🇮🇪 Citizenship

If enacted, the proposed legislation would increase the standard reckonable residence requirement for most applicants from five years to eight years. The proposed structure is two years of continuous residence immediately before applying, together with six years of residence during the preceding ten years. This would replace the current five-year arrangement. The proposal would introduce a language requirement for naturalisation. Applicants would need to demonstrate proficiency in English, Irish or Irish Sign Language. It is therefore not an Irish-language-only requirement. The Government has not yet specified the final proficiency level, test format or examination arrangements, so these details should not be treated as settled. Applicants would also have to demonstrate knowledge of Irish civics, society and politics. The exact content, assessment method and required standard have not yet been established. A new self-sufficiency requirement is also proposed. The Government says applicants for naturalisation would need to demonstrate that they are financially self-sufficient. Reporting on the proposal indicates that the requirement may address reliance on specified social-protection payments and housing supports, but the precise income threshold, qualifying period, exemptions and other conditions remain subject to the legislative process. The proposal would also change the naturalisation route for spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens, with the qualifying residence period proposed to increase from three years to five years. The proposed framework would require two years of continuous residence immediately before applying and three years during the preceding five years. Spouses and civil partners would also be subject to the proposed language and civics requirements. The proposed legislation would introduce additional immigration-compliance conditions. An immigration offence committed before or during the naturalisation process is proposed to prevent an applicant from being granted citizenship. The proposal would also affect the treatment of residence under the EU Temporary Protection Directive, with time spent under Temporary Protection proposed not to count towards the reckonable residence period. The reforms would further introduce an additional ground for revocation of naturalised citizenship, concerning circumstances in which revocation is considered necessary in the interests of public policy, public order or national security. This would apply to naturalised citizenship and would operate within the statutory revocation process. These are proposed changes only. Government approval for priority drafting does not itself amend Irish citizenship law. The current five-year residence requirement and absence of a language test remain in force until legislation is enacted and commenced.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.

Current rules for this policy, plus every recorded change.