Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 September 2019
104. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) must pay €1,000 to become an Irish citizen in order to obtain an Irish passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37995/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of Naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I No. 569 of 2011). The application fee of €175 is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is set at €950. 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.
A person born outside of Ireland with a parent who was also born outside Ireland and a grandparent who was born in Ireland may become an Irish citizen by registration in the Foreign Births Register, which is maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Persons who are registered on the Foreign Births Register are automatically Irish Citizens and do not need to apply for naturalisation. Further information for Citizenship by descent can be found on the DFAT website www.dfa.ie.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the Immigration Service of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the parliamentary questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the Immigration Service is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
