Naturalisation and Citizenship Solicitor Cork
Naturalisation is the process whereby a non-Irish national can apply to become an Irish citizen.
Through the naturalisation process, a non-Irish national can be issued a certificate of naturalisation and make an application for an Irish passport. The statutory criteria include the requirement that the applicant has acquired five years reckonable residency in the State and be of good character. The Minister exercises absolute discretion in determining applications for a certificate of naturalisation.
| An application for Naturalization can be made by any person who has acquired 5 years of reckonable residency in the State, or in the case of a Spouse of Irish Nationals and Refugees, they need only have acquired 3 years. All applicants must have a period of one year of continuous reckonable residence in the State immediately prior to the date of the application for naturalisation. |
| The calculation of reckonable residency is calculated at the time of submitting the application, and not at the determination of it. Reckonable residency is lawful permission to remain on stamp 1, 3, or 4 conditions. Time as a student or asylum seeker is excluded from reckonable residency calculations. In certain specific cases, stamp 2 or 2 A may be regarded as reckonable. As well as satisfying the requirements of reckonable residency, applicants must be of good character. |
On 17th June 2011, the Minister for Justice and Equality updated and introduced new forms for applications for naturalisation. There are now four different forms:
- Form 8 for a person of full age.
- Form 8A for a minor child born in the State without an entitlement to Irish citizenship.
- Form 9 for a minor child of a naturalised Irish citizen.
- Form 10 for a minor child of Irish descent or Irish associations.
Each form specifies full details of what supporting documentation is required to be submitted with the application.