Eligibility criteria is published by the Public Appointment Service at the beginning of each recruitment campaign in a document called 'Notes for Applicants'. The eligibility requirements tend to remain consistent from year to year. The following is a general overview based on the most recent 2019 campaign (download full document here).

GENERAL 

(i) Be of good character

(ii) Be certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner (nominated by the Commissioner after consultation with the Minister) to be in good health, of sound constitution and suited physically and mentally to performing the duties of a member of the Service.

(iii) Have passed a Physical Competence Test 

AGE REQUIREMENTS 

(iv) Be 18 years of age but not yet 35 years of age on midnight of the 24th April, 2019, therefore you must have been born between 25th April 1984 and 24th April 2001.*

*As these notes are from the 2019 campaign, we would expect that the birth date ranges would naturally update for the next campaign, but that 35 would remain the upper age limit for candidates.

NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS

(v) (a) Be a national of a European Union Member State, or

(b) Be a national of a European Economic Area State or the Swiss Confederation; or

(c) Be a Refugee under the Refugee Act, 1996; or

(d) Have had a period of one year’s continuous residence in the State on the closing date of the advertisement for the competition for the vacancy to which the admission relates, and during the eight years immediately preceding that period, has had a total residence in the State amounting to four years;

(e) Has been granted subsidiary protection, or is a family member of such a person, in compliance with the Admissions and Appointments Regulations 2013.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

(vi) Have by the closing date:

(a) obtained an Irish Leaving Certificate with a grade D3 minimum in five subjects at Ordinary Level*, or

(b) hold a Level 5 Certificate (Major award) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or

(c) hold a recognised qualification (at Level 5 or greater), deemed comparable to the above in terms of both level and volume of learning as determined by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS 

**CHANGE FOR 2022 CAMPAIGN**

The two language requirement has been removed.  Previously, those joining the Garda had to be proficient in two languages, one of which had to be Irish or English. However, under the new changes proficiency in only one language will be required. The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 will be amended to give effect to the change.