Using the temporary online naturalization process almost 1200 people have become Irish citizens in the past 10 weeks. This process was introduced in January in order to clear the backlog applications. The Department of Justice had contacted 4000 people to complete their naturalization process by signing a declaration of loyalty instead of attending a citizenship ceremony.
Since the Covid 19 pandemic hit the world, many have been waiting to get their application done. The top five nationalities to be issued their certificates since January were people who came from UK, India, Poland, Nigeria and Romania.
Even though the online process have been used, there are almost 24,000 applications pending to be done. Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that there are 2500 people more who would be given the chance to sign a statutory application by the end of June.