Regularisation of Undocumented Migrants Scheme Ireland

Ireland is the perfect place to set up home and put down roots, but making an application for Irish citizenship can be difficult. Our expert immigration solicitors will take care of the hard work for you to ensure your application puts you in the strongest possible position.

We have a team of friendly and specialist solicitors who can help you to work out if you are eligible for Irish citizenship or naturalisation. If you are, we will manage the entire application process on your behalf, making sure it’s quick and hassle-free. If Irish citizenship isn’t an option for you right now, we will work with you to explore alternative ways to help you stay in Ireland.

To speak to a solicitor about applying for Irish citizenship or naturalisation, contact us on +353 (0)1 872 3143 or complete our online enquiry form and we will get back to you within three hours or less.

Citizenship For Descendants Of Irish Nationals Click Here

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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 have lived in Ireland for a year before the date of your application for Irish citizenship, and have lived in the state for at least four years out of the last eight years – i.e. you should have lived in Ireland for a total of five years of the last nine
You intend to continue to live in Ireland after naturalisation
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

How to Apply for Irish Citizenship or Naturalisation

The first step in applying for Irish citizenship or naturalisation is to fill in the relevant application form. Bank drafts are the only acceptable method of payment – postal orders are no longer accepted. As part of your application, you will need to provide the following important information:

Any current and expired passports valid during the period of residence in Ireland along with a certified copy of the biometric page of your current passport
Copies of your p60s for each year of residence in Ireland to provide evidence of employment
Three forms of proof of address for each year of residence in Ireland, for example:
- A mortgage/rent agreement
- Any household bills (e.g. gas, electricity, phone or TV)
- Bank statements
- Revenue letters
- Social welfare
- Letters from employment

If you are making an application for a child, a copy of their passport and birth certificate must be submitted with the application. Letters from schools and their doctor are also required to confirm the child’s residence in Ireland.

You should also make sure to maintain your Irish Resident Permit (IRP) by renewing it on time. Any delays may create gaps in your residence permission history, meaning it may not be seen as continuous and your application for citizenship or naturalisation may be turned down.

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.

Why Choose Gibson & Associates LLP?

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

Sharon Shaw

Gillian Morrison

Kellie-McLaughlun

Kellie McLaughlin

What Our Clients Say

Professionalism, Responsiveness

Gibson & Associates assisted me with an application for Irish citizenship by association. While we will not know the results of my application for some time, I can attest that the assistance and advice I received from Kellie and the team at Gibson & Associates was extremely helpful, thorough, and professional. I am very satisfied with the support they gave me and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking advice on applying for Irish Citizenship.

Brian Thalken

Successful handling of long and complex immigration case
I have nothing but the highest praise for Gibson & Associates – they handled a long and difficult immigration case and won. I was kept up to date on proceedings throughout.

The firm has a great team of lawyers who deal with various complex proceedings and I would personally never hesitate to use them again.

Teresa Laine

Successful application for family visa
We highly recommend Gibson & Associates Solicitors – they got my family’s visa to come to Ireland. My partner and I got married on 24th December 2015, after returning home in February 2016, I, unfortunately, had two strokes that year. After three attempts for a tourist visa, I was unable to get a visa for my family and was told that I couldn’t travel due to my condition.

After two years and eight months, we decided to contact Gibson & Associates and received help from Sharon Shaw. Within a couple of weeks, my wife and daughter received their visa, arriving in Ireland on 7th November – a day before my birthday! My family is here now for six months.

Thank you so much for your help. If you have a problem with your visa like me and my family, go to Gibson & Associates!

The Rooney Family

I would highly recommend Gibson & Associates Solicitors for their expertise in Immigration law. I applied for Irish citizenship in 2019 and worked closely with Sharon Shaw.

Sharon exhibits true professionalism by maintaining rapport to me, explaining in details what documents are necessary for a successful application and working with me till the goal is achieved. Sharon’s considerable experience in the legal industry was present from the initial phone call until obtaining of the Irish citizenship. I appreciate her commitment to my case and would like to express my highest compliment for her.

Irish citizenship is a privilege and an honour. I am very pleased to call Ireland my new home!

Fidanka

Successful join spouse visa application

Highly recommend Gibson & Associates. I went to them for help with my husband’s join spouse visa application and they were very professional and made it so straight forward for us. Our application was successful 🙂

Grace Doyle Brown

Satisfied client following Brexit-related immigration matter

I needed advice upon a Brexit-related immigration matter and instructed Sharon Shaw of Gibson & Associates having come across them on the internet. I am very pleased that I did. As a lawyer myself I appreciate and recognise technical expertise coupled with exceptional client care. The matter was completed ahead of time and I was kept fully informed at every step of the process with email and telephone calls promptly returned. I would have no hesitation in recommending Sharon and Gibson & Associates.

Tim O’Sullivan

We Are Waiting to Hear From You

For help with any immigration matters, contact us by phone on +353 (0)1 872 3143 today, or complete our online enquiry form and let us know a convenient time to call you back.

For more information on Irish immigration law, take a look at our blog: