Irish citizenship by naturalisation

[sirdavos]

Hi,

I've been working in Ireland 4.5 years. I've come to Ireland with critical skills visa. I've hold stamp1 for 2 years then stamp4 for the rest. I've got married 1 year later and my wife joined me in Ireland. She is living in Ireland for 3.5 year now. She is a holder of stamp1g visa during this period.

After 6 months, I'll be eligible to apply for Irish citizenship and I'm trying to understand what is the best strategy for my wife's citizenship application. I believe she could apply for citizenship, if I get mine since we are married more than 3 years, is that correct?
Or she can wait for 1.5 year and complete 5 years here and apply for citizenship.

Does one of these options has advantage on another?

Thanks

[AlmostIrish_111]

Well, the difference between both of your timelines is just one year, and your plan for her to apply based on your newly granted citizenship sits on the assumption that you will be granted the naturalization, and will receive your certificate, within less than 1 year.

Given that the chance of this happening is quite low, I would suggest that she applies based on her 5 years in Ireland, and not wait for your citizenship to be granted.

Unless your plan is for her to not be in Ireland for the full next 1.5 year, then you may be better off with her applying based on your citizenship.

[meself2]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

[Leo99]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

Interesting. I thought this was not possible. So my wife is gonna hopefully get her citizenship in 6 months and we are married for 4 years with me in the country for 4 years this July. Can I apply right after she gets her naturalisation certificate? I thought you can only go through that route if my wife was already a citizen when we got married.

[meself2]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

Interesting. I thought this was not possible. So my wife is gonna hopefully get her citizenship in 6 months and we are married for 4 years with me in the country for 4 years this July. Can I apply right after she gets her naturalisation certificate? I thought you can only go through that route if my wife was already a citizen when we got married.

You can.
She is an Irish citizen? Yes.
You're legally married for 3+ years? Yes.
All boxes ticked.

ISD responded affirmatively when asked - see
ireland/application-for-those-married-t ... l#p2105492

[Leo99]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

Interesting. I thought this was not possible. So my wife is gonna hopefully get her citizenship in 6 months and we are married for 4 years with me in the country for 4 years this July. Can I apply right after she gets her naturalisation certificate? I thought you can only go through that route if my wife was already a citizen when we got married.

You can.
She is an Irish citizen? Yes.
You're legally married for 3+ years? Yes.
All boxes ticked.

ISD responded affirmatively when asked - see
ireland/application-for-those-married-t ... l#p2105492

Wow. Thanks a mill. When someone gets naturalisation certificate she will become Irish citizen or should I wait for her to get her passport before I apply ?

[meself2]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

Interesting. I thought this was not possible. So my wife is gonna hopefully get her citizenship in 6 months and we are married for 4 years with me in the country for 4 years this July. Can I apply right after she gets her naturalisation certificate? I thought you can only go through that route if my wife was already a citizen when we got married.

You can.
She is an Irish citizen? Yes.
You're legally married for 3+ years? Yes.
All boxes ticked.

ISD responded affirmatively when asked - see
ireland/application-for-those-married-t ... l#p2105492

Wow. Thanks a mill. When someone gets naturalisation certificate she will become Irish citizen or should I wait for her to get her passport before I apply ?

Certificate should be enough - that's what signifies her citizenship, not the passport.

[Leo99]

I concur with the above - it takes about 2 years to gain citizenship, from application to certificate. It'll be easier for her just to wait out the time and apply in her own right.

Interesting. I thought this was not possible. So my wife is gonna hopefully get her citizenship in 6 months and we are married for 4 years with me in the country for 4 years this July. Can I apply right after she gets her naturalisation certificate? I thought you can only go through that route if my wife was already a citizen when we got married.

You can.
She is an Irish citizen? Yes.
You're legally married for 3+ years? Yes.
All boxes ticked.

ISD responded affirmatively when asked - see
ireland/application-for-those-married-t ... l#p2105492

Wow. Thanks a mill. When someone gets naturalisation certificate she will become Irish citizen or should I wait for her to get her passport before I apply ?

Certificate should be enough - that's what signifies her citizenship, not the passport.

Thank You.

[sirdavos]

Well, the difference between both of your timelines is just one year, and your plan for her to apply based on your newly granted citizenship sits on the assumption that you will be granted the naturalization, and will receive your certificate, within less than 1 year.

Given that the chance of this happening is quite low, I would suggest that she applies based on her 5 years in Ireland, and not wait for your citizenship to be granted.

Unless your plan is for her to not be in Ireland for the full next 1.5 year, then you may be better off with her applying based on your citizenship.

I see, thank you for your response.
When I apply for citizenship, will i be able to renew my stamp4 in the meantime if my stamp4 expires?
Then my wife could cont. to renew her stam1g?

[AlmostIrish_111]

When I apply for citizenship, will i be able to renew my stamp4 in the meantime if my stamp4 expires?
Then my wife could cont. to renew her stam1g?

You need to keep a valid visa throughout the whole process.

You should be able to renew your stamp 4 and your wife to renew her dependent visa. When you apply you need to provide proof of a current valid visa, and if your visa is about to expire during the process, then you should renew it and send a copy of the new one to the naturalisation department.

Hope this is helpful.

[sirdavos]

When I apply for citizenship, will i be able to renew my stamp4 in the meantime if my stamp4 expires?
Then my wife could cont. to renew her stam1g?

You need to keep a valid visa throughout the whole process.

You should be able to renew your stamp 4 and your wife to renew her dependent visa. When you apply you need to provide proof of a current valid visa, and if your visa is about to expire during the process, then you should renew it and send a copy of the new one to the naturalisation department.

Hope this is helpful.

Thank you. I understand.
Just to clarify, Let's say I got my citizenship while my wife is in ireland for 4 years and 9 months. Then when she reaches 5 year, she will apply. In this scenerio, will she lose her rights because she will be spouse of irish citizen? I know it's little bit weird but we heard a similar situation like this and I'm confused.

[AlmostIrish_111]

Good question.

My answer is: "I don't know, better check with a solicitor."