Becoming a citizen3 min readReviewed

Good character and Garda vetting explained

To become an Irish citizen you must be of good character, and ISD checks. You declare your background in the application, and later the Garda National Vetting Bureau sends ISD a report, which is compared with what you said. ISD's instruction is simple: declare every offence, wherever and however long ago, even spent convictions.

Check what to declare Read the guide
All offences
To declare, anywhere in the world, including spent convictions
30 days
To complete the online vetting form once the link arrives
€50,000 fine
Or up to 5 years in prison, for false or misleading information
Check what to declare

The short answer

  • Good character is a legal condition for citizenship, with no exhaustive definition. ISD weighs your record and your declarations.
  • Declare everything: every offence, anywhere, however long ago, including spent convictions, plus cautions, pending cases and driving offences.
  • Garda e-vetting comes later. Your vetting report is checked against what you declared.
  • Leaving things out can do more harm than the offence, and false information is a crime.

Check what to declare

Character and vetting check

What to declare, and what to have ready for Garda e-vetting.

Is any of this in your past, anywhere in the world?Choose all that apply, or none
Have you ever lived in Northern Ireland?
Do you live outside Ireland now?

    Have ready for e-vetting

        From ISD’s e-vetting guide and citizenship guide, and Citizens Information. Nothing you choose is sent or saved. If you have a serious or complicated history, get legal advice before you apply.

        What ISD looks at

        The Garda Síochána provides a report, and you declare your background on the application form. ISD’s guide and Citizens Information list:

        • criminal convictions, in Ireland or abroad;
        • driving offences;
        • court cases, criminal or civil, such as a barring order;
        • Garda cautions or warnings;
        • open investigations and pending cases;
        • any adverse immigration history;
        • any other factor the Minister considers relevant.

        You get the chance to explain the circumstances of each. The Minister decides with absolute discretion, looking at the whole application.

        Declare everything, even spent convictions

        ISD’s e-vetting guide is direct: you must detail all offences, regardless of where an incident occurred or how long ago, including spent convictions. The responsibility is on you to give a complete record.

        Giving false or misleading information is an offence under the Citizenship Act: a fine of up to €50,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both. Citizenship granted on false information can be revoked.

        Garda e-vetting, step by step

        1. The invitation. Before your application goes to the Minister, ISD invites you to authorise vetting, so the character information is up to date. ISD’s e-vetting page describes a form you sign and post back; its 2026 citizenship guide says your acknowledgement email contains the e-vetting link. Follow the instructions you receive.
        2. The online form. The National Vetting Bureau emails you a link. You have 30 days to complete it.
        3. The disclosure. ISD checks your form and sends it to the National Vetting Bureau, which returns a vetting disclosure. ISD reviews it as part of the decision.

        Keep an eye on the email address you gave ISD: an incomplete vetting application delays your citizenship application.

        What to have ready for e-vetting

        • your name at birth, and every other name you’ve been known by;
        • your place of birth, passport number and mother’s maiden name;
        • every address since birth, in Ireland and abroad, with the full 6-character postcode for any address in Northern Ireland;
        • details of any convictions, in Ireland or elsewhere.

        If you live outside Ireland, you’ll need a police clearance certificate from the law enforcement agency where you live.

        Children

        Children over 16 must meet the good character condition, ISD says. Citizens Information puts it at 14 or over, and younger in rare cases of serious violent or sexual offences. The parent or guardian applying is responsible for the information being accurate.

        Common mix-ups

        Common questions

        What does good character mean for Irish citizenship?

        There's no exhaustive legal definition. ISD looks at a Garda report and your own declarations, including criminal convictions here or abroad, driving offences, court cases, Garda cautions, open investigations and any adverse immigration history.

        Do I have to declare spent convictions?

        Yes. ISD says to detail all offences, regardless of where they happened or how long ago, including spent convictions.

        Do I have to declare penalty points?

        Driving offences are part of the character assessment, and ISD asks for all offences. If you're unsure whether something counts, declare it and explain.

        What happens if I leave something out?

        ISD compares your vetting report with what you declared, and says leaving things out may well harm your application. Giving false or misleading information is also a criminal offence: up to €50,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both, and citizenship can be revoked.

        When does Garda vetting happen?

        Later in the process, before your application goes to the Minister. You'll get an invitation, then an email from the National Vetting Bureau with a link to the online form, which you have 30 days to complete.

        What do I need for e-vetting?

        Your name at birth and any other names, place of birth, passport number, mother's maiden name, every address since birth (with full postcodes for Northern Ireland), and details of any convictions in Ireland or elsewhere.

        Does this apply to my child's application?

        Children over 16 must meet the good character condition, ISD says. Citizens Information says 14 or over, and younger in rare cases of serious offences.

        Sources

        All sources checked on 3 Oct 2026.

        1. Citizenship applicant's guide to An Garda Síochána National Vetting Bureau e-vettingImmigration Service Delivery
        2. Becoming an Irish citizen guide (good character)Immigration Service Delivery
        3. Becoming an Irish citizen through naturalisation (character)Citizens Information
        4. Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, sections 15 and 29A (revised)Law Reform Commission
        Guidance, not advice. This guide explains the published rules in plain English. Rules and processing differ by case, so always check the current official instructions before you apply. On Path is not affiliated with Immigration Service Delivery or the Department of Justice.

        Check what to declare.

        What goes in your application, and what to have ready for e-vetting.

        Check what to declare