Irish citizenship applicants will have to prove English or Irish language skills

Anyone applying to be an Irish citizen will have to prove their language abilities and have lived in the country for eight years, if new regulations are introduced.

The reformed Irish citizenship requirements will ensure applicants have "capacity to contribute to society", the Taoiseach said.

Micheal Martin made his comments as new rules for people seeking Irish citizenship are set to go to Cabinet this week.

Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan will bring forward the plans to change the legislation that will reform the citizenship rules.

Under the new rules, those applying for Irish citizenship would have to be a resident in the country for eight years, up from the current five.

Applicants will also have to prove English and Irish language skills, and being tested on Irish civics.

Mr Martin, speaking at a consultation on the issue on Monday, also claimed the changes will bring Ireland into line with other European countries.

He said: "On the citizenship proposals, this is bringing us more in line with other European Union member states.

"They have been outlined in terms of first of all ensuring that the residency would go from five to eight years, also in terms of language, English language and some very basic Irish language familiarisation would be aspects of that, and an understanding of Ireland, obviously, and the values in our country."

Mr Martin added: "And also ensuring that with citizenship comes the capacity to contribute to society to be honest, and that there is that the balance is right between independence, self-reliance, as opposed to total dependency.

"That is right and important for any nation or any country in respect of of citizenship into the future, and so these proposals will come to Government, and we obviously discuss them there and take them forward."

Mr Martin added the new system would involve an understanding of Ireland and the country's values, claiming it would ensure "that with citizenship comes the capacity to contribute to society" and that the legislation will "restrain" the growth in citizenship numbers.

On the wider asylum system, the Irish prime minister said the amount of applicants has reduced over the last year.

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He said: "We have a firmer and more robust migration system now, and numbers of those seeking asylum is reducing, and has reduced over the last 12 months.

"In terms of returns, all of that is happening more efficiently and effectively. The European Union Asylum Pact is working, and we've been well prepared, and the Minister for Justice well prepared in terms of having the capacity to implement the pact.

"The costs of accommodation in respect of asylum are also coming down very significantly. So that sort of firmer, more focused, targeted response is yielding results on the migration front."

Under the proposed legislation, time spent living in Ireland as part of the Temporary Protection scheme will not count towards the residency requirements.

(c) Sky News 2026: Irish citizenship applicants will have to prove English or Irish language skills