Guide only — this matter needs a solicitor. Under Irish law this work must be carried out by a solicitor, so it is not sold on this site. The information below explains what is involved so you can brief a solicitor with confidence.
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An Irish citizenship eligibility review is a solicitor’s check of whether you meet the requirements to apply for Irish citizenship by naturalisation. This solicitor-handled service calculates your reckonable residency across all your immigration permissions, checks good character issues and gives you a written opinion. It is for people who want to know where they stand before they apply, so they avoid applying too early or missing something that could lead to a refusal.
What’s included
- Calculation of your reckonable residency across all your immigration permissions
- A good character check
- Work of this kind is carried out by a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland. We are not a solicitor’s practice and do not provide it — to instruct a solicitor, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.
- Self-complete template with guidance notes — you fill it in yourself
- Documents tailored to Irish law and your circumstances, delivered by email
- A written summary of the key points and anything you need to do afterwards
Who this is for
- Non-EEA residents thinking about applying for Irish citizenship by naturalisation
- People who have held several different immigration permissions and are unsure what counts
- Applicants with travel, gaps or other issues affecting their residence
- People with a past issue that could affect the good character requirement
How it works
- Find a solicitor through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory and send them the basic details and any existing documents or correspondence.
- Complete a short questionnaire about your circumstances.
- The solicitor then calculates your reckonable residence, checks good character issues and prepares a written opinion.
- Your written opinion is delivered to you by email, with plain-English notes on what to do next.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a citizenship eligibility check cost in Ireland?
This page is a free guide — nothing on it is for sale. Solicitors set their own fees for this work and must give you a written costs estimate (a section 150 letter) before starting. Get quotes through the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.
How long do I need to live in Ireland to apply for citizenship?
In general, you need five years of reckonable residence in the nine years before your application, including one year of continuous residence immediately before you apply. Not every immigration permission counts as reckonable, which is why a careful calculation matters.
What does good character mean for Irish citizenship?
The Minister must be satisfied that an applicant is of good character. Matters such as criminal convictions, pending proceedings or immigration history can be relevant, and the review will flag anything that may need to be addressed.
For more on Irish immigration, visas and citizenship, see our Immigration & Citizenship in Ireland guide.
If you would like to be told when solicitor services are available again on this site, you can join our no-fee waiting list. To instruct a solicitor now, use the Law Society of Ireland’s Find a Solicitor directory.