# #keepitfive — Say No to the Citizenship Overhaul

Plain-text mirror of https://keepitfive.org/ — free to quote, with attribution.
Last updated 11 September 2026. Markers like [12] point at the numbered list under Sources,
at the end of this file. Every figure here is sourced.

---

## Say no to the citizenship overhaul.

Three more years, for people already here. And nobody has shown why.

> “No rationale, research or evidence has been presented by the Department for these proposed changes.” — Joint statement, Doras, Immigrant Council, ICCL, Irish Refugee Council, MRCI, Nasc, AkiDwA [38]

> “Harsh, unnecessary, they serve no useful purpose.” — John Lannon, CEO, Doras [39]

> “Imagine changing the rules of inter-county hurling, five minutes into the second half.” — Imasha Costa, Irish Examiner [40]

> “Eight years is the time a family’s children would have gone through primary school.” — John Lannon, Doras, on Newstalk [39]

## 1 · The core objection — If you’re here now, this catches you.

*Figure: Diagram of the cut-off: a person who has already filed an application before commencement is assessed under the five-year rule. A person at four years and ten months on commencement day is caught by the eight-year rule, adding three years.*

> If you have been here for four years and ten months by the time the laws are changed and commenced, it will affect you. That’s the truth of the matter. — Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister for Justice [12]

**Portugal tried exactly this last December and lost.** Its Constitutional Court threw the clause out: you cannot change the rules on people who planned their lives around them. The court called it legal certainty, foreseeability and legitimate expectation. We call it fairness. [23] [24]

> “It feels a little bit like a page out of Trump’s playbook: *let’s give someone a common enemy, the immigrant.* ”

Nick moved to Limerick from Massachusetts in 2024 with his husband Brendan. They sold their home in the US on the understanding they could apply for citizenship after five years. He works in tech on a Critical Skills permit; Brendan’s permission is attached to it. The Government, he says, is moving “the finish line seemingly out of nowhere”. [41]

Nick wrote the letter to your TD further down this page and is on Instagram as [@wayfaringandwhiskey](https://www.instagram.com/wayfaringandwhiskey/).

## 2 · The evidence — What they say. What the numbers say.

Every justification offered for the Bill, next to the best data we could find. In every one of them the data points the other way.

“Citizenship is an important part of successful integration.”

Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice [11]

Earlier beats later

Agreed. The research says citizenship is what *causes* integration, and the earlier it comes the stronger the effect. Adding three years delays the thing the Minister says he wants. [20] [21] [18]

Backwards

“Bringing us more in line with other European Union member states.”

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach [11]

5 years is the norm

The most common requirement in the world. Germany went from eight to five in 2024. The six countries the Minister compared us to are among the strictest in Europe. [18] [19] [2]

Cherry-picked

“Economic self-sufficiency … an absence of reliance on social assistance.”

Department of Justice, 9 Sept 2026 [1]

20% vs 11%

Non-EU-born residents at risk of poverty, against Irish-born. They work more, are paid less, and 37% spend over a third of their income on rent against 9% of Irish-born. A welfare bar hits exactly them. [42]

Punishes the poorest

*Not said, but implied by “the biggest reform in a generation”:* the system needs fixing.

Jim O’Callaghan, Minister for Justice [2]

31,000 decisions, 27,376 applications

In 2024 the Department cleared more cases than it received, and the wait for a decision fell from two years to about eight months. [26] [28]

Already fixed

- Impact assessment **not published**
- Research or data **none cited**
- Defect in the current system **none named**
- Why “eight” **not explained**
- Nov 2025 tightening **not reviewed** [1]
> “People are getting cross about immigration” is not a regulatory impact assessment. — Terence Cosgrave, Irish Medical Times, 10 Sept 2026 [16]

## 3 · The published research — Every study we could find says the opposite.

Citizenship is what makes people belong. It is not a prize for already belonging.

Swiss referendums narrowly won or lost, comparing near-identical applicants. Lasting gains in political integration.

PNAS, 2015 [20]

The earlier it comes, the more good it does.

Same design, social integration. Effects strongest for the most marginalised applicants, and stronger the earlier in the residence period naturalisation occurs.

American Political Science Review [21]

People earn more for the rest of their working lives.

Quasi-experimental evidence on marginalised immigrants in Switzerland.

Science Advances, 2019 [22]

“Restricting access to citizenship may delay rather than bolster migrants’ integration.”

The European Parliament’s own research service, reviewing the restrictive turn across the EU and finding it “at odds with important findings in citizenship research”.

EPRS Briefing PE 769502, 2025 [18]

## 4 · Comparison — Where eight years would put Ireland

| Country | Residence required (years) | Note | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ireland | 5 → 8 | 5 now, 8 proposed | [53] |
| Germany | 5 | cut from 8, 2024 | [54] |
| France | 5 |  | [55] |
| Netherlands | 5 |  | [56] |
| Luxembourg | 5 |  | [57] |
| United Kingdom | 5 | plus settlement | [58] |
| Finland | 8 | raised from 5 | [59] |
| Cyprus | 8 | raised from 5 | [60] |
| Sweden | 8 | from Jun 2026 | [61] |
| Denmark | 9 |  | [62] |
| Italy | 10 |  | [63] |
| Portugal | 10 | raised from 5, 2026 | [64] |
| Spain | 10 | general | [65] |
| Austria | 10 |  | [66] |

**Ireland is not the only country tightening.** Finland, Cyprus, Sweden and Portugal have moved too. But Germany went the other way, five years is still the most common rule in the world, and the global average is seven. [18] [19] When the Minister compared Ireland to other countries he picked Austria, Italy, Lithuania, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland [2]: six of the strictest. Not Germany.

**Every bar cites its own law.** Hover the number beside a country for the statute and the article the figure comes from. Ordinary naturalisation only, facilitated routes excluded: that is why Portugal shows ten and not the seven years it asks of EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals [64] and Spain shows ten and not the **two years** it asks of nationals of Ibero-American countries including Brazil. [65] Residence periods are policy instruments, not neutral measures of belonging. Cross-check across all of them: EPRS 2025, drawing on GLOBALCIT and EMN. [18]

### Longer waits did not mean fewer immigrants. They meant more people without rights.

**Germany** 8 → 5 years, 2024

“Eight years is too long, and does not match the five years usual in many countries.” *Government bill, 2023, translated*

332,500

naturalised in 2025, the most ever. Up 46% in 2024, up 14% again. The new conservative government kept five years. [47]

**Sweden** 5 → 8 years, Jun 2026

“Strengthen the importance of citizenship and the Swedish community.” *Migration Minister Johan Forssell, 2026*

100,000

pending applicants caught by the new rules with no transition period, passed by one vote, 147 to 146. Union chief: “we make it harder for Sweden than we need to”. [48]

**Austria** 10 years since 2006

“A large number of different and confusing rules on deadlines.” *Explanatory memo, 2005, translated. Not integration.*

35.6%

of Vienna’s voting-age residents cannot vote, 611,000 people. Naturalisation rate 0.7 per 100, fourth lowest in the EU. Council of Europe: “ECRI regrets this regression”. [49]

**Portugal** 5 → 10 years, 2026

“Reinforce the requirement of an effective connection to the national community.” *Minister António Leitão Amaro, 2025, translated*

4

provisions struck by the Constitutional Court, then a presidential veto. Signed in May 2026 with a warning that it “should rest on greater consensus”. [50]

**Cyprus** 5 → 8 years, Dec 2023

“Attract talented and specialised foreign individuals.” *European Commission summary, 2024*

12,000

applications pending, three-year wait. “Very few naturalisation applications in 2025, even for people who were born in Cyprus.” [51]

**Italy** 10 years since 1992

“An excellent law, among the most open.” *Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, 2025*

915,000

pupils in Italian schools with no citizenship. Two thirds of them were born in Italy. [52]

Naturalisation rates are Eurostat 2024, citizenships granted per 100 non-national residents. Quotes are verbatim from the linked sources; translations marked.

## 5 · Effect — These are the people Ireland asked to come

Recruited by the State. Now told by the State to wait three more years.

8 in 10

new nurses and midwives, 2024, trained abroad [44]

8 in 10

non-training hospital doctors qualified abroad [16]

4 in 10

of all doctors qualified abroad [16]

5 in 10

new work permits, 2024, were Critical Skills [45]

39,390work permits in 2024, the most ever [45]

| Sector | Work permits, 2024 |
| --- | --- |
| Health & social care | 12,501 |
| ICT | 6,788 |
| Farming | 3,625 |
| Hospitality | 3,358 |

*Figure: Of 89,496 registered nurses and midwives, 54,067 trained in Ireland, 18,464 in India, 7,040 in the Philippines, 3,247 in the UK*

One in four came from India or the Philippines. [44] The Bill also stretches the spouse-of-an-Irish-citizen route from three years to five. [5] [8]

## 6 · Status — It is not law yet. There is still time.

Done

**General scheme published** The outline of the Bill.

**Cabinet approves priority drafting** 9 September 2026.

Now

**Pre-legislative scrutiny Usually 2 to 4 months** **We are here.** The only stage open to the public, and the last one before the Bill is written. The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration reads the Scheme, can call officials and experts in, and publishes a report recommending changes. [67] Write to the fourteen members ↓

Still to come · 5 steps Government wants all five done by Christmas. That is 15 weeks from Cabinet day.

**Bill written Usually 6 to 12 months. “Priority” means faster** The actual text does not exist yet.Open question: what happens to people already here, building up their five years? Transitional protections could go in. Nobody knows.

**Dáil Usually 1 to 3 months. Days if rushed** Second Stage is the debate on the general principles of the Bill, and the vote on whether it proceeds at all. [67] Amendments come after that, at Committee and Report Stage, with the Government’s majority in the room.Five years or eight is a general principle, not a detail. Once Second Stage passes, it is being argued in the margins.

**Seanad Usually a few weeks** Senators do the same.

**President signs 5 to 7 days, fixed by the Constitution** Only if both Houses pass it.

**Law commences Same day, or later by ministerial order** Government target: Christmas 2026.

This is the stage where a saving clause for people already here can still go in. Last December’s change to the international protection route had exactly that [1], so it is not a strange ask. Eight organisations have already said no, together. [14]

## Take action

Today

### Sign the petition

Started on 28 August by Manavi Purohit, a Dublin immigration adviser. About 9,000 people have signed so far. Add your name.

change.org →

When it opens

### Make a submission

The Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration can invite the public to comment on the Scheme. When it does, tell them. We will post the link here.

Public consultations →

This week

### Write to your TDs

Two letters ready to go: one if this affects you, one if you are an Irish citizen who thinks it is wrong. Fill in, sign, send. [36]

Fill in the letter →

Find your TDs →

Ongoing

### Back the organisations

Doras, Immigrant Council, ICCL, Irish Refugee Council, MRCI, Nasc, AkiDwA. They are doing the heavy lifting.

Who else is on this ↓

### Who to write to first — Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration

Pre-legislative scrutiny happens in this room, and it happens **before the text of the Bill is finalised** . The committee reads the General Scheme, can call officials and experts in to answer for it, and publishes a report recommending changes. [67] These fourteen are the people who can get a transitional provision written in while the Bill is still being drafted. Write to them as well as to your own TDs.

Nine TDs and five Senators. The Oireachtas membership page opens on the *select* committee, which is the nine Deputies on their own; considering a General Scheme is a *joint* committee job, so the Senators sit on this one too. [68] Address them as Senator, not Deputy.

Matt CarthyChairSinn Féin · Cavan-Monaghan[matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie](mailto:matt.carthy@oireachtas.ie)

Paula ButterlyVice-chairFine Gael · Louth[paula.butterly@oireachtas.ie](mailto:paula.butterly@oireachtas.ie)

Tom BrabazonFianna Fáil · Dublin Bay North[tom.brabazon@oireachtas.ie](mailto:tom.brabazon@oireachtas.ie)

Catherine CallaghanFine Gael · Carlow-Kilkenny[catherine.callaghan@oireachtas.ie](mailto:catherine.callaghan@oireachtas.ie)

Albert DolanFianna Fáil · Galway East[albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie](mailto:albert.dolan@oireachtas.ie)

Gary GannonSocial Democrats · Dublin Central[gary.gannon@oireachtas.ie](mailto:gary.gannon@oireachtas.ie)

Alan KellyLabour Party · Tipperary North[alan.kelly@oireachtas.ie](mailto:alan.kelly@oireachtas.ie)

Pádraig O’SullivanFianna Fáil · Cork North-Central[padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie](mailto:padraig.osullivan@oireachtas.ie)

Mark WardSinn Féin · Dublin Mid-West[mark.ward@oireachtas.ie](mailto:mark.ward@oireachtas.ie)

Robbie GallagherFianna Fáil · Seanad[robbie.gallagher@oireachtas.ie](mailto:robbie.gallagher@oireachtas.ie)

Garret KelleherFine Gael · Seanad[garret.kelleher@oireachtas.ie](mailto:garret.kelleher@oireachtas.ie)

Michael McDowellIndependent · Seanad[michael.mcdowell@oireachtas.ie](mailto:michael.mcdowell@oireachtas.ie)

Anne RabbitteFianna Fáil · Seanad[anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie](mailto:anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie)

Lynn RuaneIndependent · Seanad[lynn.ruane@oireachtas.ie](mailto:lynn.ruane@oireachtas.ie)

## Find your TDs — Find the people who can actually change this.

All 174 TDs, with the email and phone number from their Oireachtas page. [37] Pick your county, tick your TDs, and the letter below is addressed to them for you.

Not sure? [Who are my TDs](https://www.electoralcommission.ie/who-are-my-tds/) (Electoral Commission) finds them from your Eircode, [checktheregister.ie](https://www.checktheregister.ie/) tells you your constituency, and the full list is on [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/). We have flagged Ministers and members of the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: they are the ones who can move this.

## Write to your TD — Your letter. Two minutes.

**Nick Howley** created these templates and let us share them. Choose one depending on your circumstances. Fill in the fields. Copy and paste into your email. You can further customise there, if you choose. Nothing you type is stored here. Send one letter per TD, with their name on it. It lands better than a group email.

**This website does not collect any personal information.** Your county, your TDs, your name in the letter: none of it is stored here. No cookies, no accounts, no tracking of who you are. We only count how many people used each button.

## 8 · Who else — You are not the only one saying this.

Every petition, organisation and statement we could find against the eight-year rule. Sign the petition, read the organisations, and if you know of something missing, tell us.

- **Against increasing Irish citizenship from 5 to 8 years** — Petition. Started 28 August by Manavi Purohit. Over 9,400 people have signed. The only petition against this rule that we can find. <https://www.change.org/p/petition-against-increasing-irish-citizenship-from-5-to-8-years>
- **Irish Council for Civil Liberties** — Joint statement. Published the statement seven organisations signed on 7 September: no rationale, no research and no evidence has been presented for any of this. <https://www.iccl.ie/news/citizenship-proposals-destroy-integration/>
- **Immigrant Council of Ireland** — Organisation. Free legal advice and an information line on citizenship and permanency. Signed the joint statement. <https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/rights/citizenship-permanency>
- **Doras** — Organisation. Limerick-based migrant rights NGO, working nationally on integration and immigration policy. Signed the joint statement. <https://doras.org/>
- **Irish Refugee Council** — Organisation. Runs the information hub explaining the new asylum and citizenship laws as they land. Signed the joint statement. <https://www.irishrefugeecouncil.ie/>
- **Migrant Rights Centre Ireland** — Organisation. Organises migrant workers and tracks citizenship policy and ceremony dates. Signed the joint statement. <https://www.mrci.ie/>
- **Nasc, the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre** — Organisation. Cork-based, legal support and advocacy for migrants and refugees. Signed the joint statement. <https://nascireland.org/>
- **AkiDwA** — Organisation. National network of migrant women living in Ireland. Signed the joint statement. <https://akidwa.ie/>
- **People Before Profit** — Party. Calls the changes a weaponisation of citizenship rules, with the mainstream right competing with the far right to inflame anti-immigrant opinion. <https://www.pbp.ie/governments-weaponisation-of-citizenship-rules/>
- **Solidarity** — Party. Reads the bill as an attack on migrants, written to chase the far right rather than to fix anything in the system. <https://www.solidarity.ie/2026/09/jim-ocallaghans-new-racist-citizenship-laws-a-disgusting-attack-on-migrants/>
- **Irish Citizenship Changes 2026: What’s Actually Proposed** — Explainer. A plain, calm walk through what is in the Scheme and what is not, for people trying to work out whether it catches them. <https://howtoireland.com/irish-citizenship-changes-2026/>
- **Irish Legal News** — Coverage. Following the Bill through drafting and scrutiny, and the lawyers and organisations raising objections to it. <https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/citizenship-changes-risk-cutting-migrants-out-of-irish-life-organisations-warn>
## References — Sources

Every number and quote on this page comes from somewhere you can check. Accessed 10 September 2026. If we cannot source it, it is not here.

1. Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, *Minister Jim O’Callaghan receives government approval to strengthen migration legislation and introduce new rules on asylum and citizenship* , gov.ie, 26 Nov 2025. [gov.ie](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/minister-jim-ocallaghan-receives-government-approval-to-strengthen-migration-legislation-and-introduce-new-rules-on-asylum-and-citizenship-minister-jim-ocallaghan-and-minister-colm-brophy-publishes-family-reunification-review/)
2. Irish Legal News, *Justice minister secures priority drafting of Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026* , 9 Sept 2026. [irishlegal.com](https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/justice-minister-secures-priority-drafting-of-the-irish-nationality-and-citizenship-amendment-bill-2026)
3. Irish Examiner, *Citizenship rules to tighten as Government approves eight-year residency requirement* , 9 Sept 2026. [irishexaminer.com](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41908855.html)
4. Irish Examiner, *Citizenship rules to tighten by end of this year* , 8 Sept 2026 — the Christmas target, the absence of a lead-in, retrospective application. [irishexaminer.com](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41907943.html)
5. Irish Examiner, *New citizenship rules would require eight years’ residence, language test and civics exam* , 7 Sept 2026 — residence formula and spouse route. [irishexaminer.com](https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-41907436.html)
6. The Irish Times, *Rules for seeking Irish citizenship to be tightened under proposals due to go to Cabinet* , 7 Sept 2026. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/09/07/rules-for-seeking-irish-citizenship-to-be-tightened-under-proposals-due-to-go-to-cabinet/)
7. The Irish Times, *New rules for Irish citizenship: how will they work?* , 7 Sept 2026 — welfare and State-debt bars, unspecified language level. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/09/07/new-rules-for-irish-citizenship-how-will-they-work/)
8. The Irish Times, *‘People just want safety’: Migrants feel ‘targeted’ by Irish citizenship reforms* , 9 Sept 2026. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/09/09/people-just-want-safety-migrants-feel-targeted-by-irish-citizenship-reforms/)
9. The Irish Times, *‘Disappointed and shocked’: Protesters criticise proposed new rules for Irish citizenship* , 9 Sept 2026. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/09/09/disappointed-and-shocked-protesters-criticise-proposed-new-rules-for-irish-citizenship/)
10. The Irish Times, *Welfare benefits such as children’s allowance will not bar recipients from citizenship* , 8 Sept 2026. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2026/09/08/welfare-benefits-such-as-childrens-allowance-will-not-bar-recipients-from-citizenship/)
11. RTÉ News, *Citizenship a ‘privilege’, says minister ahead of overhaul* , 7 Sept 2026. [rte.ie](https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/0907/1590570-citizenship-changes/)
12. The Journal, *Citizenship rules to be tightened with longer residency and language test* , 7 Sept 2026 — source of the “four years and ten months” remark. [thejournal.ie](https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-citizenship-residency-changes-7154915-Sep2026/)
13. Newstalk, *Irish citizenship: Martin confirms migrants will wait eight years* , Sept 2026. [newstalk.com](https://www.newstalk.com/news/irish-citizenship-2-2307993)
14. Irish Legal News, *Citizenship changes risk cutting migrants out of Irish life, organisations warn* , 8 Sept 2026 — the eight-organisation joint statement. [irishlegal.com](https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/citizenship-changes-risk-cutting-migrants-out-of-irish-life-organisations-warn)
15. Irish Council for Civil Liberties, *Citizenship proposals will destroy a crucial route to integration* , 7 Sept 2026. [iccl.ie](https://www.iccl.ie/news/citizenship-proposals-destroy-integration/)
16. Terence Cosgrave, *Before legislating against an imagined danger, establish that the danger actually exists* , Irish Medical Times, 10 Sept 2026 — the impact-assessment argument and the medical workforce figures. [imt.ie](https://www.imt.ie/opinion/comment/before-legislating-against-an-imagined-danger-establish-that-the-danger-actually-exists-10-09-2026/)
17. Times Higher Education, *Irish citizenship reforms ‘may hit international student recruitment’* , Sept 2026. [timeshighereducation.com](https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/irish-citizenship-reforms-may-hit-overseas-student-recruitment)
18. European Parliamentary Research Service, *Acquisition and loss of citizenship in EU Member States* , Briefing PE 769502, 2025 — the 3-to-10-year range, Germany’s cut from 8 to 5, Finland and Cyprus raising 5 to 8, Ireland and Sweden as the only states without a language requirement, and the finding that restriction “may delay rather than bolster migrants’ integration”. [europarl.europa.eu (PDF)](https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2025/769502/EPRS_BRI(2025)769502_EN.pdf)
19. GLOBALCIT, European University Institute — Citizenship Law Dataset and the *Global State of Citizenship* report: five years is the most common requirement worldwide, seven the average. [globalcit.eu](https://globalcit.eu/modes-acquisition-citizenship/) · [Global State of Citizenship](https://globalgovernanceprogramme.eui.eu/global-state-of-citizenship-report/)
20. Hainmueller, Hangartner & Pietrantuono, *Naturalization fosters the long-term political integration of immigrants* , PNAS, 2015. [pnas.org](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1418794112)
21. Hainmueller, Hangartner & Pietrantuono, *Catalyst or Crown: Does Naturalization Promote the Long-Term Social Integration of Immigrants?* , American Political Science Review. [cambridge.org](https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/abs/catalyst-or-crown-does-naturalization-promote-the-longterm-social-integration-of-immigrants/F46D864B22AD8C71D5ED1B0DE2FFB4CA) · [full text (PDF)](https://eprints.lse.ac.uk/67792/1/Hangartner%20Catalyst%20or%20crown.pdf)
22. Hainmueller, Hangartner & Ward, *The effect of citizenship on the long-term earnings of marginalized immigrants* , Science Advances, 2019. [science.org](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aay1610)
23. JURIST, *Portugal Constitutional Court rejects stricter Nationality Law amendments* , Dec 2025. [jurist.org](https://www.jurist.org/news/2025/12/portugal-constitutional-court-rejects-stricter-nationality-law-amendments/)
24. Morais Leitão, *Changes to the law of nationality — Constitutional Court ruling and presidential veto* , Dec 2025. [mlgts.pt](https://www.mlgts.pt/en/knowledge/legal-alerts/Changes-to-the-law-of-nationality-constitutional-court-ruling-and-presidential-veto/26467/) · [ConstitutionNet](https://constitutionnet.org/news/constitutional-court-portugal-rejects-proposed-amendments-tighten-nationality-laws)
25. IMI Daily, *Sweden passes law curtailing naturalization: 8-year wait, income floor* — commencing 6 June 2026. [imidaily.com](https://www.imidaily.com/europe/sweden-passes-law-curtailing-naturalization-8-year-wait-income-floor/)
26. Department of Justice, *Record numbers receive Irish Citizenship decisions in 2024* , gov.ie. [gov.ie](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/record-numbers-receive-irish-citizenship-decisions-in-2024/)
27. Irish Legal News, *Record 30,000 decisions made on Irish citizenship applications* . [irishlegal.com](https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/record-30000-decisions-made-on-irish-citizenship-applications)
28. Houses of the Oireachtas, *Citizenship Applications* , Parliamentary Question, 24 March 2026 — median processing of about eight months in 2024 and 2025. [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2026-03-24/710/)
29. GFDL Advogados, *Portugal’s hard turn: the end of an open era for nationality law* — the 7-year and 10-year periods effective 2026. [gfdl.legal](https://gfdl.legal/portugals-hard-turn-the-end-of-an-open-era-for-nationality-law/)
30. Article 22, Spanish Civil Code — two years’ residence for nationals of Ibero-American countries including Brazil. [Sterna Abogados](https://www.abogadoextranjeriamadrid.net/en/fast-track-spanish-citizenship-in-two-years-everything-you-need-to-know/)
31. Manavi Purohit, *Petition Against Increasing Irish Citizenship from 5 to 8 Years* , Change.org, opened 28 Aug 2026. [change.org](https://www.change.org/p/petition-against-increasing-irish-citizenship-from-5-to-8-years)
32. Houses of the Oireachtas, *Making a submission — public consultations* . [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/making-a-submission/public-consultations/)
33. Houses of the Oireachtas, *Members* . [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/)
34. Immigrant Council of Ireland, *Campaigns* . [immigrantcouncil.ie](https://www.immigrantcouncil.ie/campaigns)
35. Immigration Service Delivery, *How to become an Irish citizen* — the rules currently in force. [irishimmigration.ie](https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/) · [Citizens Information](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/irish-citizenship/becoming-an-irish-citizen-through-naturalisation/)
36. Nick Howley, *Letter to your TD: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026, transitional provisions* (two versions), Google Docs, Sept 2026. [docs.google.com](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ukDwfyEQSb6p447k7DZa0cIq-EPajGS-DsmHOkT06Sk/edit)
37. Houses of the Oireachtas, *Members of the 34th Dáil* , Open Data API and member pages, retrieved 10 Sept 2026. Emails and phones as published on each member’s Oireachtas page. [api.oireachtas.ie](https://api.oireachtas.ie/) · [oireachtas.ie/members](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/)
38. Doras, Immigrant Council of Ireland, ICCL, Irish Refugee Council, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Nasc and AkiDwA, joint statement, *Citizenship proposals will destroy a crucial route to integration* , 8 Sept 2026. ICCL names the signatories as “Doras, Immigrant Council of Ireland, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Irish Refugee Council, Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, Nasc, AkiDwA and the Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre”; Migrant and Refugee Rights Centre is Nasc’s own full name. [iccl.ie](https://www.iccl.ie/news/citizenship-proposals-destroy-integration/) · [Irish Legal News](https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/citizenship-changes-risk-cutting-migrants-out-of-irish-life-organisations-warn)
39. John Lannon, CEO of Doras, on Newstalk Breakfast: *‘Harsh’ to make migrants wait eight years for Irish citizenship* , Sept 2026. [newstalk.com](https://www.newstalk.com/news/irish-citizenship-2291996)
40. Imasha Costa, *Citizenship rule change moves goalposts on hard-working people* , Irish Examiner, 10 Sept 2026. [irishexaminer.com](https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41908723.html)
41. Jack White, *‘People just want safety’: Migrants feel ‘targeted’ by Irish citizenship reforms* , The Irish Times, 9 Sept 2026. Nick Howley quoted from his home in Limerick. [irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/09/09/people-just-want-safety-migrants-feel-targeted-by-irish-citizenship-reforms/)
42. McGinnity, Carron-Kee et al., *Monitoring Report on Integration 2024* , ESRI and Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, March 2025. Employment rate Q1 2024: foreign-born 76.8%, Irish-born 72.7%; activity rate 81.5% v 75.3%; tertiary education 59% v 42%; at risk of poverty non-EU-born 20% v 11%; housing cost overburden 37% v 9%. [esri.ie](https://www.esri.ie/publications/monitoring-report-on-integration-2024) · [PDF](https://www.esri.ie/system/files/publications/JR11.pdf)
43. Central Statistics Office, *Census 2022 Profile 7: Employment, Occupations and Commuting* , Dec 2023. Labour-force participation higher among non-Irish citizens than Irish citizens; unemployment 9% v 8%. [cso.ie](https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpp7/censusofpopulation2022profile7-employmentoccupationsandcommuting/atwork/) · [EMN summary](https://emn.ie/labour-force-participation-of-migrants/)
44. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, *State of the Register 2024* . 89,496 registrants at 1 June 2024; 7,120 new registrants in the period, of whom 1,569 qualified in Ireland, 125 in the EU and 5,426 outside the EU; top countries of education India 3,717, Philippines 828, UK 281, Ghana 191; register by nationality Ireland 54,067, India 18,464, Philippines 7,040, UK 3,247. [nmbi.ie (PDF)](https://www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/NMBI-State-of-the-Register-2024.pdf)
45. Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, *Highest ever number of employment permits issued in 2024* , press release, Dec 2024, and EMN Ireland, *2024 statistics on employment permits released* , Jan 2025. 39,390 permits issued; India 13,147, Brazil 4,458, Philippines 3,944; Health & Social Work 12,501, ICT 6,788, Agriculture 3,625, Accommodation & Food 3,358; 51% of new permits Critical Skills. [gov.ie](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-enterprise-tourism-and-employment/press-releases/highest-ever-number-of-employment-permits-issued-in-2024/) · [emn.ie](https://emn.ie/employment-permits/)
46. Central Statistics Office, *Census of Population 2022, Summary Results: Migration and Diversity* . 631,785 non-Irish citizens, 12% of the usually resident population. [cso.ie](https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-cpsr/censusofpopulation2022-summaryresults/migrationanddiversity/)
47. Germany. Bundestag bill 20/9044 (Nov 2023): “Die derzeit … erforderliche Mindestaufenthaltsdauer von acht Jahren ist zu lang und entspricht auch nicht der … üblichen Aufenthaltsdauer … von fünf Jahren”. Destatis: 291,955 naturalisations in 2024 (+46%), 332,500 in 2025 (+14%), record. Bill 21/537 (2025) keeps five years: “entspricht der im internationalen Vergleich … üblichen Aufenthaltsdauer”. [bundestag.de (PDF)](https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/090/2009044.pdf) · [destatis.de](https://www.destatis.de/DE/Presse/Pressemitteilungen/2026/06/PD26_186_125.html) · [bill 21/537 (PDF)](https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/21/005/2100537.pdf)
48. Sweden. Riksdag, 29 Apr 2026, and Sweden Herald, 23 Feb 2026 (Johan Forssell). SVT, 29 Apr 2026: transition rules rejected 147–146. The Local, 2 Apr 2026, TCO chair Therese Svanström: “we actually make it harder for Sweden than we need to”. The Local, 17 Aug 2026: 99 citizenships granted in July against 1,646 in June and 3,970 in May. [riksdagen.se](https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/articles/2026/apr/29/more-stringent-requirements-for-swedish_cmsda89d1d5-5403-402f-9a7c-61b4ed37538den/) · [svt.se](https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/medborgarskapskrav-skarps-utan-overgangsregler) · [thelocal.se](https://www.thelocal.se/20260402/swedish-union-leaders-warn-haphazard-citizenship-reforms-could-harm-international-reputation) · [thelocal.se](https://www.thelocal.se/20260817/sweden-grants-fewer-than-100-new-citizenships-the-month-after-new-rules-come-into-force)
49. Austria. Regierungsvorlage 1189 XXII. GP (2005): “eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher und unübersichtlicher Regelungen zu Fristen”. Statistik Austria, Feb 2025: naturalisation rate 0.7%. Eurostat 2024: EU 2.7. ORF Wien, 6 Mar 2025: 611,000 Viennese, 35.6% of over-16s, cannot vote. ECRI sixth report on Austria, 2020, §74: “ECRI regrets this regression”. [parlament.gv.at](https://www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXII/I/1189/fnameorig_051960.html) · [statistik.at (PDF)](https://www.statistik.at/fileadmin/announcement/2025/02/20250219Einbuergerungen2024EN.pdf) · [wien.orf.at](https://wien.orf.at/stories/3295902/) · [coe.int (PDF)](https://rm.coe.int/report-on-austria-6th-monitoring-cycle-/16809e826f)
50. Portugal. Government, 23 Jun 2025, António Leitão Amaro: “reforço da exigência de ligação efetiva à comunidade nacional”. Constitutional Court, Dec 2025: four norms unconstitutional. Presidency, May 2026: the law “deveria também assentar num maior consenso”. [portugal.gov.pt](https://portugal.gov.pt/gc25/comunicacao/noticias/governo-reforma-exigencia-nas-leis-de-nacionalidade-e-residencia) · [mlgts.pt](https://www.mlgts.pt/en/knowledge/legal-alerts/Changes-to-the-law-of-nationality-constitutional-court-ruling-and-presidential-veto/26467/) · [presidencia.pt](https://www.presidencia.pt/atualidade/toda-a-atualidade/2026/05/presidente-da-republica-promulga-decreto-da-assembleia-da-republica/)
51. Cyprus. European Commission, 6 Mar 2024: “The change primarily aims to attract talented and specialised foreign individuals”. Cyprus Mail, 3 Apr 2025: around 12,000 applications pending, average wait three years. AIDA/ECRE 2025 update: “very few naturalisation applications in 2025, even for people who were born in Cyprus or who arrived as children”. [ec.europa.eu](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/cyprus-new-citizenship-legislation-2024-03-06_en) · [cyprus-mail.com](https://cyprus-mail.com/2025/04/03/mps-hear-of-delays-in-citizenship-and-residency-applications) · [ecre.org](https://ecre.org/aida-country-report-on-cyprus-update-on-2025/)
52. Italy. Al Jazeera, 8 Jun 2025, Giorgia Meloni: the law “is an excellent law, among the most open”. Referendum 8–9 Jun 2025: Yes 65.34%, turnout 29.89%, void for lack of quorum. CNEL report, Dec 2025: almost 915,000 pupils without Italian citizenship, 65.4% born in Italy. [aljazeera.com](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/6/8/italy-holds-referendum-on-easing-citizenship-rules) · [wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Italian_referendum) · [infomigrants.net](https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/68854/italy-new-report-snapshots-data-on-citizenship-wellbeing-and-education)
53. Ireland. Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, s. 15(1)(c): one year’s continuous residence immediately before the application, plus four years in the preceding eight. Five in all. The General Scheme of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2026 would make it eight, two continuous plus six in the previous ten. [irishstatutebook.ie](https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1956/act/26/section/15/enacted/en/html) · [gov.ie](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/press-releases/government-approval-secured-for-the-priority-drafting-of-the-irish-nationality-and-citizenship-amendment-bill-2026/)
54. Germany. Staatsangehörigkeitsgesetz, § 10(1): “seit fünf Jahren rechtmäßig seinen gewöhnlichen Aufenthalt im Inland”. Cut from eight to five by the Staatsangehörigkeits-Modernisierungsgesetz, in force 27 Jun 2024. [gesetze-im-internet.de](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stag/__10.html)
55. France. Code civil, art. 21-17: naturalisation is granted only to a foreigner who proves habitual residence in France for the five years preceding the application. [legifrance.gouv.fr](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000006419648)
56. Netherlands. Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap, art. 8(1)(c): admission and principal residence for at least five years immediately preceding the request. [wetten.overheid.nl](https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0003738/)
57. Luxembourg. Loi du 8 mars 2017 sur la nationalité luxembourgeoise, art. 14: habitual residence and lawful stay for at least five years, the last year immediately before the application uninterrupted. [legilux.public.lu](https://legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/leg/loi/2017/03/08/a289/jo)
58. United Kingdom. British Nationality Act 1981, Schedule 1, para. 1(2): five years’ residence ending on the date of application, and no restriction on the period of stay in the final twelve months, which in practice means indefinite leave to remain held for a year on top of the five. [legislation.gov.uk](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/61/schedule/1)
59. Finland. Nationality Act 359/2003, s. 13, as amended by Act 474/2024, in force 1 Oct 2024: eight years, raised from five. Time spent waiting for a residence permit no longer counts. [finlex.fi](https://finlex.fi/en/legislation/2003/359)
60. Cyprus. Civil Registry Law 141(I)/2002, art. 111B, inserted by Law 149(I)/2023, in the Gazette of 19 Dec 2023: eight years’ lawful residence within the previous eleven, with the final twelve months continuous. Four or five years for highly skilled workers holding Greek-language certificates. [ec.europa.eu](https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/cyprus-new-citizenship-legislation-2024-03-06_en) · [kyprianou.com](https://www.kyprianou.com/cypriot-citizenship-by-virtue-of-years-of-residence-new-legal-requirements/)
61. Sweden. Lag (2001:82) om svenskt medborgarskap, 11 §, as amended in force 6 Jun 2026: eight years’ habitual residence, raised from five, with no transitional arrangements. Seven years for refugees and for spouses of Swedish citizens, five for stateless people. [migrationsverket.se](https://www.migrationsverket.se/nyheter/news-archive/2026-05-06-new-rules-for-swedish-citizenship-from-6-june-2026.html)
62. Denmark. Cirkulæreskrivelse nr. 9461 af 17. juni 2021 om naturalisation: nine years’ uninterrupted residence and a permanent residence permit. Eight years for refugees, six for Nordic citizens. Danish citizenship is granted by Act of Parliament, so the criteria sit in the circular rather than in a statute. [retsinformation.dk](https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/retsinfo/2021/9461)
63. Italy. Legge 5 febbraio 1992, n. 91, art. 9(1)(f): ten years’ lawful residence for a non-EU national. Four years for an EU citizen. [normattiva.it](https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1992-02-05;91)
64. Portugal. Lei n.º 37/81, art. 6, as amended by Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 of 18 May 2026, in force 19 May 2026: ten years’ legal residence, seven for EU citizens and for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries. Was five and six. Time spent waiting for the residence card no longer counts. [diariodarepublica.pt](https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/1s/2026/05/09500/0000200020.pdf)
65. Spain. Código Civil, art. 22(1): ten years’ legal, continuous residence. Five for refugees, two for nationals of Ibero-American countries, Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal, and for Sephardic Jews. [boe.es](https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1889-4763)
66. Austria. Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985, § 10(1)(1): ten years’ lawful and uninterrupted residence, at least five of them with settlement (Niederlassung). [oesterreich.gv.at](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/staatsbuergerschaft/1/Verleihung-nach-zehn-Jahren.html) · [jusline.at](https://www.jusline.at/gesetz/stbg/paragraf/10)
67. Houses of the Oireachtas, *How laws are made* . On pre-legislative scrutiny: the general scheme of a Government Bill “undergoes scrutiny by an Oireachtas Committee before the text of the Bill is finalised”, the committee “may invite stakeholders to participate by attending meetings”, and at the end it “produces a report” that “makes recommendations on the Bill”. On Second Stage: “The general principles of the Bill are debated … At the end of Second Stage, the House may, or may not, agree to allow the Bill to proceed to Committee Stage.” [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/how-laws-are-made/)
68. Houses of the Oireachtas, *Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration — membership* , retrieved 11 September 2026. Nine TDs and five Senators. Matt Carthy TD is Cathaoirleach, Paula Butterly TD is Leas-Chathaoirleach. The membership page opens on the *Select Committee* tab, which is the nine Deputies only; the *Joint Committee* tab adds the five Senators. Pre-legislative scrutiny is a joint committee function: the committee’s own *Our role* page says the select committee “may consider Bills, Estimates and other business referred to it by the Dáil Éireann”, while the joint committee “is also empowered to consider the general scheme or draft heads of Bills”.[oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/34/justice-home-affairs-and-migration/our-role/) Portraits are the official member photographs from data.oireachtas.ie. [oireachtas.ie](https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/committees/34/justice-home-affairs-and-migration/membership/)
**Not legal advice.** The Bill has not been drafted or published. Anyone assessing their own position should read the General Scheme when it appears and take advice on their own dates and permissions.

Compiled 10 September 2026 from published sources. Last updated 11 September 2026. Plain-text version, every figure with its source: [/facts.php](https://keepitfive.org/facts.php).