The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Mr. Alan Shatter TD, on the 9th November, 2011 signed Statutory Instrument, 569/11, which introduces an application fee of €175 for all applications for a certificate of naturalisation, as well as changes to forms, in particular to facilitate applicants who are the civil partners of Irish citizens. The commencement date for these changes is today Thursday, 10th November, 2011.

The new forms and updated guidance notes are available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service website at www.inis.gov.ie.

The application fee will assist in covering some of the costs associated with the processing of applications for naturalisation.

The Citizenship Division is broadly on target to meet the stated objective of eliminating, by Spring of next year, the backlog of applications awaiting a decision for more than 6 months, save in exceptional circumstances.