De Facto going towards naturalisation

[Aronnnnnnn]

Hi all.

I received my third stamp 4 on De Facto basis and Im trying to figure out what the minimum time of recognizable residence is in order to apply for citizenship. Is it 3 years or 5 years?
De Facto visa states that the applicant must prove the relationship to be akin to marriage, hence thinking recognisable residence might be 3 years? The government website seems to be very limited on this information regarding de facto.

Also, I have heard that application for naturalisation apparently takes ages and that people should start applying even up to a year in advance? Is this the norm/advisable? I want to have all my ducks in a row for applying. I currently have 800 days of recognisable residence in Ireland, living with my Irish partner, I'm working hard and paying taxes, good citizen, and we just became parents to our baby son.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

[meself2]

Also, I have heard that application for naturalisation apparently takes ages and that people should start applying even up to a year in advance? Is this the norm/advisable?

Haven't heard of that and highly doubt it works like such; if you apply after 4 years here, your application will probably be refused since acknowledgement letter would be sent way before that. Also, you'll have to show a printout for residency calculator that shows you've been here for 5 years.

De Facto visa states that the applicant must prove the relationship to be akin to marriage, hence thinking recognisable residence might be 3 years?

Don't think that's the case. Citizeninformation mentions it works for both spouses and civil partners, but nothing about de facto; as if goes on ISD website as well,

A de facto relationship is a relationship which meets the following criteria:

You both have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others, similar to a marriage or civil partnership in practice though not in law

so I'd assume you don't have quicker citizenship entitlements due to not making it official. You can always ask citizenship team, nothing to lose.

[littlerr]

Unless you are married, which means you have a marriage certificate, you need 5 years. You cannot apply even a day early.

[meself2]

adding to that, https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/m ... ation.html

You can apply if you live in Ireland or Northern Ireland and meet the following conditions:

You are 18 or over.
You have been married for 3 years or more.
You have lived on the island of Ireland for 3 out of the 5 years before you make your application (see ‘Calculating reckonable residence’ below).

so you have to spend at least 3 years married before you can apply through the 3 year route

[Aronnnnnnn]

Thanks folks for the information I really appreciate the feedback. I will have to accept now that it would be another two years before I can apply, but it is what it is.

Next step for me is I have to find out for how long I am allowed to leave the country per year without it counting against my reckonable residence.
Im a software developer and the potential new job might require me to travel often. I read somewhere about a 6 week allowance, but does travel for work purposes maybe be different?

Anyway, thanks again for the help prior. Much appreciated.

[meself2]

I read somewhere about a 6 week allowance, but does travel for work purposes maybe be different?

in theory if it's a bit over that, you travel for work and provide letters from employer to confirm it, you can travel for more than that (except for the last year, see ireland/6-weeks-absences-ireland-t299091.html for overall discussion and https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/qu ... 11-04/339/ for last year)