The Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, is preparing to seek Cabinet approval for the priority drafting of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, which proposes sweeping reforms to Ireland's naturalisation framework.

Under the proposed legislation, the length of reckonable residence required to apply for Irish citizenship through naturalisation would increase from five years to eight years. The bill also introduces new mandatory language proficiency testing in either English or Irish, as well as a civics assessment testing knowledge of Irish society and governance.

Applicants would additionally face financial self-sufficiency rules, including meeting a specified annual income threshold and demonstrating that they have not received certain social protection payments for two years prior to submitting their application. The legislation would also set out revised residency rules for foreign-national spouses and civil partners of Irish citizens.

Further provisions in the draft bill explicitly exclude time spent in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive—such as periods lived in the State by displaced Ukrainian residents—from counting toward reckonable residence. The legislation would also grant the Minister for Justice expanded powers to revoke naturalised citizenship on national security and public order grounds.