Ireland simplifies citizenship process, extends residence permit validity

By Uglobal Staff

Ireland's Department of Justice has announced changes to the citizenship application process and extended the validity period of expired residency permits for foreigners until mid-January next year.

Those who apply for citizenship from January 1, 2022, and onwards will no longer need to provide original passports as part of their citizenship application process, but instead the authorities will accept color copies of their passports, according to the Justice Department.

Criteria for proving one's identity and residency are also being simplified; for example, foreign doctors who work for Irish hospitals would only need to provide a summary of their employment history as proof of their residency.

The Department of Justice also announced that foreigners whose residence permits were valid on March 20, 2020, would be allowed to stay until January 15, 2022, and their permits would not be considered as expired. The pandemic linked measure will provide relief to people who would like to travel and return to the country over the Christmas and New Year period. Children who are below 16 will also benefit from the new re-entry visa rule, the statement added.  

Those without an expired residence permit would need to get a re-entry visa. However, those with a valid multi-entry visa would be allowed to enter the country. 

The Immigrant Council of Ireland advised travelers to renew their residence permit if they were concerned and  might end up staying outside the country for a longer period of time.

“If you are staying outside Ireland for longer than 15 January 2022: You are advised to renew your IRP card before you travel if possible. If you’re from a visa-required country and have been unable to renew before you travel, you will have to apply for a visa to re-enter Ireland at your destination using the AVATS online system,” the council stated.

Investors looking to move to Ireland can get a chance at gaining permanent residency and eventually citizenship if they apply for the country's Immigrant Investor Program. Investors under the program can put their money in new or existing businesses, registered Irish companies, real estate investment trusts or make a donation or an endowment to an approved project. The minimum investment amount required to participate in the program is at least half-a-million euros while the applicant's net worth should also be at least 2 million euros.

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