two coloured passport-sized pictures
* A letter indicating your purpose of travel to Ireland and your duration of stay
* Details of the place you’ll be staying in during your visit to the country
* Proof showing the authenticity of your relationship with your Irish partner
* Proof indicating that you’re financially capable of funding your stay in the country
* Proof indicating that you have strong ties in your country of origin that will make you return upon your visa’s expiration
The said documents must be turned in to authorities within thirty days of submitting the online forms. Furthermore, depending on your unique circumstances, the embassy may require you to submit additional documentation.
3) Pay the corresponding visa fees
The visa application fee amount depends on the type of visa you’ll get. It costs €60 for a single entry visa. On the other hand, the fee amounts to €100 for a multiple entry visa.
Do note that the visa fee cannot be refunded even if your application is rejected. You can also check if you come from a country that’s exempted from paying this fee.
4) Wait to hear a decision from the corresponding authorities
After turning in your fiancé visa application, you and your spouse can now wait to hear a decision from the Irish embassy. You can use your application’s tracking number to keep an eye on your application’s progress.
Generally, you’ll have to wait up to eight weeks before hearing a decision regarding your application. The processing time can take longer than eight weeks for incomplete or erroneous applications.
Conclusion
Filing a fiancé visa in Ireland brings you a step closer to tying the knot with your beloved partner. And if you find yourself struggling during the application process, you can always contact an immigration lawyer to help you with your case.
After all, an experienced immigration lawyer can review your application for any mistakes or omissions. Furthermore, a professional can also guide you throughout the process to resolve any possible problems that occur during the application process.