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IrelandCitizenship

Naturalisation in Ireland in Ireland

Naturalisation is the acquisition of Irish citizenship by decision of the Minister for Justice after a person has lived lawfully in Ireland for a substantial period. The application is assessed by the Immigration Service (ISD) on behalf of the Minister, who decides entirely at their own discretion.

Threshold
The application fee is EUR 175. On approval a further fee of up to EUR 950 is charged.
Processing time
Most applications are processed within 19 months.

Source: Citizens Information (citizensinformation.ie)

Who can apply for naturalisation

The conditions differ for the ordinary route, for spouses of Irish citizens and for certain categories where the Minister may relax the requirements.

Ordinary route

  • The applicant must be 18 or over
  • 5 years of reckonable residence out of the last 9: a year of continuous residence immediately before the application plus 4 years in total over the preceding 8 years
  • The last 12 months before the application must be spent continuously in Ireland
  • In the year before the application, absences from Ireland of up to 70 days are allowed, plus up to 30 days more in exceptional circumstances — health, family, work, study
  • The applicant must be of good character and intend to live in Ireland after obtaining citizenship

Spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen

  • The marriage or civil partnership has lasted 3 years or more
  • 3 years of reckonable residence on the island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland) out of the last 5 years before the application
  • The last 12 months before the application — continuous residence in Ireland or Northern Ireland
  • Living together with the spouse and the intention to remain living in Ireland

Categories where the Minister may relax the conditions

  • People of Irish descent or with Irish associations
  • Recognised refugees (under the 1951 Geneva Convention) — after 5 years of reckonable residence; applications made before 8 December 2025 are considered under the previous 3-year rule
  • Stateless people under the 1954 UN Convention
  • Young adults aged 18–23 who entered Ireland lawfully with their family and attended an Irish school or went straight to university — they can count a parent’s residence

What it costs

Fee for making the application175 EUR
Certification fee on approval (for most applicants)950 EUR
Certification fee — minor applicant200 EUR
Certification fee — widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen200 EUR
Certification fee — refugee, stateless person or participant in the refugee resettlement programme0 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Certification fee — minor applicant” branch replaces the “Certification fee on approval (for most applicants)” line — 375 EUR; the “Certification fee — widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen” branch replaces the “Certification fee on approval (for most applicants)” line — 375 EUR; the “Certification fee — refugee, stateless person or participant in the refugee resettlement programme” branch replaces the “Certification fee on approval (for most applicants)” line — 175 EUR.1 125 EUR

Documents to gather

The full list depends on the applicant’s situation; some documents have to be certified by a solicitor, notary, commissioner for oaths or peace commissioner.

  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of a valid passport (since 2023 the original passport is not required unless the ISD asks for it separately)
  • The applicant’s birth certificate
  • The spouse’s birth certificate and the marriage or civil partnership certificate — if the application is based on marriage to an Irish citizen
  • Documents not in English — with a translation by a professional translator
  • Under the “scorecard” system you have to score 150 points for identity and 150 points for residence history; the points awarded for each type of document are set out in the Citizenship Guidance Document
  • If a document cannot be provided, an affidavit explaining the reason has to be attached to the application

How the process runs

The application is made online; a paper form is available on request through the Customer Service Portal if you have no access to the online service.

  1. 1

    Checking the conditions and collecting the documents

    The applicant checks that they have accumulated the required reckonable residence (this can be verified with the online Naturalisation Residency Calculator on the ISD website) and collects the documents under the “scorecard” system.

  2. 2

    Making the application and paying the fee

    The application is made online and the application fee of EUR 175 is paid.

  3. 3

    ISD checks

    An Garda Síochána prepares a report on the applicant’s good character, covering criminal history, road traffic offences, ongoing investigations and cautions. Before the decision the applicant is invited to complete e-vetting.

  4. 4

    Assessment of the application

    usually 19 months

    The ISD processes most applications within 19 months. Further documents or clarifications may be requested; the applicant is given an application number.

  5. 5

    Approval, certification fee and citizenship ceremony

    After approval you have to pay the certification fee and surrender your Irish residence permit (IRP), if you have one. The applicant is usually invited to a citizenship ceremony, where they make a declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state and receive the certificate of naturalisation. Only after that can you apply for an Irish passport.

Timelines and rights

Residence

5 years of reckonable residence within the 9 years ending on the day before the application, with the last 12 months spent lawfully in Ireland. Time on the student stamp 2 and the period waiting for a decision on international protection do not count towards this period.

Who you can bring with you

Separate conditions for entering naturalisation apply to the relatives of Irish citizens.

Spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen
Naturalisation is possible after 3 years of marriage or partnership and 3 years of reckonable residence on the island of Ireland out of the last 5, with 12 months of continuous residence in Ireland or Northern Ireland before the application
Child under 18
The application is made by a parent, legal guardian or person acting in loco parentis; for children aged 14 and over a separate “good character” check applies, and for children under 14 it applies only where they are accused or convicted of a serious violent or sexual offence
Young adults aged 18–23
They may use a parent’s reckonable residence if they entered Ireland lawfully with their family, attended an Irish school or went straight to university, and remain dependent on their parents

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

After approval you make a declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state and undertake to observe the laws of Ireland and respect its democratic values — usually at a citizenship ceremony. The certificate of naturalisation is presented there too, after which you can apply for an Irish passport.

Frequently asked questions about Naturalisation in Ireland

How many years do you have to live in Ireland to apply for naturalisation?
Most applicants need 5 years of reckonable residence out of the last 9: a year of continuous residence immediately before the application and 4 years in total over the preceding 8 years. The last 12 months before the application must be spent in Ireland without a break.
How much does naturalisation in Ireland cost?
Making the application costs EUR 175. If the application is approved you have to pay a certification fee: EUR 950 for most applicants, EUR 200 for minors and for the widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen, and no fee for refugees, stateless people and participants in the refugee resettlement programme.
How long does a naturalisation application take?
The ISD processes most applications within 19 months.
Can you obtain citizenship faster if you are married to an Irish citizen?
Yes. The spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen can apply for naturalisation after 3 years of marriage or partnership and 3 years of reckonable residence on the island of Ireland (including Northern Ireland) out of the last 5, provided there has been 12 months of continuous residence before the application.
What happens after the application is approved?
You have to pay the certification fee and surrender your Irish residence permit (IRP), if you have one. The applicant is usually invited to a citizenship ceremony, where they make a declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state and receive the certificate of naturalisation. You can apply for an Irish passport only after receiving that certificate.
Who can make an application on behalf of a child?
A parent, legal guardian or person acting in loco parentis can apply for a child’s naturalisation if the child was born in Ireland after 1 January 2005 and did not acquire citizenship at birth but has 3 years of reckonable residence (including 12 continuous months before the application), or if at least one parent is already a naturalised Irish citizen, or if the child is of Irish descent or has Irish associations.
Have the naturalisation conditions for refugees changed?
Yes. For applications made from 8 December 2025 onwards, a recognised refugee can apply for naturalisation after 5 years of reckonable residence instead of the previous 3 years. Applications made before that date continue to be considered under the old 3-year rule.

Other ways to move to Ireland

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Ireland.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.