Many People Don’t Realise They Can Get This Passport

Many people are interested in what the requirements for Irish citizenship are today. The rules and procedures have changed a lot on recent years. This is due to the sheer volume of people who want to make an application for Irish citizenship.

Irish citizenship is unique because in addition to being able to live on the Island of Ireland, you can also live in any of the European Economic Area countries. This is available with any EU passport. What makes the Irish passport unique is that it also gives you the right to stay permanently in the UK. No extra residency application is necessary for this. If you are Irish you can stay in the UK permanently. The British also have the right to stay permanently in Ireland.

Requirements for Irish Citizenship

The main requirements for Irish citizenship is to have Irish ancestors. If you have at least one Irish grandparent you’re in! The requirements for Irish citizenship based on descent are that you prove your family connection. So, you have to provide all the documents that connect you to your Irish family member. That’ll start with the birth certificate of your Irish grandparent. You’ll need the birth certificates of your parents. You’ll also have to provide the marriage certificate of your parents as part of the requirements for Irish citizenship. Of course you’ll need your own birth certificate and current passport.

It used to be possible to get citizenship automatically based on an Irish great-grandparent. But they changed the requirements for Irish citizenship a few years back. It may still be possible. You’ll have to show that your grandparent was an Irish citizen. This can be the case even if your grandparent never set foot in Ireland or had an Irish passport. It can get a little complex and you’ll probably need professional help if you’re going back further than your grandparents to meet the requirements for Irish citizenship.

Application for Irish Citizenship

The first stage of the application for Irish citizenship is to register on the foreign births register. This is the register of Irish citizens born abroad. If you have an Irish parent or grandparent you’ll b able to register on the foreign births register as part of your application for Irish citizenship. If you’re making the application based on an Irish grandparent your parents will have to be registered as Irish citizens too.

The number of people making an application for Irish citizenship increased dramatically after Brexit. Many British citizens have Irish ancestors. An Irish passport will let them keep the right to live and work in any EU country. Anyone with Irish ancestors should get their application in as soon as possible. Because of the volume of applications, processing time has increased. It can take up to 2 years to process an application for Irish citizenship.

Benefits of Irish Citizenship

requirements for Irish citizenship
The spectacular Kerry Cliffs are located on the Skellig Coast in County Kerry in Ireland.

If you meet the requirements for Irish citizenship there are many benefits. The Irish passport is one of the best in the world. It offers via free travel to 189 countries and is ranked number 5 in the world. It would be the perfect document for any American citizen who wants to renounce their US citizenship.

The Irish passport also gives you the right to live and work in the 30 EEA countries. The EEA includes the non-EU countries of Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland. The benefits of Irish citizenship also include the right to live and work in the UK.

Other Ways to Get Irish Citizenship

What if you don’t meet the requirements for Irish citizenship by having an Irish ancestor? There are other ways.

There is citizenship by naturalisation. Anyone who spends at least 6 months per year living in Ireland for 5 years can make an application for Irish citizenship. Any British person meets the requirements for Irish citizenship if they spend half the year in Ireland for 5 years. If you’re British you don’t need to make any application for residency in Ireland. You can simply ove and wait for 5 years. You’ll be rewarded with an Irish passport. Any EU citizen can do the same thing.

If you’re not European or British there are other programmes to become an Irish resident. There are investments options. You can get a jib in Ireland. You can also get Irish citizenship by marrying someone from Ireland. I wrote more about the other ways to get Irish citizenship here.

Conclusion

Irish citizenship is highly sought after. Many people meet the requirements for Irish citizenship without realising. It’s worth investigating your ancestors to see if you have any Irish blood. If you can find an Irish ancestor get started on your application for Irish citizenship.

Can I get Irish citizenship if my great grandparents were Irish?

It’s no longer automatic to get Irish citizenship based on your great-grandparents. It depends on the individual case. You’ll need to show that your grandparent acquired Irish citizenship from their Irish parent. This is possible and can be done with professional help. Ultimately the Irish government minister responsible has the discretion to approve Irish citizenship.

How hard is it to become an Irish citizen?

Provided you meet the requirements it’s not too difficult. Ireland has a long established procedure for the application for Irish citizenship by descent. This is done by registering on the foreign births register. There are more Irish citizens living outside Ireland than on the island of Ireland.

Who qualifies for an Irish passport?

Irish citizenship by descent is the most common method for foreigners to become Irish citizens. Requirements for Irish citizenship are straightforward. If you have an Irish grandparent you qualify. If you have other Irish ancestors like great grandparents you may qualify.

Does Ireland allow dual citizenship?

Yes, Ireland allows dual citizenship.

How long does it take to get an Irish passport?

Many British people decided to apply for Irish passports after Brexit. This has created a backlog in applications for Irish citizenship. It can take up to 2 years to be approved for citizenship and then apply for a passport. The passport itself is issued quickly when you’ve been approved for citizenship of Ireland.

If I don’t have an Irish Grandparent, can I still qualify?

Yes, there are other ways to get Irish citizenship. The most straightforward is naturalisation. Anyone who lives in Ireland for 5 years can make an application for Irish citizenship. Citizenship by marriage is also possible. See 5 Easy Ways to get Irish Citizenship for more information.

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