Irish Citizenship Cost

Becoming an Irish citizen offers numerous advantages, including the ability to live, work, and study in Ireland without immigration restrictions. It provides a pathway to fully integrate into Irish society, enjoy social benefits, and participate in the democratic process.

The specific cost of Irish citizenship can vary depending on various factors, such as the route you choose to pursue, your age, and your family situation.

For instance, if you opt for the naturalisation route, you may need to pay an application fee and certification fee to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD). However, for individuals eligible for Irish citizenship by birth, the main cost involves registering on the Foreign Birth Register.

Even within the same route to Irish citizenship, individuals may have different expenses based on their unique situations. For instance, a widow, widower, or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen applying through the naturalisation route may incur lower costs compared to single or married adults.

Furthermore, there may be additional fees related to the citizenship process, such as the cost of obtaining Irish passports. To ensure you meet the fee requirements and properly plan your finances, it is recommended to have a clear understanding of the costs involved.

Page Contents

• Overview of the Cost of Irish Citizenship
• Cost of Becoming an Irish Citizen through Naturalisation
• Application Fee
• Certification Fee
• Send Your Application and Pay the Fee
• How Long Does the Citizenship by Naturalisation Process Take?
• The Citizenship Ceremony
• Cost of a Rejected Citizenship by Naturalisation Application
• Cost For Losing Your Certificate of Naturalisation
• Cost of Irish Citizenship by Birth or Descent
• Cost of Irish Passport Application
• Cost of Reclaiming Lost Irish Citizenship
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you do not have any family connections to Ireland but aspire to become an Irish citizen, you can achieve this through the process of naturalisation, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

In addition, individuals with refugee status and spouses of Irish citizens are eligible to apply for citizenship through naturalisation. Furthermore, parents who have obtained Irish citizenship through naturalisation can apply for citizenship on behalf of their children.

Irish citizenship by naturalisation is handled by the Citizenship Division of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD), Department of Justice and Equality. The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011).

For each application, a non-refundable fee of €175 is applicable, without any exemptions or waivers.

Please note that only a bank draft is accepted as a form of payment. The bank draft must be drawn on an Irish bank and made payable to the Secretary General of the Department of Justice.

Additionally, be aware that personal cheques, postal orders, or cash payments cannot be accepted for the application fee.

If your Irish citizenship application is successful, you will be required to pay a certification fee to obtain your Certificate of Naturalisation. The fee structure for different categories is as follows:

• €950 for adults
• €200 for minors
• €200 for widows, widowers, or surviving civil partners of an Irish citizen
• The certification is free for recognised refugees or stateless persons

Like the application fee, the certification fee can only be paid through bank drafts drawn on an Irish bank to the Secretary General of the Department of Justice. It is important to note that all applicants, except those exempted, are required to pay the fee.

You are expected to pay your application or registration fees at the time of submitting the application form and other required documents.

Once the immigration office receives your application, it undergoes a thorough review process to ensure all the necessary requirements have been met accurately. This includes verifying that you have provided all the required information, supporting documents, and applicable fees in accordance with the immigration guidelines.

In the event that any required documents are missing from your application, you will typically be granted a period of up to 28 days to provide them. It is important to note that failure to submit the requested documents within the specified timeframe may result in your application being considered ineligible or refused.

On average, a straightforward application for citizenship by naturalisation takes approximately 19 months to process, from the time it is received until a decision is made. It’s important to note that processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors involved in the application.

The citizenship ceremony is the final step to becoming a naturalised Irish citizen. Citizenship ceremonies are conducted at regular intervals throughout the year, during which you will have the opportunity to make a solemn declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.

Subsequently, your certificate of naturalisation will be sent to you via registered mail within a few weeks after the ceremony.

If your application is rejected, you will be informed of the outcome and provided with reasons for the refusal, if applicable. It is important to note that there is no appeals process available for citizenship by naturalisation, and fees paid will not be refunded.

However, you are eligible to re-apply at any time. You will be required to pay all associated fees during the reapplication process.

It is recommended that you carefully consider the reasons for the previous refusal when submitting a new application.

This service does not incur any fees. If your Irish naturalisation is lost or stolen, download this questionnaire form and return to the address on the document along with the required document.

Please note that a replacement certificate will not be issued. Instead, you will receive a statement confirming your Irish citizenship. It is important to keep this statement as it will be required when applying for an Irish passport.

Once you have gotten your Irish citizenship, you should apply for an Irish passport through the Department of Foreign Affairs. The cost of an Irish passport varies depending on the type you’re applying for and your application method.

Here is a breakdown of the cost:

If you renounce citizenship acquired through descent or naturalisation, it is not possible to reclaim it. Only individuals born in Ireland can apply for reacquisition if they renounce Irish citizenship.

If you wish to obtain Irish citizenship after renouncing it, you must submit a new application for citizenship by naturalisation or citizenship based on descent. This application process will require you to pay all the necessary fees as you did for your initial application.