In This Section

Proof of identity
Proof of residency
Document requirements for minors
What to do if you cannot reach the points needed to prove your residency

Proof of identity

When applying for Citizenship you must prove your identity. You can do this by providing one or more documents shown on the identity scorecard contained within the Citizenship Guidance Document. These documents can include your:

  • Passport
  • Irish Residence Permit (IRP)
  • Driving licence.

Please look at the Citizenship Guidance Document for more examples.

Each document is given a points score. The documents you provide us must add up to a total score of 150 points. For example:

  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of your valid and in-date home country passport is worth 150 points. If you send us this single document you will reach the 150 points total required
  • Alternatively, you may send us a combination of documents. Whatever combination you choose must add up to 150 points. Only then can we begin to process your application.

Please note:

  • You only need to prove your identity one time. You do not need to prove your identity for every year that you have lived in Ireland
  • You do not need to provide us with more documents if you meet the required total of 150 points. If we need more information we will contact you
  • The Citizenship Division team may request additional proof of identity
  • Passports and other documents will undergo anti-fraud checks
  • Citizenship Division reserves the right to request original passports from you at any stage in the process.

You must prove your identity by sending us one or more documents shown in the identity scorecard contained within the Citizenship Guidance Document.

A passport is the best way to prove your identity. However, as a refugee, we understand that you may not have one. For this reason, we can progress your application if you provide:

  1. A certified copy of your Irish issued travel document
  2. A letter confirming your refugee status, and
  3. A passport affidavit that has been signed by an appropriate witness such as a practising solicitor, Commissioner for Oaths, Peace Commissioner or Notary Public. It must include the following information:
    • Your full name. This should include any other names previously used and any reason for changing it, such as marriage. If you have not used another name or date of birth, please confirm this on the affidavit
    • Your date of birth or any alternative dates of birth previously used
    • A reason why your passport cannot be obtained
    • The circumstances of your arrival in Ireland.

You can find more details about special provisions relating to refugees in our Citizenship Guidance Document.

Proof of residency

To apply for Irish citizenship you must meet the relevant residency requirements.

You can do this by submitting proofs with a predetermined point value until you reach the required score of 150 points for each year of residency claimed.

You can prove your residence by providing us with documents shown on the residency scorecard contained within the Citizenship Guidance Document. These documents can include your:

  • Bank statement
  • Household bills such as for gas, electricity and water, home phone, bin collection, TV licence, cable or satellite TV subscriptions
  • Letters from the tenancy board or a hospital to attend a clinic or health screening check
  • Official correspondence from local or national government about local property tax or social welfare payments.

Please check the Citizenship Guidance Document for more examples.

Please note:

  • You do not need to provide us with more documents if you meet the required total of 150 points. If we need more information we will contact you
  • Proof of residency documents are made up of Type A and Type B documents. Type A are worth 100 points while Type B are worth 50 points. You must send us one Type A and one Type B document for each year of residency claimed.
  • Whatever combination of documents you send must add up to a total score of 150 points for in each of the years proof of residency is required
  • Your name, home address and a date must be clearly shown on any proof of residency document you send.

Selected examples of proof of residency documents are explained below:

You should provide us with an employment detail summary in your name only. Providing an employment detail summary in your spouse or partners name will not add any points to your score.

You may send us a Department of Social Protection annual statement for each relevant year. One of the following will be accepted:
  • Contribution Statement, which is a summary of your social insurance record in Ireland. Providing us with your statement of annual contribution will only add points to your score if it includes details of contributions or claims
  • Payment Statement, which shows amounts of money, paid to you by the Department of Social Protection.
Please note: Your child benefit payment is not a proof of residency. This payment needs additional proof that your child has been resident in Ireland. An example of additional proof is a student school attendance report.

These statements record monthly point-of-sale (POS) transactions on the island of Ireland. They must include addresses of the shops, stores or outlets where the transactions took place. Typically, you will need to show at least three consecutive monthly transactions for each year lived in Ireland. Bank statements must be issued by a retail bank or credit union that are regulated by either the Central Bank of Ireland or European Central Bank.

With particular reference to doctors employed in the HSE or voluntary hospitals, the provision of a “Medical Practitioner Employment History Summary” will be accepted as proof of residence.

If you are a ‘dependant young adult’ who depends on their parents for accommodation and general living expenses, a letter from your school or college showing your date of registration and attendance can be submitted as one of your proofs of residence.

Document requirements for minors

When you are applying for citizenship by naturalisation on behalf of a minor, there are specific documents requirements. Please choose type of application you are making from the options below for more information:

You must provide the following documents when submitting an application:

  • A certified copy of your naturalisation certificate or a certified colour copy of the biometric page of your current in date Irish passport
  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of your child’s current and in-date passport
  • A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate
  • Original school letters from each school attended by your child for the three years before your application. The school letters must show enrolment dates, periods of attendance and the number of days attended in each school year. Photocopied letters will not be accepted.
    If your child has attended school for less than the required three years, the following documents are acceptable

    • A letter from the crèche, playschool or Montessori school showing enrolment dates and periods of attendance
    • A letter from the Department of Social Protection stating that you are receiving child benefit. This letter should state the date when the benefit payment started
    • A letter from your doctor stating that your child is registered with the practice and the date your child was first registered with them. The letter should also include any dates your child attended the doctor’s surgery, including their Patient Immunisation Record, if possible
  • If your child is home-schooled, you must provide a letter from Túsla Educational Support Service (TESS) to prove this
  • If you cannot produce a current or previous passport for your child, you must provide a sworn affidavit. Your explanation should be supported by evidence of attempts to get a passport. It should clearly state the reasons why the passport could not be provided
  • A copy of your child’s current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, if your child is a non-EU/ EEA and non-Swiss national over the age of 16.

You must provide the following documents when submitting an application:

  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of your child’s current and in-date passport
  • If you are claiming Irish Association please provide certified copies of all relevant documents of the person(s) through whom you are claiming Irish Association for your child
  • A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate
  • Original school letters from each school attended by your child for the three years before your application. The school letters must show enrolment dates, periods of attendance and the number of days attended in each school year. Photocopied letters will not be accepted.
    If your child has attended school for less than the required three years, the following documents are acceptable:

    • A letter from the crèche, playschool or Montessori school showing enrolment dates and periods of attendance
    • A letter from the Department of Social Protection stating that you are receiving child benefit. This letter should state the date when the benefit payment started
    • A letter from your doctor stating that your child is registered with the practice and the date your child was first registered with them. The letter should also include any dates your child attended the doctor’s surgery, including their Patient Immunisation Record, if possible
  • If your child is home-schooled, you must provide a letter from Túsla Educational Support Service (TESS) to prove this
  • If you cannot produce a current or previous passport for your child, you must provide a sworn affidavit. Your explanation should be supported by evidence of attempts to get a passport. It should clearly state the reasons why the passport could not be provided
  • A copy of your child’s current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, if your child is a non-EU/ EEA and non-Swiss national over the age of 16
  • A guardian applying on behalf of a minor child should provide certified copy of the court appointment documents.

You must provide the following documents when submitting an application:

  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of your child’s current and in-date passport
  • A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate
  • Original school letters from each school attended by your child for the three years before your application. The school letters must show enrolment dates, periods of attendance and the number of days attended in each school year. Photocopied letters will not be accepted.
    If your child has attended school for less than the required three years, the following documents are acceptable:

    • A letter from the crèche, playschool or Montessori school showing enrolment dates and periods of attendance
    • A letter from the Department of Social Protection stating that you are receiving child benefit. This letter should state the date when the benefit payment started
    • A letter from your doctor stating that your child is registered with the practice and the date your child was first registered with them. The letter should also include any dates your child attended the doctor’s surgery, including their Patient Immunisation Record, if possible
  • If your child is home-schooled, you must provide a letter from Túsla Educational Support Service (TESS) to prove this
  • If you cannot produce a current or previous passport for your child, you must provide a sworn affidavit. Your explanation should be supported by evidence of attempts to get a passport. It should clearly state the reasons why the passport could not be provided
  • A copy of your child’s current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, if your child is a non-EU/ EEA and non-Swiss national over the age of 16
  • A certified colour copy of the biometric page of your current in date passport
  • A copy of your current Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card, if you are a non-EU/ EEA and non-Swiss national
  • The applicant making the application on behalf of a minor is required to reach a score of 150 points in each of the years proof of residency is required. They do this by submitting proofs with a predetermined point value until they reach the required score of 150 points for each year of residency claimed.
  • A guardian applying on behalf of a minor child should provide certified copy of the court appointment documents.

What to do if you cannot reach the points needed to prove your residency

We understand that you may be unable to meet the required points total for many reasons. If this happens, you must do two things:

  1. Complete the proof of identity and proof of residency scorecards as best you can. This means sending us whatever identity and residency documents you have
  2. Upload a ‘residential proof affidavit’ explaining why you are unable to meet the full points total. It should only be used when you have a large shortage in your points total. A Residential Proof Affidavit template is available here. This must be fully completed and uploaded with your application. Acceptance of this affidavit is at the discretion of the Minister for Justice. The affidavit does not guarantee you the right to apply for citizenship.

Please note: We may need to contact you for more documents or information that you should have included in your application. If this happens, your application may be delayed and you could also lose your place in the processing queue.

Each application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This will be done in accordance with Irish law in place at the time.

This page was last updated on August 22, 2024