Ireland’s Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) has announced that the next set of citizenship ceremonies will take place on 14 and 15 April 2026 at the INEC in Killarney, County Kerry. Invitations will issue in the coming weeks, and successful applicants must bring a valid passport or alternative photo ID for on-site verification before taking the oath of fidelity. (irishimmigration.ie)
The confirmation is welcome news for thousands of applicants who have been waiting since the pandemic-era suspension of in-person events. ISD processed a record 33,000 naturalisation decisions in 2025, but the stock of pending files remains high. The April ceremonies are expected to confer citizenship on approximately 5,000 people drawn from more than 120 nationalities, according to Department of Justice projections.
![April naturalisation ceremonies scheduled as Ireland advances citizenship backlog]()
For global employers, Irish naturalisation offers two practical benefits: newly minted citizens no longer require Employment Permits, and they gain EU free-movement rights that support career mobility across the Single Market. HR teams with long-term foreign assignees should check eligibility against the standard five-year residence rule (three years for spouses/civil partners of Irish citizens) and encourage timely filing to avoid further delays.
The Department has reminded invitees that certificates of naturalisation will be sent by registered post after the ceremony; they cannot be collected on the day. New citizens may apply immediately for an Irish passport, and the Passport Service says its online platform is currently issuing adult first-time passports in ten working days—useful for those planning Easter travel.
The confirmation is welcome news for thousands of applicants who have been waiting since the pandemic-era suspension of in-person events. ISD processed a record 33,000 naturalisation decisions in 2025, but the stock of pending files remains high. The April ceremonies are expected to confer citizenship on approximately 5,000 people drawn from more than 120 nationalities, according to Department of Justice projections.
For global employers, Irish naturalisation offers two practical benefits: newly minted citizens no longer require Employment Permits, and they gain EU free-movement rights that support career mobility across the Single Market. HR teams with long-term foreign assignees should check eligibility against the standard five-year residence rule (three years for spouses/civil partners of Irish citizens) and encourage timely filing to avoid further delays.
The Department has reminded invitees that certificates of naturalisation will be sent by registered post after the ceremony; they cannot be collected on the day. New citizens may apply immediately for an Irish passport, and the Passport Service says its online platform is currently issuing adult first-time passports in ten working days—useful for those planning Easter travel.
Source: Immigration Service Delivery
