Irish citizenship applications jump 236% as government plans stricter rules
Applications for Irish citizenship rose sharply after the government announced tougher eligibility criteria, prompting criticism from opposition and migrant groups.
A surge of 236% in Irish citizenship applications was recorded after the cabinet approved Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan’s overhaul of the naturalisation process. Applications rose to 8,765, compared with 2,611 in the previous month, after the government signaled new requirements such as proof of English, Irish or Irish sign-language ability, a civics test, and a minimum income level to prevent reliance on state benefits.
The residency prerequisite would also extend from five to eight years, with the final two years needing to be continuous. Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman warned that the reforms scare prospective citizens and unfairly affect those already in the system, while John Lannon of the migrant-rights group Doras called the measures harsh and likely to create further processing delays. Both critics urged the minister to reconsider the plan, especially for applicants close to qualifying.
Why it matters
The reforms could reshape immigration and labor supply in Ireland by making naturalisation harder for many residents.
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