Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
586. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the status of an application for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that it is almost 26 months since the application was submitted which is beyond the standard processing timeframe for such application types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53659/26]
View answerThe naturalisation application referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
I understand that extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants. I want to assure anyone who has an application for naturalisation submitted that the Citizenship Division of my Department is doing everything possible to progress applications as quickly as possible.
It is important to note, however, that no two naturalisation applications are the same and some take longer than others to process. Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks must take place on each application. Unfortunately, some checks, such as international checks, can take a considerable amount of time and these are largely outside of the control of the Immigration Service.
For that reason, while, I expect that going forward, that most applicants will receive a decision within one year, this cannot be guaranteed in the case of applications made in any specific year.
I can advise the Deputy that applications cannot be expedited based on any intended purpose of naturalisation such as attendance at third level education, travel, or sporting representation.
Furthermore, it should be noted that if the application is successful, it is not possible to complete the citizenship process without an in-date IRP. The onus is on the applicant to renew their permission to remain in the State while awaiting the outcome of their citizenship application. As the applicant in this case is a minor, it is the responsibility of the parents. From the information provided the applicant has been out of permission since 2024; in order to regularise their status they should contact the Domestic Residence Permission unit via the Customer Service Portal at: portal.irishimmigration.ie/en/
As an Oireachtas member, you can also request the status of individual immigration cases by e-mail, using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process.
