Information On Application Processing Times

The average time from application to decision is now at 23 months.

A significant number of applications are initially found to be invalid for a variety of reasons and these are now being dealt with and returned to the applicant within a week.

Poor application quality is a factor that affects processing times. Almost 10% of total resources available to the Citizenship Division are wasted on assessing poor quality applications, which have to be returned for further attention.
There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.
Decisions on naturalisation are made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform at his absolute discretion. Applicants who do not commit to living in Ireland, applicants who have come to the adverse attention of An Garda Síochána or applicants who are a financial burden on the State are unlikely to be granted naturalisation.

The section is currently commencing further processing of applications received in early 2008.