Citizenship by Association For USA Nationals
Many people dream of moving to Ireland for business, retirement, work, study or just to deepen their connection with their Irish heritage. An Irish passport is one of the most sought after in the world and will enable you to travel and work freely in all other EU countries.
If you are lucky enough to have an Irish Great-Grandparent, don’t miss out on the opportunity to acquire your Irish passport.
To speak to a solicitor about applying for Irish citizenship or naturalisation, contact us on +353 (0)1 264 5555 complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you within three hours or less.
How it works
Your great-grandparent(s) were born in Ireland.
The children of Irish born parents and grandparents have an automatic right to Irish Citizenship by descent. For descendants of Irish born great-grandparents, the process is different and is known as citizenship through association. Association means demonstrating strong links with Irish society and the Irish state.
We have successfully obtained citizenship through association for many clients. If you are of Irish associations, the Minister for Justice and Equality has absolute discretion to waive the conditions for naturalisation.
Citizenship Through Association
An individual is deemed to have strong Associations with Ireland if he/she
- is related by blood, affinity or adoption to, or is the civil partner of, a person who is an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen, or
- was related by blood, affinity or adoption to, or was the civil partner of, a person who is deceased and who, at the time of his or her death, was an Irish citizen or entitled to be an Irish citizen.
Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation supporting the claim.
About Dual Citizenship
If you are able to apply for Irish Citizenship, you can keep your American citizenship too. Ireland and the United States recognise dual citizenships, meaning you don’t have to give up your rights in one of the countries to have the same rights in both. This means you can become an Irish citizen but remain living in the USA, allowing you to travel throughout Ireland and the European Union.
Why Choose Gibson & Associates?
We are one of Ireland’s leading law firms dedicated to using our years of experience to make sure that you benefit from the best possible outcome. We will be by your side throughout the Irish citizenship application process, using clear, plain language to explain your options and the next steps you should take.
You and your circumstances are unique – your solicitor should be too. You will be assigned a dedicated point of contact who will take charge of your case from start to finish – this person will never change.
Our solicitors put their clients at the heart of everything they do and work tirelessly to get you the best results. We treat clients the way we would like to be treated – for us, ‘good enough’ just isn’t good enough!
Meet Our Immigration Team
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOMING AN IRISH CITIZEN?
Irish citizenship opens the door to a life in Ireland, as well as the opportunity to travel and work freely throughout the 27 countries in the European Union. To become an Irish citizen, there are certain requirements:
- You need to be at least 18 years old (or married if you are under 18) unless you are a minor born in the Republic of Ireland after 1st January 2005
- You are of good character – any criminal records and ongoing proceedings will be taken into consideration during the application process
- You will make a declaration of fidelity to the nation and a declaration of loyalty to the state, observing the laws of the state and respecting its democratic values
OTHER RULES RELATED TO ELIGIBILITY FOR IRISH CITIZENSHIP
You may also be eligible for Irish citizenship if:
- You are of Irish descent or a parent or guardian applying on behalf of a minor who is of Irish descent
- You were born in Ireland
- You are a naturalised parent applying on behalf of a child
- You are the spouse or civil partner of an Irish citizen or naturalised person
- You have been a resident abroad in the public service
- You are recognised as a refugee or a stateless person
If you meet the eligibility requirements outlined above, you should proceed to book your appointment with an immigration consultant on the booking form below.
Alternatively, if you are unsure that you meet the eligibility requirement or have further questions, you can talk to a member of our client care team by filling out the immigration form for a quick and free eligibility assessment.
What Happens When an Application for Irish Citizenship is Approved?
When an application for Irish citizenship is approved, the Citizenship Division will write to the applicant to notify them that the Minister for Justice has deemed them as a suitable applicant to be granted citizenship or naturalisation. You will then be required to submit two passport photographs, a bank draft to the sum of €950 and your original IRP.
Applicants who have been granted refugee status will be asked to submit their original travel document in addition to the above.
The letter following application approval will also ask you to confirm the following details to ensure that the correct details are recorded on your certificate:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Country of birth
- Nationality
Once you have submitted the required documents, you will be invited by post to attend a citizenship ceremony. Here, you will swear an oath of fidelity to the state and receive your certificate. From the date of the citizenship ceremony, you will be an Irish citizen.
After receiving citizenship, we would recommend you apply for your Irish passport as soon as possible, particularly if you are planning on travelling. First-time applicants must submit a paper-based application to the Passport Office using an APS 1E form – these are available at any An Post post office, garda station or the Passport Offices in Cork and Dublin.
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