Living in a couple with different nationalities, including same-sex couples
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From: Department of Justice
- Published on: 10 December 2020
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
- Same-sex couples
- Marriage
- Civil or registered partnership
- Divorce
- Marital property rights
- Rights of cohabitants
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Same-sex couples
Same-sex cohabitants are defined by the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 as people who are living together in a committed intimate relationship but are not married to each other or in a registered civil partnership.
Marriage
You will need to attend an interview with the registrar if you are an EU national marrying a non-EU national or if you or your spouse is a foreign national.
Civil or registered partnership
Couples living in a civil or registered partnership are awarded almost the same rights as married couples in Ireland according to the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010.
Learn more about living in a civil or registered partnership:
Divorce
If you are seeking a divorce from your spouse you can enter into a separation agreement or apply for a judicial separation. If your family home is only registered in one spouse's name that person may be entitled to full ownership of the property.
Marital property rights
If your home was bought and registered in both your name and your spouses name, you are considered joint owners of the property under Irish law.
Rights of cohabitants
Cohabiting couples do not have the same legal rights as people living in civil partnerships or married couples under Irish law. Should a cohabiting couple split up, the family home is considered to be owned by the person whose name is on the title deeds and who originally bought the house.
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