Ireland tightens citizenship rules…

Immigrants in Ireland may face a longer wait to obtain citizenship under new reforms proposed by Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, according to a Peoples Gazette report. O’Callaghan is expected to present the proposals to Cabinet on Wednesday, with a central recommendation extending the required residency period for naturalisation from five to eight years.

Under the draft “Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026,” applicants would also need to pass a language test in English, Irish or Irish Sign Language, and demonstrate knowledge of Irish civics, including society and politics. The bill additionally proposes a new legal ground allowing the minister to revoke citizenship on public order or national security grounds.

The Irish Examiner reported that spouses of Irish nationals would face stricter rules too, needing to be married or in a civil partnership and living together in Ireland for five years, up from three, before qualifying. The residency requirement includes two years of continuous residence before applying, plus three years within the preceding five.

Other proposals would empower the minister to set a minimum income threshold for eligibility and bar applicants from receiving social welfare or housing supports at any point during the naturalisation process. Anyone who committed an immigration offence before or during the process would also be disqualified.

The Examiner noted that roughly 235,000 people have become Irish citizens since 2011, with nearly 26,400 naturalised in 2025.