If you want to obtain citizenship in Ireland, we recommend you address our lawyers, who are specialized in any matter regulated by the immigration law, citizenship included. Our immigration lawyer in Ireland offers the necessary legal support, tailored in accordance with the type of citizenship you are entitled to.
Table of Contents
What is the legislation on Irish citizenship?
The procedures on how to get citizenship in Ireland are regulated by the 27th Amendment of the Irish Constitution and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Ways to acquire citizenship | The law stipulates that citizenship can be obtained through naturalization, descent, birth or by association (through adoption or by special declaration). |
Law on citizenship | The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. |
Fees charged for citizenship application | EUR 175 (non-refundable in case the application is denied). |
| Minimum requirements for citizenship by naturalization | Those interested in how to obtain Irish citizenship by naturalization must have at least 5 years of stay in Ireland, have an age of minimum 18 years old, have a good character and show comittment to the Irish state. |
| Minimum requirements for citizenship by marriage | Citizenship by marriage is a type of citizenship by naturalization, but with less restrictive rules. For instance, the residency requirements are reduced to 3 years (instead of 5). The applicant must have 1 year of continous residency in Ireland before the application and 3 years of marriage/civil partnership. |
| Requirements for citizenship by descent | The procedure on how to obtain Irish citizenship by descent is simpler, as it doesn’t have any residency requirements. The applicant must simply show sufficient evidence on having Irish ancestry through parents or grandparents. |
| Fees charged for minor children citizenship application | EUR 175 (there is no distinction between citizenship application fees for minors and adults). |
| Duration of the citizenship process | It varies based on the type of citizenship (minimum 6 months to maximum 24 months – on average, processing of citizenship by naturalization takes 19 months). |
| Citizenship certificate fee | EUR 950 for most applicants (there are lower fees – EUR 0 for refugees, EUR 200 for minors and the spouses for Irish citizens). |
| Institution in charge with the review of the application | The procedure on how to obtain Irish citizenship is handled by the Immigration Service Delivery, working under the Ministry of Justice. |
| Dual citizenship allowed (yes/no) | Yes |
| Fees for the issuance of a passport | EUR 20/EUR 30 for minors (for online and by post applications) and EUR 75/EUR 80 for adults (online/post applications). |
| Passport validity | 5 years for minor passport holders, 10 years for adults. |
| Difference between permanent residency and citizenship | A citizen benefits from all the citizenship rights prescribed by the Irish legislation. A permanent resident has similar rights, but he or she is not allowed to vote, to hold an Irish passport and to work for governmental institutions. |
| Authentication/translation of foreign documents required (yes/no) | Yes |
When can a person claim Irish citizenship in 2026?
A person can apply for Irish citizenship if many conditions apply at the same time, for each particular case of citizenship. In the list below, you can discover some of the legal pathways that grant the right to citizenship:
- persons who were born in Ireland before 1st January 2005 are automatically Irish citizens, as long as the person’s birth took place in Ireland or if the parents (at least 1 parent) were born in Ireland;
- persons who were born on 1st January 2005 or after this date can claim Irish citizenship only based on the parents’ citizenship or their residency at the moment when the applicant’s birth took place;
- those who apply for Irish citizenship through naturalization must have a minimum age of 18 years old;
- for naturalization, a person must prove having residency in Ireland for 9 years (out of which 5 were spent as permanent residency);
- a subcategory of citizenship through naturalization refers to those who apply when they are married to an Irish citizen – in this case, the spouses must be married for minimum 3 years.
Can a person receive citizenship in Ireland when born overseas?
Yes, a person is entitled to claim Irish citizenship even in the case when he/she is born overseas. This right is granted only to the persons who are related to Irish nationals. Therefore, this rule can apply if a person claiming citizenship rights had at least one parent who was an Irish national at the moment of the birth, regardless of where the birth took place.
Do I need to have residency in Ireland if I apply for citizenship through marriage to an Irish national?
Yes. Citizenship acquired through marriage to an Irish national is a type of citizenship by naturalization, where residency aspects are part of the basic requirements for citizenship. However, individuals who qualify for this procedure must provide evidence that they have 3 years of reckonable residency in Ireland before starting the application.
How can I obtain citizenship as a descendant of an Irish national?
It is possible to acquire citizenship as a descendant of an Irish nationalby applying for citizenship of Irish descent or associations. The procedure is regulated by Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, which grants the following individuals to apply for this type of citizenship:
- the person is a direct descendant of an individual who is or was an Irish national;
- the applicant has a family tie to Irish nationals (a blood relative, an adopted person, etc.);
- the individual can prove that he/she is related to Irish nationals by affinity (through the applicant’s partner/spouse).
Is it guaranteed to obtain Irish citizenship by descent if I am related to an Irish national?
No. Even if you have family ties with Irish nationals and you apply for citizenship, the Irish law does not guarantee that you get automatic citizenship rights just by applying. The Irish institutions will determine if you will qualify only if you have strong supporting evidence for 4 basic pillars, assessed on a point-based system.
Below, you can also watch a short video presenting how to apply for Irish citizenship:
Can foreigners apply for Irish citizenship in 2026 as refugees?
Yes, the right to citizenship in Ireland is available for refugees as well, provided that they meet a set of requirements.
Do I need to pay any fees when applying for citizenship in Ireland in 2026?
Please mind that the law on immigration in Ireland, as well as the regulations for citizenship apply different fees for different procedures. Currently, those who apply through the Foreign Births Register must pay a processing fee of EUR 278 (for applicants above 18 years old). For minors with an age below 18 years old, the overall fee is EUR 153. The standard fee is EUR 175.
Can I add paperwork after I’ve submitted the citizenship application?
Yes. The applicant will be informed on the documentation that is missing and, according to the law on immigration in Ireland, he or she will have 28 days to provide the respective documents. In the case in which the 28 days threshold is not met, the citizenship application can be denied.
How long does it take to complete the citizenship formalities?
The processing of the application for citizenship in Ireland can take around 19 months (this period of time is calculated since the application is submitted until the date when the decision is made).
When can I apply for an Irish passport?
Once a person becomes an Irish citizen, and he or she is in the possession of the citizenship certificate, then the said person has the right to apply for an Irish passport, a right that is granted solely to persons who are or who have obtained Irish citizenship through one of the legal means prescribed by the law on immigration in Ireland.
Are there any processing fees for Irish passports?
If you are entitled to an Irish passport and you want to apply in 2026, you must know that the Irish authorities will ask for the payment of a fee of EUR 75 for the standard passport.
Individuals who want to apply for citizenship in Ireland in 2026 are invited to read the infographic below, which presents a few important matters concerning the procedure:
Can I retain dual citizenship in Ireland?
Yes. The Irish law recognizes dual citizenship, just like most of the European countries do.
What happens if the Irish authorities reject my application?
Not all applications for citizenship are successful. For those whose applications are rejected, the authorities will provide a clear answer as to why they have determined that the applicant can’t obtain citizenship. Please mind that the decision can’t be appealed, but the individual has the right to start a new application process.
Can you provide legal assistance on citizenship in other countries?
Yes. Our team can assist foreigners in acquiring citizenship in other countries besides Ireland. For instance, if you need to obtain citizenship in other countries, such as UAE, we can put you in touch with our local partners.
Please contact usif you need further information on how to obtain Irish citizenship in 2026.
