Last week there was a very welcome announcement by the Department of Justice in relation to citizenship applications. As of January 1st 2022, the requirement to submit an original passport with your application for citizenship will no longer apply for new applicants.
Previously, applicants had to submit an original of their passport, meaning their ability to travel was severely limited while their applications were pending. This became a significant issue during the covid pandemic, as the Department of Justice staff worked from home and the waiting period for the return of original passports was taking many months. As of January, applicants can now submit colour copies of all of the pages of their current passports. These copies will then need to be certified by a solicitor.
It is unclear if this announcement will reduce the overall waiting period for the results of citizenship applications, however it is nonetheless a very welcome development.
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