Significant changes are being introduced for customers regarding the number of proofs required to establish their identity and residency as part of the Citizenship application process. From January, Citizenship will be moving to a scorecard approach, which will bring added clarity regarding what information applicants are required to provide to establish their identity and residence.
Applicants will be required to reach a score of 150 points in each of the years proof of residency is required. They do this by submitting proofs with a predetermined point value until they reach the required score of 150 points for each year of residency claimed.
With particular reference to Doctors employed in the HSE or Voluntary Hospitals, the provision of a “Medical Practitioner Employment History Summary” will be accepted as proof of residence.
An applicant must also accumulate a total of 150 points for establishing identity in order to meet the appropriate standard. Where an applicant is not able to achieve 150 points engagement with the Department will need to be entered into.
The responsibility is on the applicant to provide sufficient proof of reckonable residence for the period of residence claimed on the application form and the scorecard approach will ensure applicants have clarity on what exactly is required when they submit their initial application. The Minister must be assured the applicant has been lawfully resident in the State for the relevant claimed period. Failure to provide sufficient proofs of residence with the application will result in the application being considered ineligible. The Minister reserves the right to request original passports from applicants at any stage in the process.