Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
630. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of applicants that were successfully given naturalisation having submitted a sworn affidavit as identity instead of identification from their country of origin. [32489/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeople considering applying for naturalisation in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are required to provide a range of supporting documentation which demonstrates their identity and residency in the State.
Given the importance of citizenship, robust and comprehensive checks take place on each application. Documents provided by applicants must be true copies, certified by an appropriate witness such as a practising solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner or Notary Public.
Guidelines on applying for naturalisation are available to applicants on my Departments Immigration Service website at: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Citizenship-Guidance-Document-April-2024.pdf. These guidelines outline in detail the necessary documents to be submitted in support of a naturalisation application.
I can advise the Deputy that when passports and other documents are submitted, they undergo anti-fraud checks, and instances of suspected fraud are referred to An Garda Síochána.
Applicants that are unable to provide identity documentation may make a sworn affidavit setting out in detail the reasons that they are unable to provide the required identity documentation.
This affidavit, along with all the other documentation submitted, are then assessed to determine if an applicant should be granted citizenship in accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.
It is not possible to provide statistics to the Deputy on the number of successful applications that submitted a sworn affidavit as this information is not stored in manner that is readily accessible. Obtaining this information would require the manual examination of thousands of cases; such an examination would require a disproportionate amount of time to compile, diverting staff from the processing of applications.
