In a significant shift for Ireland’s naturalisation landscape, the Department of Justice confirmed that, effective 8 December 2025, individuals granted International Protection (refugee or subsidiary status) must now accumulate five years of reckonable residence before lodging a citizenship application—up from the three-year concession that had applied since 2011. Applications filed before the cut-off will continue under the old rule; all new submissions must meet the stricter threshold.
Officials say the adjustment aligns Ireland with ‘best practice’ across the EU and eases administrative pressure on the Citizenship Division, which has grappled with record application volumes: more than 24,000 decisions were issued in 2024, nearly double pre-pandemic levels. The government also cites faster asylum processing times—now averaging six months—as a reason to standardise residency requirements.
![Path to Irish Citizenship Lengthens to Five Years for Refugees and Other Protection Status Holders]()
Refugee advocacy groups have criticised the move as a setback to integration. The Irish Refugee Council argues that extending the wait by two years may delay access to full labour-market mobility and EU free-movement rights, potentially discouraging skilled refugees from putting down roots.
For employers, the longer timeline may affect workforce planning for high-potential hires who depend on citizenship for intra-EU assignments. Mobility teams should update relocation timelines and communicate the change to Human Resources Business Partners and external counsel.
The new rule is part of a broader Justice portfolio of reforms—including tighter good-character provisions and self-sufficiency tests—expected to be incorporated into the forthcoming International Protection Bill 2025.
Officials say the adjustment aligns Ireland with ‘best practice’ across the EU and eases administrative pressure on the Citizenship Division, which has grappled with record application volumes: more than 24,000 decisions were issued in 2024, nearly double pre-pandemic levels. The government also cites faster asylum processing times—now averaging six months—as a reason to standardise residency requirements.
Refugee advocacy groups have criticised the move as a setback to integration. The Irish Refugee Council argues that extending the wait by two years may delay access to full labour-market mobility and EU free-movement rights, potentially discouraging skilled refugees from putting down roots.
For employers, the longer timeline may affect workforce planning for high-potential hires who depend on citizenship for intra-EU assignments. Mobility teams should update relocation timelines and communicate the change to Human Resources Business Partners and external counsel.
The new rule is part of a broader Justice portfolio of reforms—including tighter good-character provisions and self-sufficiency tests—expected to be incorporated into the forthcoming International Protection Bill 2025.
