Obtaining Irish Citizenship

Starting the route to obtaining Irish Citizenship can be a daunting process – at O’Donoghue and Associates, we’d be delighted to help you navigate the application!

Since 2022, the application has changed significantly with a view to reducing the long wait times between applying and receiving your decision. First and foremost, the required standard of documentation is high, however, the new “scorecard” system does make it easier to know exactly where you stand. You must provide documentation which accumulates 150 points for each year that your application is based on.

3D painting of Welcome

As seen from the above table, the most valuable document is your P60/Employment Detail Summary, which amounts to 70 points per year. Bank Statements (6 months per year), Mortgage Statements, and Credit Card Statements (also 6 months per year) are worth 50 points each, and copy letting agreements are also worth 50 points per year. Finally, Social Welfare statements also are worth 50 points per year.

Furthermore, if you are a Doctor employed by the HSE, a Medical Practitioner Employment History Summary will suffice as proof of residence.

Proof of residence must be furnished for 5 of the past 9 years. It is important to note that it can be any 5 years of the past 9 but must include the year immediately preceding your application. If you are a programme refugee or have obtained international protection, then the time period is reduced to 3 of the past 5 years.

An adult application, or application of a dependant young adult, is made by completing a Form 8. This form is relatively lengthy, and requires not only all of your details, but also the names, dates of birth, and place of birth of your parents, and if applicable, your spouse and children. You must also disclose any criminal conviction, which includes any road traffic incidents.

A criminal background check will be ran against you as part of the process so any history will be discovered.

Due to long processing times, it is no longer a requirement to lodge your original passport, however, a full copy (including the cover) must be submitted, and it must be certified as a true copy by a solicitor/notary public/ commissioner for oaths.

If you do not have a current, in date passport, other ID documents may be submitted with the application. If, due to circumstances in your country of origin, a passport cannot be obtained then a passport affidavit may be prepared to be submitted with the application.

You will also need to provide up to date passport photographs with your application.

Once you have your documentation together, you will need a solicitor/commissioner for oaths/notary public to swear the declaration in the application form and certify copies of your documents, before the application can then be lodged.

Our full service citizenship package includes us preparing your documents for lodging, swearing and certifying all documents, dealing with any queries the Department of Justice may raise, and assisting with your passport application once you have received your certificate of naturalisation, and anything else that may be required during the course of the application. Please feel free to get in touch at any time if we can be of any assistance to you.

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Case Plan – Purchase/Sale of a Property
    The following sets out in brief the various stages of a purchase/sale file. 
  • What is Coercive Control?
    Coercive control is a form of domestic abuse characterised by emotional, psychological and verbal abuse and control by one domestic spouse over another.
  • Obtaining Irish Citizenship
    Starting the route to obtaining Irish Citizenship can be a daunting process – at O’Donoghue and Associates, we’d be delighted to help you navigate the application!