In November 2017, the Tallinn Circuit Court ruled that an American woman, who was in a same-sex relationship with an Estonian woman, could not be issued a residency permit. The couple appealed to the Supreme Court, which dismissed their case in April 2018. The couple then entered into a cohabitation agreement, as the Supreme Court had ruled that same month that the partnership law was in effect. This enabled the American partner to reside in Estonia. Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice in June 2018 relating to the rights of same-sex couples in the European Union, an Estonian court ruled that same-sex couples must be treated the same way as opposite-sex couples in the issuance of residency permits.