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A non-EEA national who is marrying an Irish national does not have to be resident in Ireland in order for the marriage to take place in Ireland. However, if you are a non-EEA national who wishes to marry an Irish national in Ireland there are certain procedures that must be followed if you are living outside Ireland. It is very important to comply with the rules regarding residence for non-EEA nationals in Ireland and the legal requirements for getting married in Ireland.

Before the marriage

1. You must notify the Registrar that you are getting married. This must be done at least 3 months before the marriage. You must get permission from the Registrar for the non-EEA national to make the 3-month notification by post. The non-EEA national must meet the Registrar in person at least 5 days before the marriage.
2. A non-EEA national who requires a visa to come to Ireland can apply for a short-stay visa (a ‘C’ visa) to visit Ireland.
3. After arriving in Ireland the non-EEA national should get permission to remain by registering with the local immigration registration officer. In Dublin you register at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), and outside Dublin at the local garda district headquarters. Stamp no. 3 will be placed in the non-EEA national’s passport, which means he or she is not allowed to work in Ireland. You can find information about immigration stamps on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).
4. Both the non-EEA national and the Irish national should visit the Registrar in person to get the Marriage Registration Form at least 5 days before the marriage.
5. The marriage takes place.

After the marriage

1. If the non-EEA spouse has a short-stay (C) visa he or she must leave Ireland before the expiry date of the stay granted by the immigration authorities - the maximum stay is 3 months. If the non-EEA spouse intends to return to Ireland to live with his or her Irish spouse he or she can then apply for a long-stay (D) visa. On arrival in Ireland the non-EEA spouse must register with the local immigration registration officer as the spouse of an Irish national
   or
   If the non-EEA spouse is not required to have a visa he or she must register with the local immigration registration officer as the spouse of an Irish national.
2. Registering as the spouse of an Irish national: It is important that the non-EEA spouse is accompanied by their Irish spouse when applying for registration to the local immigration registration officer. They must bring with them the marriage certificate and both valid passports. The residence stamp granted will depend on whether the local immigration registration officer is satisfied that the marriage is genuine. If sufficient evidence is presented to prove the marriage is genuine, a stamp 4 may be issued to the non-EEA national spouse. If not, the case may be referred to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. There is no automatic entitlement to residence in Ireland following marriage to an Irish national. You can find further details about registering as the spouse of an Irish national on the INIS website.
3. Non-EEA nationals who are married to Irish nationals do not require a permit to work in Ireland once they have a stamp 4 endorsed on their passport.
4. A non-EEA national spouse who has been married to an Irish national for 3 years and meets certain residence requirements may apply for Irish citizenship.

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