The Government has approved the drafting of legislation that would significantly tighten the requirements for Irish citizenship by naturalisation. Here is what is proposed, what has not changed, and what it means if you are close to qualifying under the current rules.
On 9 September 2026, the Government approved priority drafting of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026. The general scheme proposes the most substantial overhaul of naturalisation requirements in a generation.
The coverage since has been extensive and, in places, confusing. This note sets out what the proposals actually say.
Before going further, one point that is getting lost: this is not the law. The Bill has not been published. It has not been through the Oireachtas. There is no commencement date. What has happened is that the Government has agreed the general scheme (the outline) and instructed the drafters to prioritise it. Everything below could change before it becomes law.
What the law requires today
To apply for naturalisation at present, an applicant generally needs five years of reckonable residence in the State within the previous nine years. That period is structured as one year of continuous residence immediately before the date of application, plus a further four years of reckonable residence during the preceding eight years.
Not all time in the State is reckonable. Time spent on a student permission, or as an applicant for international protection, does not generally count. This is the single most common reason applications are refused, and it catches people who have lived here far longer than five years.
Applicants must also be of good character, intend to reside in the State, and make a declaration of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State.
What the Bill proposes to change
A longer residence requirement
The headline change: eight years of reckonable residence instead of five. The structure would also change: six years within the previous ten, together with two years of continuous residence immediately before the application, up from one.
For a person who has built their life here on the basis of the current rule, this is a substantial shift. Someone who is four and a half years into reckonable residence today, and expecting to apply next year, would instead be looking at a further three and a half years.
A language requirement
For the first time, applicants would need to demonstrate proficiency in English, Irish or Irish Sign Language. No language requirement exists at present.
A civics test
The scheme also provides for a test of foundational knowledge of Irish society, government and the Constitution. Again, this is new. There is currently no equivalent examination.
An economic self-sufficiency requirement
Applicants would have to show they are economically self-sufficient. Significantly, the proposals would allow the Minister to set an income threshold that an applicant must meet. Reports also indicate restrictions connected to the receipt of social welfare or housing supports.
The detail here matters enormously and is not yet known. An income threshold set by ministerial regulation is a very different thing depending on where the figure lands.
Longer qualifying period for spouses
For spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens, the qualifying relationship period would rise from three years to five.
The Minister has framed the overall approach as treating citizenship as an earned privilege reflecting sustained lawful residence, self-sufficiency and civic participation, rather than the passage of time alone.
What is not changing
This is where most of the confusion lies, and it is worth being clear.
Citizenship by descent is unaffected. If your claim arises through an Irish parent, or through an Irish grandparent via the Foreign Births Register, none of this applies to you. The proposals concern naturalisation by residence only.
Existing Irish citizens are unaffected. If you already hold Irish citizenship, whether by birth, descent or naturalisation, nothing here disturbs that.
Nobody's citizenship is being revoked on the basis of these proposals.
The question nobody can yet answer
The question we are being asked most often is this: if I apply now, will my application be assessed under the current five-year rule?
Nobody knows yet. Transitional arrangements are common when immigration rules change, and it would be unusual for legislation of this kind to contain none. But no transitional provision has been announced, and until the Bill is published we cannot say what it will contain, or whether the relevant date will be the date of application, the date of decision, or something else entirely.
We would be cautious about anyone who tells you otherwise with confidence.
What can be said is narrower, and more practical: if you already satisfy the current requirements, the position you are in today is one you understand. The position you will be in after the Bill passes is one nobody can yet describe. That asymmetry is a reasonable basis on which to take advice about your own circumstances now, rather than to wait and see.
What to do if you think you may be affected
If you are approaching five years of reckonable residence, or you are unsure whether your residence is reckonable at all, the useful step is to establish your actual position:
- Work out precisely how much of your residence is reckonable. This is more technical than it sounds, and permission type matters.
- Check whether there are gaps: periods where permission lapsed or was not renewed on time.
- If you are married to or in a civil partnership with an Irish citizen, check where you stand against both the three-year and five-year periods.
- Take advice on whether an application now is realistic on its merits, independent of the proposed changes. An application made before you genuinely qualify will be refused, and the fee is not refunded.
How we can help
Our immigration team advises on naturalisation applications, reckonable residence, and immigration permissions generally. If you would like to establish where you stand, we offer eligibility reviews at our office on Ormond Quay, Dublin 7.
Book a citizenship eligibility review
We will keep this page updated as the Bill progresses. The position will change when it is published, and again if and when a commencement date is set.
Frequently asked questions
Is the new Irish citizenship law in force?
No. The Government has approved the drafting of the Bill. It has not been published, has not passed the Oireachtas, and has no commencement date.
How many years do I need to live in Ireland to apply for citizenship right now?
Five years of reckonable residence within the previous nine years, including one year of continuous residence immediately before you apply.
What would the new requirement be?
Eight years: six within the previous ten, plus two years of continuous residence immediately before applying.
Does this affect citizenship through an Irish parent or grandparent?
No. Citizenship by descent and the Foreign Births Register are not affected by these proposals.
Will I have to sit a language or civics test?
Under the proposals, yes: proficiency in English, Irish or Irish Sign Language, and a test of foundational knowledge of Irish society, government and the Constitution. Neither requirement exists at present.
Will applications made before the law changes be assessed under the current rules?
This is not yet known. No transitional arrangements have been announced. Anyone stating this with certainty is going beyond what has been published.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for naturalisation?
No, you can apply directly. Advice is most useful where reckonable residence is complicated, where there are gaps in permission, or where a previous application has been refused.
This article is for general information and does not constitute legal advice. The proposals described are at general scheme stage and may change. If you are considering an application, take advice on your own circumstances.