In This Section

Introduction
Your invitation
Your guest

Minor/Child applicants
What happens at the ceremony?

Introduction

Attending a citizenship ceremony is the final step to complete the naturalisation process. A day of citizenship ceremonies is held periodically throughout the year. Several ceremonies are often conducted at each event.

Your invitation

You will receive an invitation to your ceremony by post/e-mail before it is scheduled to occur. Please do not contact us regarding ceremony invitations as we are not in a position to confirm invitations.

Your guest

You may bring one adult guest with you on the day. Only one adult guest will be permitted to enter the venue with you. With regret, we ask you do not bring children to this event.

Minor/Child applicants

Successful applicants who are minors (children) do not have to attend a citizenship ceremony. They will receive their Certificate of Naturalisation by post.

What happens at the ceremony?

Please see below about what happens at the citizenship ceremony and what you are required to do. Please note carefully the instructions and information.

At the ceremony you will take an oath of fidelity to the nation. You do not become an Irish citizen until you have made your declaration. Your certificate of naturalisation will be issued by registered post in the weeks following the ceremony.

When you arrive at the ceremony venue, go to the registration desk to check-in. Bring your passport as photo identity. Driver’s licence is the other form of photo identity that may be accepted.

After you register we will give you

  • A ceremony booklet which contains:
    • Information about how to apply for your Irish passport
    • Information on your right to register to vote
    • Information about the circumstances under which your Irish citizenship can be revoked
    • The words of the national anthem.
  • An Irish emblem

The citizenship ceremony itself will be presided over by a judge and is usually attended by a government minister. Press reporters or photographers may also be present. The ceremony may last a couple of hours.

The declaration states that you will respect the rights, freedoms and laws of Ireland. You will be given the words of the declaration on the day and you won’t have to memorise them.

You do not become an Irish citizen until you make your declaration.

Declaration of fidelity to the Irish nation and loyalty to the State

“I (name) having applied to the Minister for Justice for a certificate of naturalisation, hereby solemnly declare my fidelity to the Irish nation and my loyalty to the State.

I undertake to faithfully observe the laws of the State and to respect its democratic values.”

Your Certificate of Naturalisation is a valuable document and it cannot be replaced. You should keep it in a safe place.

Never laminate your certificate or make other changes to it. Unauthorised changes will make it invalid and it may not be accepted when you apply for a passport.

After you become an Irish citizen, you can apply for your passport via the Department of Foreign Affairs.

After the ceremony if you wish to travel but you have not yet obtained your Irish Passport, you should still check with the Immigration Officer at the airport from which you are travelling to make sure that you will be able to leave and enter Ireland as a naturalised Irish Citizen.

At the ceremony candidates will take an oath of fidelity to the nation, and thereby become Irish citizens. Your certificate of naturalisation will be issued by registered post in the weeks following the ceremony.

Given the volume of e-mails we are currently experiencing Citizenship Division will not be in a position to respond to e-mail queries about an invitation to the next ceremony.

Please do not contact us regarding ceremony invitations as we are not in a position to confirm invitations. You will receive an invitation to your ceremony by post/email before it is scheduled to occur.

The next ceremonies will take place on Monday, 2nd December and Tuesday 3rd December 2024 at the INEC Killarney.

Please make road and rail travel plans to get there using the Transport for Ireland website.

26th February 2024
1,250 candidates became Irish citizens at the National Concert Hall

18th & 19th December 2023
6,000 candidates became Irish citizens at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD)

2nd October 2023
2,700 applicants became Irish citizens at the convention Centre Dublin.

19th & 20th June 2023
4,000 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre.

10th March 2023
1,300 candidates became Irish citizens at the RDS Dublin.

5th & 6th December 2022
3,500 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre.

20 June 2022 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
950 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre.

10 July 2020 at a Virtual Citizenship Ceremony
21 candidates became Irish citizens at a virtual citizenship ceremony hosted by the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD.

2 and 3 March 2020 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
5,000 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre.

9 December 2019 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
2,000 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

29 April 2019 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
2,400 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre. 3 ceremonies were held on the day. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

26 November 2018 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
3,000 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre. 3 ceremonies were held on the day. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

21 May 2018 in Killarney, Co. Kerry
3,500 candidates became Irish citizens at the Killarney Convention Centre. 3 ceremonies were held on the day. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

27 November 2017 in Dublin City
Over 3,200 candidates became Irish citizens at the Convention Centre Dublin. 3 ceremonies were held on the day. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

19 June 2017 in Limerick City
355 candidates from 11 countries became Irish citizens at University Concert Hall in University of Limerick. Read extracts from the commencement address at this ceremony.

21 April 2017 in Dublin City
Over 3,000 candidates from 120+ countries became Irish citizens at the Convention Centre Dublin. 3 ceremonies were held on the day. Read the commencement address at this ceremony.

Citizenship Ceremony Live Stream – Monday 20 June 2022 – 10:45am

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Citizenship Ceremony Live Stream – Monday 20 June 2022 – 1:15pm

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Citizenship Ceremony Live Stream – Tuesday 3 March 2020 – 10:30am, 13:00pm and 15:30pm

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Citizenship Ceremony Live Stream – Monday 2 March 2020 – 11:00am, 13:30pm and 16:00pm

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Citizenship Ceremony Live Stream – 9th December 2019

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This page was last updated on November 5, 2024