Hi Azulceleste,
I think if you check through some of the other posts I put on this site, or those from Archigabe, you will find some extra information. We are both in very similar situations. Check out topic:
http://www.immigrationboards.com/viewtopic.php?t=7342
But to answer some of your questions:
1. Irish Immigration defines all applicants are either EEA or non-EEA applicants, so if you see a post that refers to someone from Africa/Asia or wherever, it will also apply to you. There is a differentiation when applying for Tourist Visas as there are visa-required, and non-visa Nationalities, but these do not apply to Immigration.
2. If you get married outside Ireland, you can apply for a D-Spouse visa from the Irish Embassy in your country of residence (Belgium I presume). I was advised that this would take 8-12 weeks to process, but someone else recently posted that it took them 6 months to wait for this visa. If you enter Ireland on this visa type, you are entitled to work immediately on entering Ireland. You should register with the GNIB (Garda National Immigraiton Bureau) on arrival to register your arrival in the State.
3. If you get married in Ireland you can then apply for Permanent Residency on the basis of Marriage to an Irish National. We have been advised that this will take 12-16 months for the application to be processed. During that time you will not be allowed work or leave the country. When the Perm Residency visa is granted, you can work immediately.
Info on Marriage by Registrar in Ireland:
a) must give 3 months notice to Registrar
b) must live prior 7 days to meeting Registrar in Registrars locality
c) must meet Registrar to complete paperwork
d) must wait 22 days before date for wedding
e) marriage by Registrar
Note also that the Registrar in Dublin is VERY busy and you could be waiting 6 months for a date to meet the Registrar and longer for a Marriage date. In total this can take 3-8 months to organise and get a date with the Registrar, which may take you to beyond the duration terms of your visitors visa.
to MIK
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Can you tell me on what visa your wife entered the country? Did she have a D-Spouse visa before entering? I'd really appreciate it if you could clarify the order of how your wife got her working rights, as we have been told that my fiancée (we will marry next month) will have to wait 18 months to be able to access his working rights. OR that he should leave the country, return home, and apply for a D-Spouse Visa to return.
And yes you are right that spouses of EU citizens should not require a work permit to work here, they do require a visa/Residency rights. These are only granted by the Dept of Justice.