Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
203. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the dependant partner (details supplied) of an Irish citizen in circumstances in which the Irish citizen's partner wishes to return here for a temporary period; and if, in those circumstances, the dependant partner can work here. [18556/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to the presence in the State of foreign nationals who are the partners of Irish citizens are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. I have been informed that the partner of an Irish citizen may be granted a Stamp 4 residence permission, if they meet the qualifying criteria for the De Facto Partner Immigration Permission (DFPIP) scheme which is administered by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of the Department of Justice and Equality.
This Stamp 4 permission is granted for one year and allows the applicant to reside and work in the State without the need to seek an employment permit or a business permission.
To qualify for the de facto partner scheme, the applicant and their Irish partner must be living together and they will need to provide evidence of at least two year’s cohabitation immediately prior to the date of their application.
If the foreign national partner does not qualify for the DFPIP scheme, it is open to them to make an application for an employment permit if they have a qualifying job offer.
