Ireland: Government Proposes Significant Amendments to Naturalisation Legislation

The situation 

The Irish government has approved the preparation of draft legislation which, if progressed, would represent a significant change to Ireland’s naturalisation regime.  

A closer look 

The proposals include: 

• • Increasing the qualifying period of residence for most applicants from five years to eight years.  
  • Introducing language tests in English, Irish or Irish Sign Language. No equivalent requirement currently exists under the naturalisation framework.  
  • Introducing a civics, society and politics test. No equivalent requirement currently exists under the naturalisation framework.  
  • Requiring applicants for citizenship by naturalisation to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency. Although not currently a statutory requirement for naturalisation, financial self-sufficiency is a condition associated with a number of Irish immigration permissions.  

Impact 

The proposals remain at an early stage and do not affect the current naturalisation framework. Applicants should continue to assess their eligibility for Irish citizenship under the existing legislation. 

Background 

These proposals would follow the recent change in the residence requirement for refugees from three to five years, for naturalisation purposes.  

Looking ahead 

While the government has approved ‘priority’ drafting of the proposed legislation, the measures remain at an early stage and must undergo the normal legislative process before becoming law. The final scope and content of any legislation may change significantly as proposals are assessed against practical implementation, resource considerations and legal scrutiny.  

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.