The demand for Irish citizenship has soared by 15X times as a result of Brexit with more Britons becoming Irish citizens. In 2014 only 42 UK citizens received Irish citizenship. The number of UK nationals obtaining Irish citizenship jumped to 665 in 2018 . This information was revealed by The Minister for Justice and Equality for 2019.
UK citizens take second place in the table to acquire Irish citizenship after Polish nationals.
In 2018, Ireland granted citizenship to 10,158 people which includes 3,136 children in 7 citizenship ceremonies.
Over two thirds (67%) of naturalised citizens in 2018 are between the ages of 25 and 45.
Of the top 20 nationalities receiving citizenship in 2018, the youngest attendees by nationality are from Bangladesh with an average age of 32.5 while the oldest are from the UK with an average age of 56.
Irish Citizenship ceremonies were first introduced in 2011 in order to mark the occasion of the granting of citizenship in a dignified and solemn manner.
By the end of 2018 the total granted Irish citizenship is just under 120,000. In total, nationals of 181 different countries have become Irish citizens since 2011.
There have been 138 Citizenship Ceremonies held at which some 90,000 applicants have received their Certificates of Naturalisation.
Citizenship by country in 2018
Irish Citizenships granted to foreign nationals at two citizenship ceremonies in 2018
Nationality | Total |
Poland | 1269 |
UK | 651 |
Romania | 668 |
India | 446 |
Nigeria | 343 |
Pakistan | 262 |
Latvia | 249 |
Philippines | 235 |
China (incl HK) | 171 |
Source: INIS