Question 1

How do I apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation?

Accepted Answer

Irish citizenship by naturalisation is the process by which a nonIrish national can become an Irish citizen. Applications are made to the Minister for Justice through the Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service Delivery. The process is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

The main requirements are that the applicant must be of full age (18 or over, or married), be of good character, have had a period of one year's continuous reckonable residence in Ire

Question 2

Can I claim Irish citizenship if I was born abroad to an Irish parent?

Accepted Answer

Irish citizenship can be claimed by those born abroad if they have an Irish parent or, in some cases, an Irish grandparent. The rules depend on when and where the parent or grandparent was born and whether they were Irish citizens at the time of the applicant's birth.

If you were born outside Ireland and one of your parents was born in Ireland (or was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth who was not born in Ireland but had their birth registered on the Foreign Births Register), you are au

Question 3

How does Irish citizenship through descent work?

Accepted Answer

Irish citizenship through descent allows people born outside Ireland to claim Irish citizenship based on their ancestry. The rules are structured in generations and depend on the birth registration history of each generation.

First generation born abroad: If one of your parents was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland, you are entitled to Irish citizenship. If your parent was born in Northern Ireland, they must have exercised their entitlement to Irish citizenship (for example by obtaining an Ir

Question 4

What happens at an Irish citizenship ceremony?

Accepted Answer

An Irish citizenship ceremony is a formal event at which applicants for naturalisation make a declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State, and receive their certificate of naturalisation from the Minister for Justice or a retired judge presiding on the Minister's behalf. Citizenship ceremonies were introduced in Ireland in 2011 to provide a dignified and meaningful occasion for new citizens.

Once a naturalisation application is approved, the applicant receives a letter

Question 5

What is the good character requirement for Irish citizenship?

Accepted Answer

The good character requirement is one of the statutory conditions for obtaining Irish citizenship by naturalisation under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. The Minister for Justice must be satisfied that the applicant is of good character before granting a certificate of naturalisation. There is no statutory definition of good character, and the Minister has broad discretion in assessing this requirement.

Factors that may be considered include criminal convictions (both in Ireland

Question 6

What counts as reckonable residence for Irish citizenship?

Accepted Answer

Reckonable residence is a key concept in Irish citizenship law. To qualify for naturalisation, an applicant must demonstrate five years of reckonable residence in Ireland during the eight years immediately preceding the application, including one continuous year of reckonable residence immediately before the date of application.

Not all time spent in Ireland counts as reckonable residence. Time spent on a student visa (Stamp 2) is generally not reckonable, though there have been some policy cha

Question 7

How do I apply for an Irish passport after becoming a citizen?

Accepted Answer

Once you have received your certificate of naturalisation at a citizenship ceremony, you are an Irish citizen and may immediately apply for an Irish passport. The passport application is handled by the Passport Office, which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Firsttime adult passport applications can be submitted through Passport Online, the recommended method, or by post using the paper application form. The online application requires a digital photograph taken through the system,

Question 8

Are children born in Ireland automatically Irish citizens?

Accepted Answer

Prior to 1 January 2005, all children born on the island of Ireland were entitled to Irish citizenship by birth. Following the 27th Amendment to the Irish Constitution, which was approved by referendum in 2004, the rules changed significantly.

Since 1 January 2005, a child born in Ireland is only entitled to Irish citizenship at birth if at least one parent is an Irish citizen, a British citizen, a person entitled to reside in Northern Ireland or the Republic without restriction, or a foreign n

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Citizenship