Applying for Irish Citizenship
Let us assist you with the research that you perhaps require in order to prove Irish descent. If your parents / grandparents were born in Ireland you may apply to be registered on the Register of Foreign Births. There are a number of documents required and more information is listed below and on our Registering a Foreign Birth page.
We make the process easy with our dedicated and knowledgeable researchers who can guide you through the application to become an Irish citizen.
At present it takes approximately 6 months for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to process a completed Foreign Birth Registration application. However, due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration, it may take up to 12 months to process an application. Some additional time may also be needed in order to prepare the required documentation for the application in terms of proving Irish descent.
We make the process easy with our dedicated and knowledgeable researchers who can guide you through the application to become an Irish citizen.
At present it takes approximately 6 months for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to process a completed Foreign Birth Registration application. However, due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration, it may take up to 12 months to process an application. Some additional time may also be needed in order to prepare the required documentation for the application in terms of proving Irish descent.
Fees
18 years of age and over
Under 18 years of age
- Research Time: €565 (complex cases may incur additional costs)
- Documentation Required: €150
- Online Registration plus Certificate: €270
- Non-refundable postage and handling fee: €8
- Total: €993
Under 18 years of age
- Research Time: €565 (complex cases may incur additional costs)
- Documentation Required: €150
- Registration plus Certificate: €145
- Non-refundable postage and handling fee: €8
- Total: €868
Born Abroad? Citizenship Criteria / Eligibility
You are automatically an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth and was born on the island of Ireland. You don’t need to apply to become an Irish citizen in this case.
You can become an Irish citizen if:
In these cases, you can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport.
You are automatically an Irish citizen if one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth and was born on the island of Ireland. You don’t need to apply to become an Irish citizen in this case.
You can become an Irish citizen if:
- One of your grandparents was born on the island of Ireland, or;
- One of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, even though they were not born on the island of Ireland.
In these cases, you can become an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration.
Once a person is entered onto the Foreign Births Register they are an Irish citizen and entitled to apply for an Irish passport.
Citizenship By Descent
Who can apply for Foreign Birth Registration?
People with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland
If your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, your parent was born outside Ireland, and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for entry on to the Foreign Births Register.
People with a grandparent born outside Ireland, but with a parent who is an Irish citizen.
If your parent became an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration or Naturalisation prior to your birth and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for Foreign Birth Registration.
Who can apply for Foreign Birth Registration?
People with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland
If your grandparent was born on the island of Ireland, your parent was born outside Ireland, and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for entry on to the Foreign Births Register.
People with a grandparent born outside Ireland, but with a parent who is an Irish citizen.
If your parent became an Irish citizen through Foreign Birth Registration or Naturalisation prior to your birth and you were born outside Ireland, you can apply for Foreign Birth Registration.
Register a Foreign Birth - Documentation Required
Which documents do I need to submit with my application?
A list of the documentation that you would need to submit with your application can be found on our Registering a Foreign Birth page.
My Grandparent was born before 1864, when Irish civil birth registrations began – what other documents can I supply?
We can accept your grandparent’s Baptismal certificate in this instance.
My parent/grandparent was adopted – which additional documents do I need to supply?
For an Irish-born person who was adopted: we will require an adoption certificate, issued by the central authority in the country in which the adoption took place along with the other required documents (including the original longform Irish birth certificate).
If you are applying through an adoptive grandparent or parent, and not through a biological link, you may wish to contact us directly.
What is a certified document?
A certified document is one that has been signed and dated by a recognised person or organisation as a true copy or translation of the original.
The following may qualify to make a certified copy of your document:
A document will be considered certified/notarised where the following procedure has been adhered to:
Then ask them to:
Which documents do I need to submit with my application?
A list of the documentation that you would need to submit with your application can be found on our Registering a Foreign Birth page.
My Grandparent was born before 1864, when Irish civil birth registrations began – what other documents can I supply?
We can accept your grandparent’s Baptismal certificate in this instance.
My parent/grandparent was adopted – which additional documents do I need to supply?
For an Irish-born person who was adopted: we will require an adoption certificate, issued by the central authority in the country in which the adoption took place along with the other required documents (including the original longform Irish birth certificate).
If you are applying through an adoptive grandparent or parent, and not through a biological link, you may wish to contact us directly.
What is a certified document?
A certified document is one that has been signed and dated by a recognised person or organisation as a true copy or translation of the original.
The following may qualify to make a certified copy of your document:
- Organisation or authority that issued your original document
- Solicitor/Barrister
- Notary
- Commissioner of Oaths
- Post Office Service
A document will be considered certified/notarised where the following procedure has been adhered to:
- Ask the person or organisation you have contacted to create a copy or translation of your document.
Then ask them to:
- Write 'Certified to be a true copy/translation of the original seen by me' on the document.
- Sign and date the document.
- Print their name under the signature.
- Add their occupation, address and telephone number.
- Attach their stamp/seal, business card, or include their professional register reference number.
Information from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website - correct for 2019