418. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to confirm that an applicant for Irish citizenship can leave to an EU country to study abroad while their Irish citizenship application is pending provided they can attend any required appointments in Ireland such as the citizenship ceremony; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35876/26]

All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.

Under Section 15 of the Act, applicants are required to have one year’s continuous residence in the State immediately prior to the date of application. During this period applicants can be absent from the State for up to 70 days, either as one period or an aggregate of periods.

An additional period of 30 days absence from the State may also be considered due to exceptional circumstances, such as but not limited to, health requirements, employment, study and/or voluntary service abroad. Each case is examined on an individual basis.

Applicants are required to submit proof which demonstrates their residency in the State and details of any absences from the state. The documentation provided is examined in accordance with the provisions of the Act, and is associated with their naturalisation application.

For any person who has already submitted their naturalisation application, the 70 days absence rule no longer applies. However, if an applicant intends to travel outside the State for an extended period of time, they should contact Citizenship Division in relation to this.

Detailed information on how to apply for naturalisation and other resources is available on my Department’s Immigration website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/.