Upcoming Changes for Acquisition of Irish Citizenship Through Marriage
The procedures by which a non-national may claim Irish citizenship through marriage to an Irish citizen will change as from November 30.
Up to and including November 29, the last day when the existing Post-Nuptial Citizenship (PNC) arrangements will apply, a non-national will be able to claim Irish citizenship if s/he married a person who was an Irish citizen before November 30, 2002, and makes a post-nuptial declaration at least three years after the date of the marriage, but before November 30, 2005, and lodges it at an Irish Embassy or Consulate.
Those intending to apply for citizenship through PNC must have made their declarations by November 29 at the latest and lodged them at an Irish Embassy or Consulate together with the required affidavit completed by the Irish spouse, signed and witnessed on the same day as the declaration.
Applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications, including all of the required documents and certificates, as soon as possible, and as far in advance of the November 29 deadline as possible. If any documentation is still outstanding on November 30, it may not be possible for the non-national spouse to claim Irish citizenship through the existing arrangements.
As from November 30, it will no longer be possible to become an Irish citizen by making a post-nuptial declaration. Instead, it will be necessary to apply to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for a certificate of naturalisation based on marriage to an Irish citizen. The certificate may be granted subject to certain conditions, including a period of residence in Ireland.
The Embassy/Consulate will be happy to provide advice and assistance regarding these changes, which are in accordance with the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2001. For more information, call the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa at (613) 233-6281.
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