Irish citizenship applications soar as Australians chase passport power
Applications for Irish citizenship by Australians have more than doubled since 2022, driven by a desire for easier travel, work, and study opportunities within the European Union. The surge has led to significant processing delays for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs.
Why it matters
The trend reflects a growing interest in 'passport power' and mobility rights among Australians seeking to leverage ancestral heritage for global access.
Bryan O'Mahony applied for Irish passports for his daughters, Isla and Harper, to future-proof their travel though Europe. ( Supplied: Bryan O'Mahony )
Applications from Australians seeking Irish citizenship by descent have more than doubled since 2022, reaching a record high in 2025.
Experts say demand is being driven by the right to live, work and study across the European Union.
The demand has seen wait times for citizenship blow out to 12 months.
Link copied Share Share article For Queensland father Bryan O'Mahony, securing Irish citizenship and passports for his Australian-born daughters, Harper and Isla, was a no-brainer.
"It was very much about heritage, as well as the benefits of ease of travel, but particularly I got it to provide them with as many future options and opportunities as possible," Mr O'Mahony said.
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