The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Thursday that Ireland and Afghanistan will become the 11th and 12th Test nations.
Both countries were handed Test match status and became full members after a vote at the ICC's annual conference in London.
Ireland and Afghanistan have now joined Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, the West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as the 12 Test nations.
"It's fantastic news for all involved with Irish cricket and I'd like to thank the ICC and the members for the positive outcome," Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said in a recent statement.
"Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport and it's what we've all been aiming for."
Afghanistan Cricket Board chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai echoed Deutrom's thoughts surrounding the news, and said it's a massive step in the right direction for his country's future.
"For a nation like Afghanistan it is a huge and remarkable achievement, the entire nation will be celebrating," Stanikzai said.
"Afghanistan cricket has gone from strength to strength and we dared to dream that this would happen and today it has become a reality."
Before Ireland and Afghanistan, Bangladesh were the last country to be awarded Test status in 2000.
