Citizenship by Naturalisation (Spouse or Civil Partner)

You apply for Irish citizenship through marriage or civil partnership online via the ISD Online Portal. The entire process—from submission to citizenship ceremony—typically takes 12 to 19 months, though the official target is 12 months.

Online Application

Step 1: Verify Your Eligibility

Before you start, confirm you meet all requirements:

• You are 18 years or older
• You have been married to or in civil partnership with an Irish citizen for at least 3 years
• You have lived legally in Ireland for 3 out of the last 5 years, including 1 full year of continuous residence immediately before applying (absences up to 70 days are permitted in that final year; an additional 30 days may be allowed in exceptional circumstances)
• You are currently living with your spouse or civil partner
• You are of good character (no serious criminal record, driving offences, pending cases, or cautions from An Garda Síochána)
• You intend to continue living in Ireland after becoming a citizen
• You can prove your identity with documents totalling 150 points on the citizenship scorecard

If you have lived in Northern Ireland, this counts towards your reckonable residence requirement—a unique advantage for spouses of Irish citizens.

You can use the online residency calculator to check if you have enough reckonable residence.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Collect all required documents before starting your application. You will need to upload them to the online portal.

Your Identity Documents (must total 150 points):

• Certified colour photocopy of the biometric page of your current passport (100 points) — certified by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, peace commissioner, or notary public. From 20 April 2023, this is the standard requirement; the ISD may request your full passport in about 10% of cases.
• Birth certificate (certified true copy) (100 points)

If your documents do not total 150 points, you can submit additional identity documents as listed in the Citizenship Guidance Document.

Your Residency Documents (must total 150 points for each year you claim residence):

For each year of residence in Ireland, you must provide documents totalling 150 points. The scorecard system requires one Type A proof (100 points) and one Type B proof (50 points) for each year, with documents corresponding to up to 3 months prior to your application date.

Type A Proofs (100 points):

• P60 or Employment Detail Summary
• Mortgage agreement or tenancy agreement
• Utility bills (gas, electricity, phone, cable/satellite TV)
• Bank statements showing point-of-sale transactions
• Revenue tax documents
• Social welfare statements

Type B Proofs (50 points):

• Utility bills
• Bank statements
• Employment letters
• Social welfare statements
• Mortgage or rent agreements
• Other supporting documents

Your Marriage or Civil Partnership Documents:

• Certified true copy of your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate
• Statutory Declaration completed by your Irish spouse or civil partner in the presence of a legal witness (solicitor, commissioner for oaths, peace commissioner, or notary public). This form is available on the ISD website.

Your Spouse's or Civil Partner's Documents:

Your Irish spouse or civil partner must provide:

• Certified copy of their birth certificate (if born in Ireland), OR certified copy of foreign birth register entry, OR their parent's birth certificate (if parent was born in Ireland), OR certified copy of naturalisation certificate, OR certified copy of Irish passport page with photograph
• Three different proofs of residence in Ireland for 3 months prior to your application date (mortgage/rent agreement, household bills, bank statements, revenue documents, social welfare statements, employment letters, etc.)

Translations and Certifications:

If any documents are not in English, they must be professionally translated and certified before submission. The Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association has a list of professional translators.

Documents that must be certified as 'true copies' by a solicitor, notary, commissioner for oaths, or peace commissioner include:

• Your birth certificate
• Your spouse's birth certificate
• Marriage or civil partnership certificate
• Your passport

If You Cannot Obtain Original Documents:

If you cannot obtain your birth certificate or marriage certificate, you must use affidavits instead. Download the birth affidavit form or marriage affidavit form from the ISD website. An affidavit is only accepted if you can demonstrate that you are unable to obtain a certificate.

Step 3: Complete Your Application Form Online

Log in to the ISD Online Portal and complete Form 8 (for adults applying for citizenship by naturalisation).

Before you submit, verify:

• All sections of the form are fully completed
• All required signatures are present
• All dates are correct
• No pages are missing
• Your proof of identity documents total 150 points
• Your proof of residency documents total 150 points for each year of claimed residence
• All documents you upload are true copies, certified by an appropriate witness
• Your Statutory Declaration is included and properly signed
• The Statutory Declaration checkbox is ticked
• All required documents are uploaded

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

The application fee is €175 (non-refundable). You must pay this fee via the online portal before your application is accepted. Payment is by credit or debit card.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Once you have completed the form, uploaded all documents, and paid the fee, submit your application through the online portal. You will receive a confirmation email with your application reference number. Keep this number for your records.

Paper Application (If Online Access Is Not Available)

If you cannot access the online portal, you may request a paper application form.

Step 1: Request the Paper Form

Contact the Customer Service Portal to request the current version of Form 8. Older versions of the form cannot be accepted and will be returned.

Step 2: Complete the Form

Complete all relevant sections of the application form carefully:

• Ensure no missing signatures, incorrect dates, or missing pages
• Provide all required statutory declarations and affidavits
• Ensure all supporting documentation is complete and legible

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Gather all documents as described in the online application section above. Ensure all documents are certified and translated as required.

Step 4: Prepare Payment

The application fee is €175. For paper applications, the fee must be in the form of a bank draft only, made payable to the Secretary General of the Department of Justice. Do not send cash or cheques.

Step 5: Submit by Registered Post

Send your completed application form, all supporting documents, and bank draft to:

Citizenship Division
Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Office
Rosanna Road
Tipperary Town
Tipperary
E34 N566
Ireland

It is strongly advised that you send your application and all documentation by registered post so you have proof of delivery.

After You Submit

Confirmation of Receipt (6–8 weeks):

You can expect confirmation of your application within 6 to 8 weeks. At this point, the government verifies your reckonable residence and begins checking your good character.

Assessment Phase (6–12 months):

During this phase, the ISD reviews your application in detail. You may be asked to send further documentation or clarify information. If you are asked for additional documents, respond promptly to avoid losing your place in the processing queue.

E-Vetting (before final decision):

Before a final decision is made, you will be invited to complete an e-vetting application so that information on your character is up to date. Respond to this request promptly.

Final Decision (3–6 months after assessment):

Once the assessment is complete, the ISD will make a final decision. You will be notified in writing whether your application has been approved or refused. If refused, you will be given a reason for the decision. There is no appeal process, but you can apply again if you wish, or you can apply to the High Court for a judicial review if you believe the ISD acted unfairly.

Citizenship Ceremony:

If your application is approved, you will be invited to attend a citizenship ceremony to make a declaration of fidelity. Ceremonies are held regularly throughout Ireland. The next confirmed ceremonies are 14–15 April 2026 in Killarney, County Kerry. Attendance is mandatory for applicants over 18 years of age. You cannot collect your certificate on the day of the ceremony.

Certificate Issuance:

Your certificate of naturalisation will be sent to you by registered post in the weeks following the ceremony. Keep this certificate safe; you will need it to apply for an Irish passport and for other official purposes.

Track Your Application Status

You can check the status of your application at any time by logging into the Immigration Service Customer Service Portal. Register for an account if you do not already have one.

Change of Address

If you move house while your application is being processed, you must notify the Citizenship Division in writing by completing a change of address form. It is your responsibility to keep the ISD informed of your current address and email. Failure to do so may result in missed communications and delays.

Item	Cost
Application fee	€175
Certification fee (if approved)	€950
Total cost if successful	€1,125

The application fee of €175 is non-refundable and is lost if your application is rejected.

The certification fee of €950 is only payable if your application is approved. (Note: Widows, widowers, or surviving civil partners of Irish citizens pay a reduced certification fee of €200, but this does not apply to spouses or civil partners of living Irish citizens.)

This total does not include:

• Document certification fees (typically €5–20 per document from solicitors, commissioners for oaths, peace commissioners, or notary publics)
• Professional translation fees (typically €50–200+ depending on document length and language)
• Solicitor or legal advice fees (typically €500–2,000+ if you use a solicitor to help with your application)
• Birth or marriage certificates from civil registration services (typically €10–20 in Ireland; costs vary by country for foreign documents)
• Apostille certification for foreign documents (typically €10–30)

Official Timeline: Most applications for citizenship by naturalisation are processed within 12 months. However, the Minister has stated that while he expects most applicants will receive a decision within one year going forward, this cannot be guaranteed. In practice, applications commonly take 12 to 19 months to complete.

Stages of Processing:

• Confirmation of receipt: 6–8 weeks after submission
• Assessment phase: 6–12 months (verification of reckonable residence, good character checks, and review of documentation)
• E-vetting: Before final decision (you will be invited to complete this; respond promptly)
• Final decision: 3–6 months after assessment is complete
• Citizenship ceremony: Scheduled after approval (ceremonies held regularly; next confirmed: 14–15 April 2026 in Killarney, County Kerry)
• Certificate issuance: Weeks following the ceremony (sent by registered post)

Factors That Affect Processing Speed:

• Completeness of your application: Incomplete applications or poor-quality supporting documentation cause delays
• International background checks: Checks in your country of origin can take considerable time and are largely outside the control of the ISD
• Requests for additional documentation: If the ISD asks for further information, your application may lose its place in the processing queue
• High application volumes: The ISD processed a record 33,000 naturalisation decisions in 2025, but the stock of pending files remains high, which can cause backlogs
• Complexity of your case: No two applications are identical; some take longer than others

Document Validity: Your passport must be valid throughout the application process. If your passport expires before your application is decided, you may need to renew it and submit an updated certified photocopy to the ISD.