Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
347. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice if the fee of €950 for a naturalisation certificate can be waived for a person who has lived and paid tax in Ireland for 49 years and would be in difficulty paying the fee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27430/21]
View answerThe fees in relation to applications for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011.
The current application fee is €175, payable when an application for naturalisation is lodged. I am informed that the introduction of the application fee had an immediate positive effect on the quality and completeness of applications, which is ultimately to the benefit of applicants.
A certification fee is payable only when the application is successful and a certificate of naturalisation issues. The standard certification fee is set at €950, while a reduced fee of €200 applies in the case of an application made on behalf of a minor or in certain cases where the application is made by a widow, widower or surviving civil partner of an Irish citizen. In the case of recognised refugees and stateless persons, there is no certification fee.
The standard fees payable by an applicant are designed to reflect the effort and cost involved in processing applications for a certificate of naturalisation which, given the benefits involved, is quite a detailed process.
There is no provision for the discretionary waiver or reduction of fees, or for different fees to be applied. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are currently no plans to amend the fees.
