According to the new guidance notes with the citizenship application, applicants from Northern Ireland need to send proof of lawful residence (visas).
"Where the residency is in Northern Ireland, evidence must be given of being lawfully resident in that jurisdiction for
the period of 1 year immediately prior to the application and a further 2 years in the 4 year period before that,
equalling 3 years in total, on foot of a permission granted by the immigration authorities of the United Kingdom,
which period was granted other than for a period of :
- enabling you to engage in a course of education of study; or
- having a claim to be recognised as a refugee within the meaning of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the
status of refugees and the 1967 protocol relating to the status of refugees determined by the UK authorities."
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Form%208 ... g%2016.pdf
It is my understanding that if your notice of appeal was sent within the given time frame, you are considered legal while you wait for an appeal date. The problem is how to prove that satisfactorily to the Irish. The safest option would be to wait until your appeal has been heard and you are hopefully granted permanent residence. You *could* try to apply now, but there is no guarantee you would be approved, and you would lose the 175 euro filing fee.
