Naturalisation – Refugees and Stateless
Persons

Irish law gives refugees and stateless persons some special terms when they apply for citizenship by naturalisation. The Minister for Justice can waive some of the usual conditions, and both groups are exempt from the €950 certification fee, paying only the €175 application fee. The residence rule for refugees changed recently. For applications made from 8 December 2025, people granted refugee status need 5 years of reckonable residence, up from 3 years; applications received before that date continue under the previous 3-year rule. Time spent waiting for an international protection decision generally doesn't count. Stateless persons can have some of the standard conditions waived at the Minister's discretion. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection apply on the standard terms, with the standard 5-year residence rule and both fees. Many refugees don't have a national passport, so identity is proved in other ways: a certified copy of the Irish travel document, a letter confirming refugee or stateless status, and a passport affidavit sworn before a solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner or Notary Public. Applicants must also be 18 or over, of good character and intend to keep living in Ireland. Travelling to the country of origin can raise questions about protection status, so advice should be taken before any such trip.

Applications received before 8 December 2025 continue under the previous 3-year rule.

Yes. You can use your Irish travel document, a letter confirming your status and a sworn passport affidavit.

Generally, time spent seeking asylum doesn't count as reckonable residence. We'll calculate exactly how your time counts.

No. Refugees and stateless persons are exempt from the certification fee and only pay the €175 application fee. Subsidiary protection holders pay both.

Yes. Programme refugees are also exempt from the certification fee. We'll confirm the residence rules that apply to you.