In This Section

Introduction
Important notice
E-vetting and citizenship
Eligibility

E-vetting: step 1
E-vetting: step 2
E-vetting: step 3
Points to note

Introduction

This page explains how the citizenship applicant completes the e-vetting process and what conditions must be met.

Important notice

As part of the citizenship by naturalisation application process, an applicant is required to detail all offences (regardless of where an incident occurred or how long ago) including “spent” convictions. The responsibility is on you as the applicant to provide a comprehensive record as part of your application submission.

At a later stage in the decision making process, all adult applicants will be requested to undertake the Gardaí e-vetting process or other police vetting processes as deemed necessary. The details of offences listed in the e-vetting report(s) will be cross referenced with the information provided by the applicant during the initial application submission.

For this reason, it is in the applicant’s best interests to provide a comprehensive listing of offences as part of the application process, failure to do so may well adversely affect the applicant’s application for naturalisation.

E-vetting and citizenship

The following points explain the part that e-vetting plays in citizenship applications:

  • All applicants for a certificate of naturalisation are required to meet the conditions for naturalisation as set out in S.15 of the Irish Naturalisation and Citizenship Act 1956 as amended

  • One of the conditions outlined in the Act is that the applicant is of good character. A critical aspect of the character assessment is a Vetting Disclosure from the National Vetting Bureau

  • From 30th March 2021 all new applicants will be required to provide authorisation to the Citizenship division to issue an e-vetting invitation to them

  • Applicants who submitted an application prior to 30th March 2021 may be requested to complete an authorisation. These applicants will be contacted in writing by the Citizenship division.

Eligibility

Adults

Criteria for applying as an adult:

  • Are of full age (aged 18 or over, or if aged under 18 if you are married)

  • Meet the relevant conditions for residence

  • Intend to reside in the State or if you are the spouse/civil partner of an Irish citizen intend to reside on the island of Ireland

  • Are of good character.

E-vetting: step 1

Prior to your citizenship application being prepared for consideration by the Minister for Justice, you will receive an invitation to complete an e-vetting application. This ensures that the information on character to be considered by the Minister is as up to date as possible.

You will be asked to provide:

  • Your name

  • Date of birth

  • Email address and contact telephone number

  • Current address

  • Authorisation to the Garda National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána to supply the Citizenship division of the Department of Justice a statement that there is no criminal record information to disclose in Ireland or elsewhere, or a statement of criminal record information in Ireland or elsewhere as the case may be.

Click here to view a sample Form NVB1a Vetting Invitation

E-vetting: step 2

After Citizenship division receives your signed invitation form by post (step 1), you will:

  • Receive an email from the National Vetting Bureau with a direct link to the online vetting application form

  • Have 30 days to complete and submit the online vetting application

  • Be required to enter full postcodes (6 characters) for each Northern Ireland address at which you resided.

You will need to provide the following information:

  • Name at birth

  • Place of birth

  • Passport Number

  • Mother’s maiden name

  • All addresses you have lived at since birth

  • Any other names you may be known by

  • Details of any convictions you have (in Ireland or elsewhere).

You will have the opportunity to review the information you have inputted and once you are happy with the details you can submit the completed vetting application.

E-vetting: step 3

Your completed vetting application will be assessed by the Citizenship division. If there are any issues with the application it will be returned to you. Otherwise the application will be forwarded to the National Vetting Bureau.

A vetting disclosure will be provided by the National Vetting Bureau and will be reviewed by the Citizenship division as part of the decision making process on your application.

Points to note

Applicants should note the following points:

  • Please complete Section 11: Background of the citizenship application form as well as the NVB1a Vetting Invitation. This is essential

  • It is important that you monitor the e-mail address you provided to continue through the stages of the vetting process

  • Please ensure to provide all names that you are or were known by

  • You will be required to provide details of all addresses you have lived at, both in the State and elsewhere

  • If you provide an address in Northern Ireland you will need to provide the full 6 character postcode for the address

  • An incomplete vetting application will delay processing of your citizenship application

  • A Data Privacy statement is provided in the citizenship application form. Please review this if you have any concerns

  • Applicants residing outside the State will be required to provide a Police Clearance Certificate from the relevant law enforcement agency.

This page was last updated on January 31, 2023