New Amendment to ‘Citizenship by Irish Association’ Could Mean Thousands are Eligible for Irish Citizenship

The Minister for Ireland has amended section 16 to allow for exceptional circumstances. The changes could mean thousands more people, from all over the world, could now be eligible for the waiver thus granting them Irish Citizenship.

You can speak to an expert Ireland immigration lawyer to find out if you qualify, and to see how strong your case for Irish Citizenship could be. For help and expert advice on your Ireland citizenship eligibility and application, contact us on +353 (0) 61 518 025 or reach out to us online today.

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Last modified on April 10, 2025 at 3:42 pm

Ministerial power to waive citizenship requirements for cases with strong Irish Association

Irish citizenship has typically been a pathway via direct descent or birth, or trodden out over 6 years by demonstrating reckonable residence in Ireland.

Now, though, the Minister for Ireland has amended section 16 to allow for exceptional circumstances. The changes could mean thousands more people, from all over the world, are now eligible for the waiver.

If you have familial connection to Ireland based on blood, marriage or civil partnership, you may be eligible.

It is at the minister’s discretion whether your case is compelling enough to waive the usual Irish citizenship by naturalisation requirements.

Get in touch to see how your Irish cultural, family and residential connections can help you apply for Irish Citizenship early. Call us on +353 (0) 61 518 025

How big is the announcement? And who is it for?

The announcement is potentially seismic for all applicants with a strong affinity to Ireland. Previously, there were three typical routes to Irish Citizenship:

Irish Citizenship by Descent
If you held lineal descent, such as being the child, grandchild (or occasionally great-grandchild) of a current Irish citizen, or someone who was an Irish citizen at the time of their death, you could qualify for Irish Citizenship by Descent

Irish Citizenship via Naturalisation
If you do not hold direct lineal connections, you must have 5 years of reckonable residence, including 1 continuous year before applying. This must be completed on an eligible visa before being able to apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation.

Irish Citizenship by Birth
Irish citizenship by birth is granted automatically if you were born in Ireland before 1 January 2005, or
you were born in Ireland after 1 January 2005, and have one parent who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen, or who was a legal resident for 3 of the 4 years preceding your birth.

Now, there is a fourth.

Irish Citizenship by Irish Association (Affinity)

Irish Citizenship by Irish association is granted at the discretion of the Minister. It is not an automatic right, and there are no exact conditions.

To be eligible, there is a prerequisite to have an Irish descendant or Irish association. This could be:

Irish Descent: Direct lineal descendants of a person who is, or was at the time of their death, an Irish citizen.
Irish Associations: Relationships through blood, or affinity, such as civil partnership/in-laws or adoption to an Irish citizen or someone entitled to be one.

Blood connection

Includes parents, grandparents, or siblings who are (or were) Irish citizens.

Affinity connection

Relationships through marriage, such as a spouse or the spouse’s immediate family members (e.g., parent-in-law or sibling-in-law) who are Irish citizens. The pathway also allows for civil partners to gain citizenship, a route previously unavailable.

Adoption connection

Legally recognised adoptions where the adoptive parent is an Irish citizen.

See how you can qualify for Irish Citizenship through association. We can help you understand your eligibility even if you have relatives in Ireland, but have never lived there.

Requirements, beyond connection

You must have a connection by blood, affinity, or adoption to qualify for the citizenship route. However, these are insufficient alone in allowing you to gain Irish Citizenship. You must also consider other factors and connections to Ireland, which may help the Minister to waive the naturalisation requirement. These typically include:

Experiential Connection to the State: Length and nature of residence or visits to Ireland.
Family Connections to the State: Extent and closeness of family ties to Irish citizens.
Cultural Connection to the State: Contributions to or engagement with Irish culture, arts, or society.
Establishment in the State: Evidence of integration, such as employment, property ownership, or other ties.

What statutory naturalisation requirements can be waived by the Minister?

For applicants of Irish descent or Irish associations, the Minister may waive:

The residency requirement (in whole or in part)
The intention to reside in Ireland
Some documentation requirements depending on circumstances

We can outline the terms of the waiver and what you can do to present the best possible case for Irish citizenship via association. Call us on +353 (0) 61 518 025

Indicative Criteria for Irish Citizenship by Association

Criteria	Description	Points Available
Experiential Connection to Ireland
– Duration of residence in Ireland	Number of years lawfully residing in Ireland	5 points each up to a maximum of 25
– Tax resident	Registered as an Irish tax resident	10 points
– Frequency of visits	Regularity and length of visits to Ireland over the past 5 years	3 points each, up to a maximum of 15 points
Family Connections to Ireland
– Immediate family members	Having parents, siblings, or children who are Irish citizens	60 points
– Extended family members	Having grandparents or other close relatives who are (or were) Irish citizens	60 points (only available if you do not have immediate family members)
Cultural Connection to Ireland
– Participation in cultural activities/Promotion of Irish heritage	Involvement in Irish cultural organisations, volunteering or events, community development, and supporting Irish diaspora. Efforts in promoting Irish culture, language, or traditions internationally	30 points
– Possession of professional qualifications in Ireland	Points per certificate could include a professional third level qualification (NFQ level 6-10) in Ireland, Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate	10 points for each
Establishment in Ireland
– Pension Fund	Evidence of an Ireland-based public/private pension fund	20 points
Irish driving licence	Possessing a valid Irish driving licence	5 points
– Financial ties	Holding an Irish bank account with evidence of recent transactions in Ireland	5 points
Irish Insurance Policy	Holding a current Irish health, car, or home insurance policy	10 points

Citizenship by Association Process

At IAS Ireland, we work with candidates through the process set out by the Immigration Delivery Service in Ireland.

Step 1: Verify if the applicant qualifies as a person of Irish descent or association with appropriate supporting documentation.
Step 2: Identify which statutory naturalisation conditions the applicant does not meet and may be considered for waiving
Step 3: Evaluate the strength of the applicant’s case based on experiential connection, family connections, cultural connections, and establishment in Ireland. Gather supporting documentation and proceed with the application.
Step 4: A review of your application is made based on an assessment and the minister’s discretion. The review will check if you have presented sufficient evidence, and that the relevant statutory naturalisation conditions may be waived in your case.
Step 5: Await decision. You will receive this in writing. The letter will seek to explain the decision and reference the decision against the indicative criteria to show why the decision was made.

It is best to speak to a qualified and experienced immigration lawyer to determine how to proceed under the guidelines for Irish Citizenship by Association.

Why choose IAS to strengthen your case?

Expert immigration lawyers can help you strengthen your citizenship case and provide a compelling argument for the minister to waive certain application requirements. We can work with you every step of the way. We help you:

Tell a compelling, sincere story
Understand your pathway, and if there are things you can do to become eligible
Gather essential supporting documentation
Include lots of proof
Be respectful and realistic — this is not a loophole, it’s a special privilege

Reach out for an initial consultation, to understand what you need to do to claim Irish citizenship. Call us on +353 (0) 61 518 025 or reach out online.

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Written by Immigration Advice Service

Editorial Team

This content was developed by a team of researchers, editors, and lawyers who provide valuable information to those with immigration queries.

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