Until Ireland passes its own civil partnership legislation, the British Embassy in Dublin can register the civil partnerships of same-sex couples provided the following conditions are met:

• One of the parties is a British National. If one of the parties is not a British National, we need to see a 'Certificate of No Impediment' (a.k.a. 'Letter of Freedom') for the non-British national issued by either the Irish authorities or the non-British national's consulate here in Ireland.
• Both parties have reached the age of 16 (but someone under the age of 18, who is not a widow or widower will need consent). The proposed partnership is not within the Prohibited Degrees of Relationship.
• Both parties have resided in the Republic of Ireland for seven clear days before giving notice of the intended registration.
• A written notice of the intended registration is submitted in person to the consular officer during normal working hours.
• Both parties have nominated the UK registration district in which they want their civil partnership to be registered: i.e. England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
• Both parties have made the necessary declaration before the consular officer that there is no impediment to their partnership being registered and that they meet the age and residency requirements.
• If one or both parties have previously been married or have been in a civil partnership the relevant documentation has been produced to show that this has ended.
• The notice of intended registration has been displayed in the consular section waiting room for 14 consecutive days.
• No objection has been lodged against the registration taking place.
• The date of the registration is agreed with the consular officer at the time that notice of intention is given. The registration must take place within three months of the notice being given. The earliest this can be is the 15th consecutive day after notice has been given.

Hours: Due to the limited public facilities at the Embassy building, we can only conduct civil partnerships during normal working days between 1230 and 1400, unless the registering couple has no objection to the public consular counter being open at the same time. Two witnesses must be present.

Guests: If guests are invited, for health and safety reasons we can only accommodate10, making a total of 12 persons including the registering couple.

Parking: There are no parking facilities within the Embassy compound and transport for the registering couple will not be allowed inside.

Security: All visitors to the Embassy are subject to security searches.

There is no formal ceremony, although the prospective partners can recite the following declaration to each other before signing the register: "I declare that I know of no legal reason why we may not register as each other's civil partner. I understand that on signing this document we will be forming a civil partnership with each other."

Fees Payable:

1. Receiving a notice of intended Civil Partnership: €78.00
2. Registering the Civil Partnership: €166.00
3. Forwarding certified copy of the Civil Partnership certificate to the Registrar General: €45.00

Total Payable: €289.00

NB: Fees are payable in Euro only. Bank drafts or postal orders, made payable to the British Embassy are the only acceptable ways to pay for passports being sent to you by post, but visitors to the Passport Section may also pay by cash or Irish cheque, on production of a valid cheque guarantee card and only to the value of €130.00 (This is standard Banking practice).

At the moment we have no facility to accept payment by credit or debit card.

Forms:
CP_Notice_for_Registration2
CP_Declaration1