How to Get Ireland CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years1 change not yet in force and not applied: see the timeline.
- Language
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- No civic knowledge requirement
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from naturalised citizens who naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- Proposal
Government approved a scheme to raise reckonable residence from 5 to 8 years and add language requirements; bill not yet law.
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. The changes in the timeline above are not in force and are not applied.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Ireland, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Proposal, 1 November 2025: Government approved a scheme to raise reckonable residence from 5 to 8 years and add language requirements; bill not yet law.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Ireland for 5 out of the last 9 years, including the year preceding the application. Intention to continue to reside in Ireland required.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- No language requirement
- Civic knowledge
- No civic knowledge requirement
Declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the country required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Good character required.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Ireland, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has been the spouse or civil partner of a citizen for 3 years and was resident in Ireland with the spouse for 3 out of the last 5 years (including the year preceding the application). Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation. Minister is explicitly allowed to waive certain requirements.
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Ireland.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Ireland to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen who was born on the island of Ireland; Person and parent are both born outside the island of Ireland, unless the parent is abroad in public service
Birth in the country
For people born in Ireland, the rules below show when birth there leads to citizenship.
Birth in country
Person is born in Ireland to a citizen, or to a person with permanent residence in Ireland or the UK, or to a person who was resident in Ireland for 3 out of the last 4 years.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is a minor who was born in Ireland has been resident in Ireland for 2 out of the last 8 years, including the year preceding the application. Person may not be charged with, awaiting trial, or be convicted for certain specified serious crimes. Declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the country to be made by the applicants on the minor's behalf if the minor is under 14.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Ireland, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is a minor who is included in the parent's application for naturalisation. Discretionary exemption from residence and other requirements.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Ireland is the basis of this route. Under the law of Ireland, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Person is adopted by a citizen.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Ireland, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Provided the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities must grant citizenship following an application.
Person was born in Ireland or Northern Ireland has previously renounced Irish citizenship.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
For people with ethnic or cultural ties to Ireland, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is of Irish descent or Irish associations. Discretionary exemption from residence and other requirements.
Refugees
For recognised refugees in Ireland, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is a recognised refugee. Discretionary exemption from residence and other requirements.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is a newborn infant found in Ireland of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Ireland not entitled to another citizenship.
Stateless persons
Person is recognised as stateless. Discretionary exemption from residence and other requirements.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Ireland. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has done signal honor or rendered distinguished service to Ireland, or is the child or grandchild of such a person.
Public or military service
For people with public or military service for Ireland, the rules below set out what applies. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person is or has been resident abroad and in the public service. Discretionary exemption from residence and other requirements.
Not available in Ireland: Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
Dual citizenship is accepted in Ireland for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from naturalised citizens who naturalise abroad
Person voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country otherwise than by marriage and acquired Irish citizenship by naturalisation.
Compare with neighbours
Ireland sets a requirement of 5 years, fewer years than the most common requirement of 8 years across Northern Europe.
Check where Ireland sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Estonia | 8 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Finland | 8 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Iceland | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Latvia | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Norway | 8 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 United Kingdom | 5 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 15.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Ireland Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/ireland/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/ireland/">How to Get Ireland Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Irish citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Ireland requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law. A change that is not yet in force may affect this: see the timeline above.
Does Ireland allow dual citizenship?
Yes. Ireland accepts dual citizenship in both directions, as coded in the data.
Do I need a language test for Irish citizenship?
No, Irish citizenship does not require a language test. A change that is not yet in force may affect this: see the timeline above.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Irish citizenship?
No civic knowledge test is required for Irish citizenship.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Irish citizenship?
You are not required to renounce your current citizenship to get Irish citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Ireland citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Ireland. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Ireland citizenship by descent?
Yes, Ireland has a descent route. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Ireland citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Ireland.
Related pages
Also see: Ireland passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.