Many new citizens now living abroad ‘unaware’ of some legal requirements for naturalisation
Hundreds of naturalised Irish citizens could lose their citizenship if the State decides to fully implement the terms and conditions of naturalisation, it has emerged.
The news follows anecdotal evidence that many naturalised citizens are relocating away from Ireland but are not registering their intention to remain Irish citizens, as stipulated by law.
Although the Department of Justice has told Metro Éireann that “no persons had their certificate of naturalisation revoked between 2009 and 2011,” a naturalised Irish citizen can still be stripped of their citizenship under certain conditions.
Aside from failing to register intent to remain an Irish citizen within seven years of moving abroad, these include procuring naturalisation by fraud, “misrepresentation” or concealing information about one’s circumstances.
Citizenship can also be revoked if an individual has “shown himself to have failed in his duty of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State” or in the unlikely situation that one acquires citizenship of a state with which Ireland is at war “by any voluntary means” other than marriage or civil partnership.
Our investigations have revealed that many naturalised Irish citizens are not aware of these conditions. One person who spoke to Metro Éireann on condition of anonymity said he thought becoming a naturalised Irish citizen “was for life and irrevocable”.
He said he knows some people who have left Ireland with the hope of registering either at an Irish embassy where they are presently resident, or returning to Ireland to renew their passport when it expires.
It is also assumed by some people, he added, that having an investment in Ireland – such as residential property – would offer them full security as Irish citizens whether or not they reside here.
