The Irish Cabinet has granted approval for the priority drafting of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, marking a significant reform proposal for the State's naturalisation system. Brought forward by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan and Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy, the General Scheme proposes raising the standard reckonable residence requirement for naturalisation from five years to eight years.

Under the draft outline, candidates seeking citizenship will be required to demonstrate continuous residence in Ireland for two years immediately preceding their application, alongside six years of residence out of the preceding ten. The proposed legislation also introduces formal testing requirements, including demonstrated proficiency in English, Irish, or Irish Sign Language, as well as an assessment covering Irish civics, society, and political institutions. In addition, applicants will be required to prove economic self-sufficiency, and ministers will be granted expanded statutory powers to revoke citizenship on national security and public order grounds.

Announcing the Cabinet decision, Minister O'Callaghan said naturalisation should represent an earned privilege reflecting social integration, lawful residence, and civic participation rather than merely the passage of time. He stated that the measures aim to ensure a durable connection to the State while managing migration in the interest of the country's social and economic wellbeing. Taoiseach Micheál Martin supported the proposals, stating that introducing language and civics standards brings Ireland's naturalisation criteria into closer alignment with practice across other European Union member states.

The proposed overhaul has drawn criticism from opposition figures and migrant rights advocates. Labour Party justice spokesperson Alan Kelly TD questioned the rationale behind increasing the residency period, describing the proposal as political positioning. Civil society organisations expressed concern regarding the impact on foreign nationals currently residing in Ireland, warning that applying stricter criteria without clear transitional provisions alters long-standing expectations for individuals who planned their lives under the five-year pathway.

The General Scheme of the bill will now undergo formal legislative drafting and is expected to be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice for pre-legislative scrutiny before being presented to the Dáil.