Temporary process for granting citizenship during COVID-19

The Minister for Justice has recently announced that a temporary system is in place that will enable citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty to the state.

This signed statutory declaration replaces the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies, which have been temporarily suspended during COVID-19.

From 18 January 2021, qualifying applicants will be contacted by the Citizenship division by email and they will be required to complete the statutory declaration in the presence of a witness (e.g. notary public, commissioner for oaths, solicitor, or a peace commissioner, and authorised to take and receive statutory declarations).

Once completed, the applicant must then send the signed statutory declaration, the appropriate fee and any other requested documentation to the dedicated postal address as instructed in the e-mail on or before the 30th May 2021.

It will take up to 6 weeks from receipt of the above documents to issue a Certificate of Naturalisation if all of the above is in order.

If you have any questions on the new procedure above, please contact us at info@mcgrathmcgrane.ie or on 01-8735012.