An appeal has been initiated over a controversial High Court decision, with far-reaching implications, that applicants for citizenship must have "unbroken" residence here for a year prior to their application.

A High Court judge has adjourned for a week the making of further orders arising from his significant and controversial decision that applicants for citizenship must have "unbroken" residence here for a year before they apply.

A shock High Court ruling that anyone applying for citizenship must not leave the country at all in the year before their application could impact thousands of people.

A High Court judge, in a significant decision, has ruled the "continuous residence" requirement in citizenship applications means an applicant for naturalisation must have "unbroken" residence in the State for an entire year immediately before the date of their application.