The Minister for Justice has announced a temporary system for granting citizenship during Covid 19 which came into operation on Monday 18 January 2021.

Once an applicant has been granted Citizenship, the system will enable applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty to the State. This new process will replace the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies in order to be granted their Certificate of Naturalisation in order to apply for an Irish passport.

All eligible applicants will be sent the Statutory Declaration by email requesting for same to be completed.

Applicants must attend before a solicitor/notary public/peace commissioner or commissioner for oaths to have their statutory declaration witnessed. The applicant is to send the signed Statutory Declaration, appropriate fee and any other requested documents to INIS, by the method advised on or before the
30 May 2021.

INIS have advised that it can take up to six weeks for applicants to receive Certificate of Naturalisation.

This temporary scheme is welcomed to enable many qualified applicants avoid further delays in their application for an Irish passport.