IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 26 of 1956
IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 12 June 2026
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative
consolidation of the
Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956
. It is prepared
by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the
Law Reform
Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake
revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2026
(13/2026), enacted 17 June 2026, and all
statutory instruments up to and including the
International Protection Act 2026 (Commencement) Order 2026
(S.I. No. 244 of 2026), made 10 June 2026, were considered in
the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been
taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume
no
responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning the
accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not
accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify
any
errors, omissions and comments by email to revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
26
of
1956.
IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 12 June 2026
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Part I.
PRELIMINARY.
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Regulations.
4.
Expenses.
4A.
Service of notices or documents.
5.
Repeals and saving for existing citizenship.
Part II.
CITIZENSHIP.
6.
Citizenship by birth in
the island of Ireland.
6A.
Entitlement to Irish citizenship of persons born to certain non-nationals.
6B.
Residence in the island of Ireland for the purposes of section 6A.
7.
Citizenship by
descent.
8.
Acquisition of
citizenship on marriage.
(Repealed)
9.
Citizenship of
posthumous children.
(Repealed)
10.
Citizenship of
foundlings.
11.
Citizenship of adopted children.
11A.
Citizenship of children born as result of donor-assisted human reproduction procedures
or surrogacy.
12.
Grant of citizenship as token of honour.
13.
Citizenship of persons born on ships and aircraft.
Part III.
NATURALISATION.
14.
Certificates of naturalisation.
15.
Conditions for issue of certificate.
15A.
Naturalisation of spouses of Irish citizens.
15B.
Naturalisation of
minors born in State.
15C.
Calculation of
continuous residence for purposes of sections 15, 15A and 15B.
15D.
Saver for certificates
of naturalisation.
15E.
Transitional
provisions relating to applications for certificates of
naturalisation.
16.
Power to dispense with conditions of naturalisation in certain cases.
16A.
Calculation of period of residence in relation to application for naturalisation.
17.
Form of application.
18.
Effect and operation of certificate of naturalisation.
19.
Revocation of certificates of naturalisation.
20.
Acquisition of
citizenship by person who is married or a civil partner.
Part IV.
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP.
21.
Renunciation of citizenship.
22.
Non-effect of death or
loss of citizenship on person’s spouse, civil partner or children.
23.
Marriage or civil
partnership not to effect loss of citizenship.
24.
Loss of citizenship by operation of foreign law under section 21 of Act of 1935.
25.
Preservation of obligations on cesser of citizenship.
Part V.
GENERAL.
26.
Mutual citizenship rights.
27.
Registry of births abroad.
28.
Certificates of nationality.
28A.
Applications for certificates of nationality by persons to whom section 6A applies.
29.
Extension to all citizens of statutory rights conferred on persons born in Ireland.
29A.
Offences.
30.
Fees payable on declaration.
31.
Collection and disposal of fees.
Acts Referred to
Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1935
No. 13 of 1935
Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Act,
1937
No. 39 of 1937
Adoption Act, 1952
No. 25 of 1952
Number
26
of
1956.
IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP ACT 1956
REVISED
Updated to 12 June 2026
AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THE ACQUISITION AND LOSS OF IRISH NATIONALITY AND CITIZENSHIP.
[17
th July,
1956.]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—
Part I.
PRELIMINARY.
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Definitions.
3.
Regulations.
4.
Expenses.
4A.
Service of notices or documents.
5.
Repeals and saving for existing citizenship.
Part II.
CITIZENSHIP.
6.
Citizenship by birth in
the island of Ireland.
6A.
Entitlement to Irish citizenship of persons born to certain non-nationals.
6B.
Residence in the island of Ireland for the purposes of section 6A.
7.
Citizenship by
descent.
8.
Acquisition of
citizenship on marriage.
(Repealed)
9.
Citizenship of
posthumous children.
(Repealed)
10.
Citizenship of
foundlings.
11.
Citizenship of adopted children.
11A.
Citizenship of children born as result of donor-assisted human reproduction procedures
or surrogacy.
12.
Grant of citizenship as token of honour.
13.
Citizenship of persons born on ships and aircraft.
Part III.
NATURALISATION.
14.
Certificates of naturalisation.
15.
Conditions for issue of certificate.
15A.
Naturalisation of spouses of Irish citizens.
15B.
Naturalisation of
minors born in State.
15C.
Calculation of
continuous residence for purposes of sections 15, 15A and 15B.
15D.
Saver for certificates
of naturalisation.
15E.
Transitional
provisions relating to applications for certificates of
naturalisation.
16.
Power to dispense with conditions of naturalisation in certain cases.
16A.
Calculation of period of residence in relation to application for naturalisation.
17.
Form of application.
18.
Effect and operation of certificate of naturalisation.
19.
Revocation of certificates of naturalisation.
20.
Acquisition of
citizenship by person who is married or a civil partner.
Part IV.
LOSS OF CITIZENSHIP.
21.
Renunciation of citizenship.
22.
Non-effect of death or
loss of citizenship on person’s spouse, civil partner or children.
23.
Marriage or civil
partnership not to effect loss of citizenship.
24.
Loss of citizenship by operation of foreign law under section 21 of Act of 1935.
25.
Preservation of obligations on cesser of citizenship.
Part V.
GENERAL.
26.
Mutual citizenship rights.
27.
Registry of births abroad.
28.
Certificates of nationality.
28A.
Applications for certificates of nationality by persons to whom section 6A applies.
29.
Extension to all citizens of statutory rights conferred on persons born in Ireland.
29A.
Offences.
30.
Fees payable on declaration.
31.
Collection and disposal of fees.
Number
26
of
1956.