To: Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Ireland, Government of Ireland.

Equitable and Fair Naturalisation Processing for Pakistani Applicants (An AIPPS Ireland Initiative)

We, the undersigned, express our deep concern over the unjustified delays in the processing of Irish naturalisation applications submitted by Pakistani nationals. This issue has caused undue hardship, mental stress, and systemic disadvantage to a significant cohort of law-abiding, tax-paying, and socially integrated residents of Ireland.

The Department of Justice of Ireland, tasked with ensuring equality and fairness under Irish law, has consistently shown a pattern of disproportionate delay in finalising naturalisation applications from individuals of Pakistani origin when compared to other non-EEA applicants. Numerous cases dating back to 2019, 2020, and even earlier remain unresolved without sufficient explanation or communication.

Excuses Offered by the Department of Justice

When individuals have sought updates on their delayed applications—through written enquiries, parliamentary representations, and FOI requests—the Department of Justice has often cited the following reasons:

1. Extended background checks involving national and international security assessments.

2. Liaison with multiple State and international agencies without specified timeframes.

3. Applications are said to be "awaiting further processing" or "under active consideration" without substantive clarification.

4. In some cases, the DOJ claims the delay is due to "a higher than usual volume of applications", even when similar nationalities have seen faster turnaround times.

5. A recurring response is: "We are unable to give a timeframe for decision."

While security checks are essential, the lack of transparency, unequal impact, and absence of time limits raise serious questions about the fairness and consistency of the naturalisation process.

Consequences of Delayed Processing

These delays have real-life implications:

Prolonged inability to access full civic rights, including voting rights, travel flexibility, and career advancement opportunities.
Emotional and psychological toll on families awaiting stability.
Impediments to integration and belonging, directly counteracting the inclusive vision of Irish society.

Our Demands

We respectfully urge the Department of Justice Ireland and the Minister for Justice to:

Acknowledge and investigate the systemic delays affecting Pakistani applicants.
Publish detailed statistics on naturalisation application outcomes by nationality to ensure transparency.
Introduce a nationality-blind queue system, adhering to the "first come, first served" principle.
Establish strict timelines and service standards for decision-making with automated public updates.
Appoint a liaison or ombudsperson to address disproportionate delays and maintain accountability.

Why is this important?

This is not just a concern for the Pakistani community—it is a matter of fairness, equality, and the rule of law. Any discrimination—direct or systemic—based on nationality is unacceptable in a democratic society. Ensuring timely and fair processing for all strengthens the integrity of Irish institutions and its international reputation.

We urge all residents of Ireland, public representatives, civil society actors, and advocates of fairness to sign this petition and support equal treatment and justice for all naturalisation applicants.

What You Can Do

Sign this petition to join us in demanding transparency, fairness, and efficiency in the naturalisation process. Together, we can put pressure on the Department of Justice Ireland to ensure equitable treatment for all applicants, irrespective of nationality.

Justice delayed is justice denied. Let us stand together to make this right.

Together, we demand transparency, equity, and efficiency. Together, we stand for justice - with Department of Justice, in Ireland, for Ireland - OUR HOME.