Irish citizen marrying Chinese citizen - spouse visa advice?

Hi all,

My Fiancé and I plan to get married in Shanghai this coming March. She is a Chinese Citizen who lives and works in Shanghai (she holds a Chinese passport). I am an Irish Citizen who lives and works in Ireland (I hold an Irish passport). We met over three years ago while I was a tourist in China. We never lived with each other in either country during the time that we’ve known each other. We have both travelled over and back from Ireland and China over the last three years to visit each other and I have held an extensive record of our travels and communication (manly via the internet where we used skype, MSN, Dropbox, Gmail and Hotmail) including receipts, photos and videos of each visit.

After we get married in Shanghai we hope to apply for a Spouse visa where she will move to live and work in Ireland with me. I am financially capable of supporting her in the event that she cannot get work in Ireland. Assuming we know nothing about the forms and visas that we need to apply for, we would be grateful if anyone who was in the same or similar situation could provide any and all advice to assist us with making it possible for her to relocate to Ireland with ease.

Also when she relocates to Ireland, how difficult is it now for a non-eu citizen (i.e. Chinese citizen) to apply for a standard job in Ireland. Are there any job agencies specialising in providing non-eu citizens with jobs? She has a degree in business and tourism and speaks fluent English/Mandarin Chinese and some Spanish. Assuming she cannot get a job in Ireland how easy will it be for her to set up her own business, i.e. are there any restrictions under the spouse visa which would disallow her from doing so?

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.

Hi LiChaDe,

After the wedding your wife should apply at the local Irish Embassy for a "D Visa - To Join Spouse" to enter Ireland. You can read more details here:

1. http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Fa ... sh_Citizen
   http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Do ... %20Ireland

You will need to provide quite a lot of documentation as you have not resided together. The fact that you have visited China a number of times and that your then wife will have a number of Irish Visa stamps will ease the process for you. Submit any evidence of your relationship (e.g. letters from family, local politicans if you know any, photos, phone records) that may help. You should also submit evidence that you can support your wife financially.

The good thing about applying in China is that the decision can be made at the local Embassy as they have a visa office, so the decision time should be shorter than the usual advertised time (6-8 weeks). If granted, this visa is valid for 3 months from date of entry. Your wife can then enter on this visa and then apply for a Stamp 4 Residence Permit at your local GNIB office. This is just a formality so you need to both present yourselves, your passports and marriage certificate and she should get her Stamp 4 in her passport. She will also be issued a GNIB card and should also apply for a Re-Entry visa. All these are issued free of charge.

Stamp 4 will allow her to work for any employer or setup her own business. See more details on Stamp 4 rights here:

• http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/Stamps

There are many other threads already on this site about Spouses of Irish citizens and the processes so I'd recommend doing a search to find out more info.

Best of luck!

I know this Consulate.. my advice, don't talk with the Chinese staff at all,
don't engage with them, as they will make your life hell.

Make an appointment and only submit your application to the Irish.
so its Irish Citizen talking to an Irish Citizen.

But, have you really checked all the bull you need, to get
married in China ? as a foreigner.. !
Its a lot easier in Ireland, then you can have your family and Church and all.
Then before the Honeymoon, Get your wife the GNIB stamp-4 and re-entry visa from Burgh Quay.
Its a lot easier then dealing with the consulate, as they are not helpful.

Either way, wishing you and your wife the best of luck.