Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
772. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the process for a UK citizen who is a long-term resident of Ireland to gain an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/26]
View answer773. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the cost associated with a UK citizen who is a long-term resident of Ireland to gain an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9754/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 772 and 773 together.
All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Section 15 of the Act sets out the statutory conditions that must be fulfilled for a certificate of naturalisation to be granted.
In general, applicants are required to have 5 years reckonable residence in the State prior to making an application. However, there are a small number of exceptions where a person in the State less than 5 years can apply for citizenship. In all cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to 70 days allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes.
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). The application fee is €175.
A certification fee of €950 is then required following a positive decision being reached on the naturalisation application.
The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen.
There is no provision in the Regulations for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for differing fees to apply to different nationalities or classes of applicant. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to amend the fees.
Detailed information on how to apply for Irish citizenship and the different pathways available, are outlined on my Department’s Immigration website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/
