I think you already recognise that this anecdote is difficult or impossible to measure, but let's try e.g. http://www.immigrationboards.com/ireland/large-number

I think you already recognise that this anecdote is difficult or impossible to measure, but let's try e.g. http://www.immigrationboards.com/ireland/large-number-of-sham-marriages-uncovered-t31286.html http://www.immigrationboards.com/ireland/large-number-of-sha... Here is a politician admitting that 3% of Irish marriages are 'sham': http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0728/465110-sham-marriages/ http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0728/465110-sham-marriages/ Edited to clarify: Not a majority, but 'sham' is a far stronger condition than what I'm talking about. This represents evidence that people are motivated to get married for residency: but the type of marriage I am talking about is not counted in these stats (those where marriage papers are motivated by a genuine goal to live in the same country as your partner).