10 signatures reached
To: Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan, TD; Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD; and Members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice.
Scrap the 8-Year Citizenship Extension
We, the undersigned legal residents, workers, families, and citizens of Ireland, call on Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and the Irish Government to scrap proposed plans to extend the naturalisation residency requirement from 5 years to 8 years under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, and to maintain the 5-year pathway for all legal residents.
Why is this important?
In September 2026, the Irish Government announced plans to overhaul Ireland's citizenship laws, proposing an increase in the general naturalisation requirement from 5 to 8 years. Moving the goalposts by 3 additional years harms hundreds of thousands of people who have lawfully built their lives, careers, and families in Ireland.
Undermining Fair Integration: Citizenship is the foundation of full civic, political, and social participation. Forcing long-term legal residents—including healthcare workers, tech specialists, teachers, service staff, care workers, and their families—to wait 8 years on temporary permissions delays their ability to fully integrate and contribute to the democratic life of the State.
Going Against International Best Practice:
While the Department of Justice claims this aligns Ireland with European standards, major EU nations are moving in the opposite direction. In 2024, Germany reduced its naturalisation timeline from 8 years to 5 years specifically to attract and retain global talent. Furthermore, the EU Long-Term Residence Directive sets 5 years as the benchmark. Extending Ireland's timeline to 8 years makes the country less competitive and less welcoming.
Damaging Economic and Community Stability:
Migrants fill critical roles across public services, hospitals, technology hubs, and local businesses. Thousands made life-altering decisions—relocating families, buying homes, and turning down opportunities in other countries—relying directly on the 5-year statutory process published by the Irish State. Changing these rules harms Ireland’s reputation as a fair and stable place to live and work.
Our Demands:
We respectfully call on the Minister for Justice and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice during the Pre-Legislative Scrunity (PLS) phase to: Withdraw the 8-Year extension and maintain the existing 5-year reckonable residence requirement for naturalisation under Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended).
Guarantee Transitional Protections: Ensure that any future legislative changes include an explicit grandfathering clause to protect all current legal residents holding valid immigration permissions (Stamp 1, Stamp 1G, Stamp 4, and dependent permissions).
Keep Pathways Accessible: Ensure that proposed language and civics requirements do not create socio-economic barriers to citizenship for lower-income workers or vulnerable groups.
Ireland thrives when everyone who contributes to society is given a clear, fair, and achievable path to full citizenship. We urge the Government to reconsider this proposal and protect the 5-year pathway.
Undermining Fair Integration: Citizenship is the foundation of full civic, political, and social participation. Forcing long-term legal residents—including healthcare workers, tech specialists, teachers, service staff, care workers, and their families—to wait 8 years on temporary permissions delays their ability to fully integrate and contribute to the democratic life of the State.
Going Against International Best Practice:
While the Department of Justice claims this aligns Ireland with European standards, major EU nations are moving in the opposite direction. In 2024, Germany reduced its naturalisation timeline from 8 years to 5 years specifically to attract and retain global talent. Furthermore, the EU Long-Term Residence Directive sets 5 years as the benchmark. Extending Ireland's timeline to 8 years makes the country less competitive and less welcoming.
Damaging Economic and Community Stability:
Migrants fill critical roles across public services, hospitals, technology hubs, and local businesses. Thousands made life-altering decisions—relocating families, buying homes, and turning down opportunities in other countries—relying directly on the 5-year statutory process published by the Irish State. Changing these rules harms Ireland’s reputation as a fair and stable place to live and work.
Our Demands:
We respectfully call on the Minister for Justice and the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice during the Pre-Legislative Scrunity (PLS) phase to: Withdraw the 8-Year extension and maintain the existing 5-year reckonable residence requirement for naturalisation under Section 15 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (as amended).
Guarantee Transitional Protections: Ensure that any future legislative changes include an explicit grandfathering clause to protect all current legal residents holding valid immigration permissions (Stamp 1, Stamp 1G, Stamp 4, and dependent permissions).
Keep Pathways Accessible: Ensure that proposed language and civics requirements do not create socio-economic barriers to citizenship for lower-income workers or vulnerable groups.
Ireland thrives when everyone who contributes to society is given a clear, fair, and achievable path to full citizenship. We urge the Government to reconsider this proposal and protect the 5-year pathway.