The Irish Department of Justice has announced that significant changes are being made to the citizenship application process. These changes include new passport requirements and the introduction of a scorecard approach for establishing identity and residency.
New citizenship applicants will no longer be required to submit their original passport with their initial application. Instead, they can provide a full-colour copy of their passport, including all previous passports with relevant residency stamps. However, this copy must be certified by a solicitor, commissioner for oaths, or notary public by confirming that the passport pages provided are a true copy of the applicant’s passport.
Regarding the scorecard approach, applicants will be required to obtain 150 points for each year where proof of residency is necessary, which they can accumulate by submitting proofs with predetermined point values. In addition, applicants must accumulate a total of 150 points for establishing their identity. If an applicant is unable to achieve the required number of points, they should contact the Department of Justice for further assistance.
These changes are expected to streamline the citizenship application process and make it easier for eligible applicants to apply for citizenship in Ireland.