Ireland Citizenship Application

Irish Citizenship by Birth

If you were born in Ireland before January 1 2005, you are automatically an Irish citizen and can apply for an Irish passport. If you were born in Ireland after this date, your citizenship depends on the residency and nationality of your parents at the time of your birth.

For example, if at least one of your parents was an Irish citizen (who was born in Ireland) at the time of your birth, you too are an Irish citizen. Or, if one of your parents was a UK citizen, a refugee, or had been a legal resident in Ireland for at least 3 out of the 4 years before your birth, you may also be an Irish citizen.

Irish Citizenship by Descent

Some people can claim Irish citizenship by descent even if they were born overseas. For example, if you were born abroad but one or both of your parents or grandparents was an Irish citizen by birth, you are eligible for Irish citizenship by descent.

Or, if at least one parent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, but they were born outside of Ireland, you are also eligible for Irish citizenship by descent.

If you are eligible for citizenship by descent, you can apply to have your name put on the Foreign Births Register. Once a person is registered on the Foreign Births Register, they are classed as an Irish citizen and can apply for an Irish passport.

Irish Citizenship by Naturalisation

If you are a foreign national who has had ‘reckonable residence’ in Ireland for at least 5 years, you may be entitled to become an Irish citizen by naturalisation. (Reckonable residence is the term used to define the period of time that you have lived as a lawful resident in Ireland.)

To be eligible for citizenship by naturalisation, you must meet certain criteria as set out by the Irish authorities.

It is worth noting that the Minister for Justice has absolute discretion to accept or refuse an application for Irish citizenship by naturalisation, and successful applicants will have proven that they are of ‘good character’ as part of their application.

There are fees involved with the application, and you must follow a legal process, which includes attending a citizenship ceremony to make a special declaration.

Irish Citizenship by Marriage

If you are aged 18 or over and have been married to an Irish citizen for at least three years, you may be eligible for Irish citizenship by marriage. To apply, you will need to follow the naturalisation application process. You can do so as long as you have lived in Ireland lawfully for at least three out of the required 5 years, and have had continuous residence for at least one year directly before applying.

You should also currently be living in Ireland with your spouse or civil partner and intend to continue living in Ireland after you become an Irish citizen and have received immigration clearance.

Irish Citizenship by Adoption

If a child is adopted by an Irish citizen, whether in Ireland or abroad, that child can become an Irish citizen under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. To be eligible, the adoption must be legally recognised in Ireland.

If the adoption took place abroad, it will need to be registered on the Register of Intercounty Adoptions. Once legally recognised in Ireland, the child is automatically entitled to Irish citizenship by birth and can apply for an Irish passport.

If you want to become an Irish citizen, the way in which you need to apply for citizenship depends on how you qualify. You should ensure you meet all of the eligibility requirements of your chosen pathway before you submit your application.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Foreign Births Register, you must be entitled to claim Irish Citizenship by descent. You claim this if:

• At least one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth (including those born out of Ireland).

Or,

• At least one of your grandparents was an Irish citizen by birth (born in Ireland).

It is worth noting that if an expectant parent who was not born in Ireland is not on the Foreign Births Register at the time of the expected child’s birth, the child will not be eligible for Irish citizenship.

Supporting Documents

You must provide a completed application form and supporting documents as part of your application. Examples of the documents you will need to apply include:

• A copy of your original civil birth certificate.
• Your current identification document (such as your passport or driver’s license).
• Two separate official documents (such as a bank statement) that prove your current address.
• All applicable certificates that match the circumstances in which you are applying for citizenship by descent. (For example, your parents/grandparents’ birth and marriage certificates).
• Four recent passport-sized photographs – if you’re an adult applying on behalf of a child, you will need to provide 4 recent passport-sized photographs of yourself, as well as the child.

Witnesses 

In addition, you will need a witness. A witness is an appropriate person who is known to you but not related. They must be a qualifying professional, for example, a doctor/nurse/dentist/lawyer/bank manager, etc. (A full list of eligible occupations is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s official website).

The witness will need to stamp your application form with their official stamp and certify a photocopy of your photo ID (issued by the state) as a true copy of the original. They must also sign and date all photographs that are included in your application.

Application Fees

You must pay an application fee. The current fees are as follows:

• Adult: €278
• Child: €153

In addition, you must pay a non-refundable postage and handling fee of €8 per person. All fees are paid online when you apply.

Application Process

To apply, follow these steps:

1. Prepare your application – You should complete and sign the application form and gather your documents. Ensure they are checked and stamped by your witness.
2. Submit your application online – You must apply online via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s official website.
3. Await your decision – Applications to register foreign births are processed in date order, and processing times are currently around 9 months.

Eligibility Requirements

You are required to:

• Be aged 18 or over
• Prove your identity
• Have lawfully lived in Ireland for at least 5 out of the last 9 years, and continuously for at least one year directly before your application. (You are allowed to be out of the country for up to 70 days only during that year, or up to 100 days in exceptional circumstances).
• Intend to continue to live in Ireland after you become an Irish citizen.
• Be of good character

Supporting Documents

You will need to provide documentation to support your application. Some examples of the documents you need to provide are:

• A completed and signed application form.
• Your current valid passport and copies of all passports held whilst living in Ireland.
• Original civil birth certificate.
• Original civil marriage certificate (if applicable).
• Copies of your Irish residence permit and permission to remain letters.
• Proof of residency for each year of your claim. (For example, bank statements/tax letters).
• 2 recent passport-sized photographs.

Fees

The current fee to apply for citizenship by naturalisation is: €175

If your application is successful, you will also need to pay a fee to receive your Irish naturalisation certificate. The current fees are:

• Adult: €950
• Child: €200

Application Process

You should apply online via the Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration’s official website. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Prepare your application – You will need to fill out and sign an application form and gather your supporting documentation ready for submission. It is highly important to ensure you send the correct documents and that they are error-free to avoid delays or refusals.
2. Submit your application and pay the fee – you should submit your application form and supporting documents online. Fees are paid by card when you apply. The current fee is 175 euros.
3. Wait for a decision – processing times are currently around 12 months.

Application Outcomes

If your application is successful, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony where you will be expected to make a declaration to the Irish nation. If your application is refused, you will receive an official refusal letter that outlines the reasons why.

It is not possible to appeal a naturalisation refusal, but depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for a judicial review in the High Court or reapply at a later date.

Passport Types

You can apply for:

• Standard 10-year Adult passport.
• Standard 5-year Child passport.
• Large 66-page 10-year passport.
• Passport card only.
• Standard passport and card bundle.

Documents

You will need to prove your identity and provide legal documents to support your passport application. Examples of documents you should include are:

• Full civil birth certificate
• Proof of address – You need 2 official letters (such as bank statements)
• Proof of name
• Photo ID – this can be a driver’s license, a national ID card, or a current passport.
• 4 recent passport-sized photographs signed by a witness.
• Marriage or Civil Partnership certificate (if applicable)

Fees

Fees for an Irish passport vary depending on the type of passport you are applying for and the way in which you apply. The current fees are:

• Standard 10-year Adult passport(online): €75
• Standard 5-year child passport (online): €20
• Standard 10-year adult passport (post):€80
• Standard 5-year child passport (post):€30
• Large 66-page 10-year passport (online): €105
• Large 66-page 10-year adult passport (post):€95
• Passport card only:  €35
• Standard adult passport and card bundle: €100
• Large adult passport and card bundle: €130

You are also responsible for the cost of postage. The current fees are:

Inside Ireland:

• Single application: €9.50
• Up to 4 applications (submitted together): €16

Outside Ireland:

• €15

Application Process

You can apply online or by post, but postal applications will take longer to process. For example, online applications take around 20 days to finalise, whereas postal applications take approximately 8 weeks.

You will need to submit a complete and signed application form along with your supporting documents and photographs. You will then need to pay the application and postage fees to send your application for processing. Once your application is processed, you will receive your passport through the post.