Citizenship by Association (Section 16)

Irish citizenship by association is a discretionary pathway that allows the Minister for Justice to grant Irish citizenship to people who do not meet standard naturalisation requirements but can demonstrate a qualifying relationship to an Irish citizen (or a deceased person who was entitled to be an Irish citizen). Unlike citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register—which is an automatic right for those with an Irish-born grandparent—citizenship by association is not guaranteed. The Minister retains absolute discretion in all cases, and even applicants who meet all stated criteria may have their applications refused.

This pathway has grown significantly since 2017, particularly after Brexit and recent US political events. On 2 April 2025, Immigration Service Delivery published the first comprehensive official guidelines for assessing these applications, introducing a transparent five-step framework and points-based scoring system that had previously been opaque.

Current processing times exceed 30 months for Irish association cases. As of June 2024, there were 1,200 cases pending determination. This represents a significant backlog compared to standard naturalisation applications, which typically process within 12 months.

The extended timeline is due to the extensive investigation required, including third-party involvement and international background checks (for money laundering and terrorist financing checks). International checks are largely outside the control of Immigration Service Delivery and can take considerable time. Applicants from certain countries (such as Somalia, Iran, and Afghanistan) have faced particularly lengthy delays.

In 2025, the Department wrote to over 1,500 applicants with pending Section 16 applications, inviting them to submit additional documentation in light of the newly published guidelines. Decisions have begun to issue, but the Department cannot offer a specific timeframe for processing all pending applications.

Once your application is approved and you complete the citizenship ceremony, you gain the following rights and benefits:

• Irish passport — You can apply for an Irish passport (standard 10-year passport fee is €75)
• Right to live and work in Ireland — Without restriction or need for a visa or work permit
• EU citizenship — You become an EU citizen and can live, work, and study in any other EU member state
• Voting rights — You can vote in Irish elections and referendums
• Right to be elected — You can stand for election to government
• Jury service — You can serve on a jury
• Dual citizenship — Ireland permits dual citizenship, so you can retain your original nationality
• Family reunification — As an Irish citizen, you may sponsor family members for residence in Ireland
• Access to services — You gain access to Irish public services on the same basis as other Irish citizens