u/Adventurous_Egg_3545

When applying for naturalisation via marriage you are asked on the form “have you been absent from the State for more than 70 days per annum in the last 5 years?”

The ‘State’ is defined as ROI so living in NI, the literal answer is yes. Can I check what people have answered in my scenario?

Options are of course to either (a) assume that it’s just a badly worded question and answer ‘No’, but this feels a bit of a risk? To me, it cuts across there being rules and requirements if we treat anything as a grey area (although would much prefer to answer ‘No’ for admin sake); or (b) answer ‘Yes’ and be required to detail…what? I’ve been absent the entire time (as in I’ve been in NI) so not clear on this.

I have seen a few people’s posts hint at this but I can’t see many responses from (application successful) experience.

Thank you!

Please could someone recommend a NI based solicitor to certify my documents for my citizenship application via marriage (naturalisation)? Belfast based would be preferable.

I am a solicitor myself and have a number of solicitor colleagues and friends who I could approach if we're clear that any NI solicitor can certify? I can't see why not (having read the info on the citizenship website) but being risk averse, I don't want to waste time arranging that if it won't be accepted (i.e. if it needs to be an ROI solicitor or alternatively an NI notary - can anyone advise?).

There is a notary local to me who has quoted me £40 for first doc, £30 for second and then £10 for each doc after that. If I go with them, it'll cost me a lot for ALL the docs I need certified (as in circa 5 docs for each of the last 4 years, docs for my spouse for last 3m, our marriage cert, passports as well as the spousal declarations etc, etc.). I'd be interested to know if anyone has applied via NI with an NI solicitor doing the certifications for a decent price?

Naturalisation via marriage applicant, living in Northern Ireland. Proving residency via bank statements. All the statements I can upload have more than enough point to point sale transactions taking place in Ireland, however, certain of them (bearing in mind, I'm uploading docs from the last 3 x years) show transactions from when we have been out of the country for short trips. I am a UK citizen so not in on any visa etc so don't believe I'll need to confirm and/or justify any trips outstide the country (north or south), but can I double check please?

To clarify the non-Irish transactions are, in each case, just a few amongst reams of pages of our local/Irish transactions.

Please could anyone with experience applying this way provide some feedback on my questions? Note I’m a UK citizen.

Proof of residency for me.
- Note I’ll be applying in July 2026. Understand I’ll need to show that a) I’ve lived on island of Ireland for the 12m immediately before applying; and b) two other years in previous four.

For a):
- does this mean a strong doc and supporting doc for every month in the last 12? Or is it just 3 x months (consecutive or any months) since July 2025? Sorry but guidance very unclear.
- In terms of docs I plan to submit, can I check if the following would be appropriate:
25/26 P60
Nationwide mortgage statement
Nationwide bank statement
SSE NI bill or Power NI bill?
- can I check a UK P60 would be acceptable?

For b):
- given I’ll be applying in July 2026, I think this means I’ll need to show evidence for at least 2 x calendar years since July 2022. So could I do docs from 2023 and 2024 just for an example? I could do all four years but don’t want to over upload.
- once we’re clear on that, I understand this is at least 1 x ‘strong doc’ and at least 1 x supporting doc for each year. Can this be 1 x Monzo bank statement and 1 x utility bill/council tax (rates) bill/P60 (UK P60)? I can also use a nationwide bank statement.
- has anyone submitted Monzo statements and had them accepted? I have ordered stamped copies from Monzo.

Proof that my husband and I live together with docs from 3 months prior to application.
- can I check that this can be 3 x docs for me and 3 x docs for my husband (unclear if 3x docs per month but I assume not). ** **
- do these need to be in joint names? The website is unclear here (states joint at one point and then not stipulated elsewhere). Can I get view on following, which are in joint names:
Husband: May, June and July: joint account statements (Monzo)
Me: May: joint account statement (Nationwide), June: utility bull x 2 (SSE gas and Power NI), July: annual mortgage statement (Nationwide). The SSE gas and Power NI are currently in my name only but I think I can change these to joint names if needed but will delay my application until the next quarterly bill..

Other requirements:

Certified copy my passport
Certified copy my husband’s Irish passport
Certified copy marriage certificate
Statutory declaration form

In terms of certifying, has anyone got this done in NI? I could ask a NI solicitor to certified but unclear if this would be acceptable (ie not a ROI solicitor). If not, I could arrange an appointment with a notary public in NI or if needed, make an appointment with a solicitor across the boarder. Has anyone got any insight here?

Thanks in advance! Happy to provide updates on my application and timing once it’s submitted.