Irish Citizenship by Descent: How to Get an Ancestral Passport in 2026

Introduction

Irish citizenship by descent offers a powerful connection to Ireland for millions around the world with Irish heritage.

This pathway allows those with Irish ancestry to legally claim their Irish roots and enjoy the benefits of Irish (and EU) citizenship, even if they themselves were born outside Ireland.

The process is especially popular among the Irish diaspora in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, where large populations can trace their lineage back to Irish-born ancestors.

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The idea of reconnecting with your Irish heritage through citizenship isn't just about paperwork—it's about reclaiming a part of your identity and gaining tangible benefits that come with being an Irish citizen.

Whether you're seeking the freedom to live and work across Europe, access to education and healthcare, or simply a deeper connection to your family history, Irish citizenship by descent offers a compelling opportunity.

But navigating the legal requirements and application process can be complex. Understanding exactly who qualifies, what documents are needed, and how to successfully complete the process requires careful attention to detail.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about Irish citizenship by descent, from eligibility requirements to practical application steps, ensuring you have the knowledge to successfully claim your Irish heritage.

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What Does It Mean to Be an Irish Citizen?

Being an Irish citizen means you are legally a national of Ireland, with all the rights and responsibilities that status entails. As an Irish citizen, you have the right to live and work in Ireland without restriction and carry an Irish passport. You can vote in Irish elections and referendums and even run for public office in Ireland.

Perhaps most significantly, Irish citizens are also citizens of the European Union, which grants freedom of movement, work, and study across all EU member states. This is one of the most valuable aspects of Irish citizenship in today's global landscape.

Ireland permits dual citizenship, meaning you can hold your Irish citizenship alongside other nationalities. For many in the diaspora, this means maintaining their American, Canadian, British, or Australian citizenship while adding Irish citizenship to their portfolio.

In practical terms, an Irish citizen enjoys access to Ireland's education and healthcare systems, can access consular assistance from Irish embassies abroad, and can pass on Irish citizenship to the next generation under certain conditions. Along with these rights come responsibilities, such as obeying Irish law and, for those residing in Ireland, serving on a jury if called.

Overall, Irish citizenship confers a legal identity as a member of the Irish nation, with the full protection of the Irish state and the EU. It's a powerful status that connects you to both your heritage and a global community.

Irish Citizenship Laws and Regulations

The Irish Constitution

The foundation of Irish citizenship law is the Constitution of Ireland. Adopted in 1937, the Constitution originally gave the Irish parliament (the Oireachtas) the power to define citizenship in law. Over time, several constitutional amendments have directly affected citizenship rights.

The Nineteenth Amendment in 1998, following the Good Friday Agreement, recognized the birthright of everyone born on the island of Ireland to be part of the Irish nation. This effectively enshrined a broad right to citizenship by birth on the island.

A significant change came with the Twenty-Seventh Amendment in 2004. Passed by referendum, this amendment removed the automatic constitutional right to citizenship for anyone born in Ireland after January 1, 2005, unless they met conditions set out in law. In other words, before 2005, birth in Ireland was in itself enough to confer citizenship; after the amendment, citizenship by birth is no longer unconditional and is subject to requirements defined by legislation.

Article 9 of the Constitution now defers to statutory law for the acquisition and loss of citizenship, meaning the rules are mainly found in acts passed by the Oireachtas.

The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts

The primary laws governing Irish citizenship are the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, especially the Act of 1956 and its amendments. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 provided a comprehensive framework for citizenship after the 1937 Constitution.

Key provisions of the 1956 Act included: anyone born on the island of Ireland was automatically an Irish citizen; people born in Northern Ireland were entitled to claim Irish citizenship if they chose; a Foreign Births Register was established for registering the births of descendants of Irish citizens born abroad; and special procedures were set for spouses of Irish citizens to claim citizenship.

A major amendment in 2004, following the constitutional change, removed the automatic right of citizenship by birth on Irish soil for those born after 2004. Other amendments addressed issues such as adoption and transmission of citizenship to future generations.

Today, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts (1956, as amended by later Acts in 1986, 2001, 2004, 2014, etc.) outline all pathways to citizenship: by birth, descent, marriage, naturalisation, and other special circumstances. These laws also grant the Minister for Justice discretion in certain cases, such as granting citizenship to individuals of "Irish descent or Irish associations" under Section 16 of the 1956 Act.

Northern Ireland and Irish Citizenship

Irish citizenship law has always made special provision for people born in Northern Ireland, reflecting the unique political history of the island. Under the 1956 Act, anyone born in Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) was entitled to be an Irish citizen if they chose to assert that right.

The Good Friday Agreement of 1998, endorsed by both Ireland and the UK, affirmed the right of the people of Northern Ireland to identify as British, Irish, or both, and to hold citizenship accordingly. In practical terms, this means that a person born in Northern Ireland can hold an Irish passport and citizenship, British citizenship, or both.

The changes in 2005 to birthright citizenship also impacted Northern Ireland-born individuals. Since January 1, 2005, a person born in Northern Ireland is automatically an Irish citizen at birth only if at least one parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to live in Ireland or Northern Ireland without restriction.

Nevertheless, everyone born in Northern Ireland remains eligible to assert Irish citizenship at some point, either by birth (if they meet the conditions) or by a form of declaration if they did not automatically qualify at birth, pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement's principles.

Types of Irish Citizenship

By Birth

Citizenship by birth (jus soli) refers to an individual becoming an Irish citizen because they were born on the island of Ireland. The rules for this depend on the date of birth due to the 2005 legal change discussed above.

Before January 1, 2005: Anyone born on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) was automatically an Irish citizen by birth, regardless of their parents' citizenship. This was the case from the enactment of the 1956 Act up to the end of 2004.

After January 1, 2005: The automatic right to citizenship by birth is more limited. A person born in Ireland (North or South) on or after this date is only an Irish citizen at birth if at least one parent is an Irish citizen or entitled to Irish citizenship, or a British citizen, or has a legal entitlement to reside in Ireland or Northern Ireland without time limit. If a parent was an Irish citizen who died before the child's birth, the child also qualifies.

Children born in Ireland to foreign diplomats with diplomatic immunity are not entitled to Irish citizenship by birth. On the other hand, a child born in Ireland who is not entitled to any citizenship of another country can become an Irish citizen through a special process to prevent statelessness.

By Descent

Citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) means becoming an Irish citizen because one of your ancestors – usually a parent or grandparent – was Irish, even though you were born abroad. Ireland's citizenship laws allow a person born outside Ireland to inherit Irish citizenship from their Irish-born or Irish citizen parent or grandparent, subject to certain registration requirements.

If one of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth, you are entitled to Irish citizenship, even if you were born abroad. If that parent was born in Ireland, you are automatically an Irish citizen by descent from birth and can claim your citizenship by applying for an Irish passport.

If your parent was an Irish citizen but not born in Ireland, then you are also entitled to Irish citizenship, but you must register your birth in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) to formalize your citizenship.

Likewise, if one of your grandparents was born in Ireland, you have a right to become an Irish citizen, but you must register via the FBR to be recognized as such.

Ireland's law effectively allows citizenship to be transmitted indefinitely down the generations as long as each generation registers in turn. In practice, this means it typically extends to grandchildren of Irish-born individuals.

By Naturalisation

Citizenship by naturalisation is the process by which a non-Irish national can apply to become Irish after meeting certain residency and other requirements. Naturalisation is not an automatic entitlement; it is granted at the discretion of the Minister for Justice, but in practice there are clear guidelines in law.

Generally, an adult applicant must have lived legally in Ireland for at least 5 out of the last 9 years, including 1 full year of continuous residence immediately before the application. Certain periods of residence are not counted (so-called "non-reckonable" residence), such as time spent in Ireland on a student visa or while awaiting an asylum decision.

The applicant must also be of good character and intend to continue living in Ireland after naturalisation.

There are some expedited or special naturalisation rules for particular groups:

• Spouses or civil partners of Irish citizens can apply after a shorter residence period – as little as 3 years.
• Recognized refugees can apply after 3 years of residence from the date of their asylum declaration.
• Children born in Ireland who did not qualify for citizenship at birth can be naturalised after residing in Ireland for a specified period.

Naturalisation involves an application to Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) and payment of fees. Successful applicants over age 18 swear an oath of fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State at a citizenship ceremony, formally becoming Irish citizens.

By Adoption

Citizenship by adoption refers to a situation where a child who is not born in Ireland becomes an Irish citizen due to being adopted by Irish citizen parent(s). Irish law provides that if at least one of the adoptive parents is an Irish citizen at the time of a legal adoption, the adopted child shall be an Irish citizen from the date of the adoption order.

For adoptions that take place outside Ireland, the principle is similar, but there is an extra step: the foreign adoption must be recognized under Irish law. Once the foreign adoption is recognized, the adopted child is treated as a child of the Irish adoptive parent.

To summarize, a child adopted by an Irish citizen can acquire Irish citizenship by operation of law. If the adoption is done in Ireland, the citizenship is automatic. If done abroad, once the adoption is officially recognized in Ireland, the child is entitled to citizenship.

By Special Declaration

Citizenship by special declaration is a less common pathway that applies in exceptional circumstances defined by law. One instance is for certain people born on the island of Ireland who were not automatically citizens at birth but later assert a claim.

The primary use of special declaration today is for individuals born in Ireland who would otherwise be stateless (having no claim to any citizenship). The law provides that a person born in Ireland who is not entitled to citizenship of any other country may become an Irish citizen by making a prescribed declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship.

Another scenario historically referred to special declarations was for people born in Northern Ireland during certain periods. Those born in NI from 1922 up to 2004 could assert Irish citizenship even if they didn't meet the automatic criteria, by lodging a declaration.

Dual Citizenship

Dual citizenship means being a citizen of two (or more) countries at the same time. Ireland explicitly allows dual (and multiple) citizenship. An Irish citizen is not required to renounce their Irish citizenship when acquiring another, nor does Ireland force someone to give up their previous citizenship to become Irish.

While Ireland has no restriction on dual citizenship, individuals must also consider the laws of their other country of nationality. The good news is that countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia all permit dual citizenship with Ireland.

For those who do become dual citizens, Ireland offers a convenience: if you have an Irish passport and another passport, you can apply to have a "Without Condition Endorsement" (Stamp 6) placed in your non-Irish passport, indicating you have the right to reside in Ireland without restriction.

In summary, dual citizenship is fully permitted. Many people who gain Irish citizenship by descent hold on to their original citizenship. This can provide personal and economic benefits and is seen as a way to embrace one's Irish heritage without giving up one's current nationality.

Am I an Irish Citizen?

Born in Ireland Before 1 January 2005

If you were born anywhere on the island of Ireland (in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) before January 1, 2005, you are automatically an Irish citizen by birth (except in the very rare case that your parents were foreign diplomats with immunity).

So, anyone born in Ireland in 2004 or earlier is an Irish citizen from birth. This includes people born in Northern Ireland in that period – even though Northern Ireland is part of the UK, Irish law offered citizenship to those individuals as a birthright.

In practice, if you fall into this category and have never claimed an Irish passport or citizenship document, you can do so at any time because your citizenship exists by operation of law. Typically, a birth certificate showing birth in Ireland before 2005 is sufficient proof of Irish citizenship when applying for a passport.

Born in Ireland After 31 December 2004

If you were born in Ireland on or after January 1, 2005, your citizenship status depends on your parent(s)' citizenship or residence status at the time of your birth. You are an Irish citizen by birth only if at least one of your parents met one of the following conditions when you were born:

• One or both parents was an Irish citizen or a British citizen (or was entitled to Irish citizenship) at the time of your birth.
• One or both parents had legal permission to reside in Ireland or Northern Ireland without any time limit on their stay. In practice, this means a parent who had been granted permanent residency or had indefinite leave to remain, or one who had acquired EU/EEA/Swiss free movement rights in Ireland.
• If one parent was Irish or British and died before your birth, you are still considered an Irish citizen by birth.

If none of these conditions apply – for instance, if your parents were both foreign nationals with only short-term status in Ireland – then you would not have been an Irish citizen at birth. However, if you have no other citizenship from your parents' home countries, you could later claim Irish citizenship via a special declaration to avoid statelessness.

Born Outside Ireland to an Irish Parent

If you were born outside of Ireland, the key question is whether either of your parents was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth. If yes, then you have a claim to Irish citizenship by descent:

• If your parent was an Irish citizen born in Ireland, you are automatically an Irish citizen by descent from birth. You don't need to register in the Foreign Births Register; you can directly apply for an Irish passport by providing your parent's Irish birth certificate and your own birth certificate linking you to them.
• If your parent was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth but not born in Ireland (for instance, your parent was an Irish citizen through the Foreign Births Register or through naturalisation), then you are entitled to Irish citizenship, but it is not automatic until you take action. In this case, you must register yourself in the Foreign Births Register (FBR) to become an Irish citizen.

In summary, being born abroad to an Irish citizen parent means you can be an Irish citizen too, either automatically (if the Irish parent was born in Ireland) or through the Foreign Births Register process (if the Irish parent was foreign-born or naturalised).

Born in Ireland with No Right to Another Citizenship

If you were born in Ireland and have no entitlement to any other citizenship, then Irish law allows you to become an Irish citizen to avoid statelessness. This addresses cases where parents are foreign nationals but, due to the laws of their countries, their child does not automatically acquire the parents' citizenship.

To cover this, the law states that a person born in Ireland who is not entitled to citizenship of any other country may claim Irish citizenship through a special declaration.

In practice, parents of a stateless child born in Ireland can make an application to the Department of Justice (Immigration Service) soon after the child's birth, providing evidence that the child has no other nationality. Once the authorities are satisfied, the child's birth can be registered as an Irish citizen.

It's worth noting that this scenario is uncommon, since most countries do confer their citizenship to children of their citizens born abroad. But it can happen in specific circumstances.

Eligibility for Irish Citizenship by Descent

Parent Born on the Island of Ireland

If one of your parents was born on the island of Ireland, you are entitled to Irish citizenship. This is the most straightforward case of descent. It doesn't matter whether you were born in Ireland or abroad – the parent's Irish birth gives you an automatic claim.

Under Irish law, anyone with a parent (mother or father) who was an Irish citizen at the time of their birth is an Irish citizen, and a parent born in Ireland is by default an Irish citizen (by birth) themselves. Therefore, if your mother or father was born in Ireland (North or South), you are an Irish citizen by descent as of your birth.

There is no requirement for any registration in this scenario; you can apply for an Irish passport by providing proof of your parent's birth in Ireland and proof that you are their child (your birth certificate naming them).

Importantly, this is true even if your Irish-born parent had emigrated and perhaps even became a citizen of another country. Their Irish citizenship by birth is not lost, so they are still considered Irish and can pass it to you.

The geographic phrasing "island of Ireland" is used because it includes Northern Ireland. So having a parent born in Belfast, for instance, counts just like a parent born in Dublin for your right to citizenship.

Bottom line: Parent born in Ireland = you qualify as an Irish citizen automatically. You simply need to claim it by getting the documents in order. No Foreign Births Register is required for you.

Grandparent Born on the Island of Ireland

If one of your grandparents was born on the island of Ireland, you are eligible to become an Irish citizen by descent, even if neither of your parents was born in Ireland. This is the classic "grandparent rule" that many people refer to. Ireland is generous in this regard – many countries only allow citizenship to pass one generation abroad, but Ireland allows it to the second generation abroad, with a registration process.

Here's how it works: If you have a grandparent who was born in Ireland (this includes Northern Ireland), then you can register your own birth on the Foreign Births Register. Once that registration is complete, you are an Irish citizen.

Importantly, it does not matter whether your parent (the child of the Irish-born grandparent) is alive or whether they themselves ever claimed Irish citizenship. You can "skip" the parent in terms of claiming – the law doesn't require your parent to have been an Irish citizen, only that they were entitled to be one. Your grandparent's Irish birth is the key.

For example, say your maternal grandmother was born in Cork, but your mother was born in the US and never obtained Irish citizenship. You, born in the US, can apply to be entered in the Foreign Births Register on the basis of your Irish-born grandmother. Once entered, you become an Irish citizen from the date of registration.

One nuance: If your grandparent was born in Northern Ireland, it's treated the same as Republic of Ireland for this purpose – an NI birth counts as an Irish birth under Irish law.

In summary, grandparent born in Ireland = you can become Irish, but you must go through the Foreign Births Registration process to activate it. It is not automatic at birth for you; your citizenship will be effective from the date you are entered into the register.

One caution: This ability only exists for one generation gap. It does not extend to great-grandparents directly. So, you must have an Irish-born grandparent.

Great-Grandparent or Other Ancestors

Many people ask: Can I get Irish citizenship if my great-grandparents were Irish? The general rule is that Irish citizenship by descent does not extend automatically to great-grandchildren of Irish-born individuals unless the intermediate generations maintained the citizenship.

In practical terms, this means you cannot directly claim Irish citizenship based on a great-grandparent alone. The eligibility by descent stops at grandparents, unless each generation successively registers.

To clarify, Ireland's system is generation-by-generation:

• If your parent was Irish (but born abroad), you need that parent to have been an Irish citizen at the time of your birth to automatically pass to you.
• If a grandparent was Irish-born, you can claim, but you have to register yourself.

For a great-grandparent case: You would be the great-grandchild of someone born in Ireland. That Irish-born person's child (your grandparent) was born abroad and could have been an Irish citizen by descent, but only by registering. If your grandparent did not register, then your parent had no claim because their parent wasn't an Irish citizen at their birth. Essentially, the chain was broken.

If your parent or grandparent is still alive, a strategy can be to have the closest generation to the Irish-born ancestor apply first. However, unless your parent did this before you were born, it doesn't help confer it to you automatically (because at your birth, your parent wasn't yet an Irish citizen).

In short, if you are already born and you only have an Irish great-grandparent as the closest Irish-born ancestor, you yourself are not entitled to register as an Irish citizen by descent. The line of transmission did not legally reach you.

However, there are two possible avenues if you have more distant Irish ancestry:

1. Irish Associations (Section 16): The Minister for Justice has discretion to naturalise someone who has Irish descent beyond the normal limit, but this is purely discretionary and usually requires the person to have a close connection to Ireland.
2. Standard Naturalisation: If you really want Irish citizenship and are willing to live in Ireland, you could move to Ireland and after five years apply for naturalisation like any other immigrant.

So, how far back can you claim Irish citizenship by descent? In general, you can claim if you have an Irish-born parent or grandparent. Beyond grandparents, you do not have an automatic claim.

Irish Association by 'Ascent'

The term "Irish association by ascent" refers to a relationship to an Irish citizen that is upward in the family tree (as opposed to descent which is downward). In plainer terms, this would be cases like being the parent or grandparent of an Irish citizen, or perhaps a sibling or other relative of an Irish citizen.

This comes into play in the context of the Minister's discretionary power to waive naturalisation conditions for applicants of "Irish descent or Irish associations." The law defines Irish associations as being related by blood, affinity or adoption to an Irish citizen or someone entitled to be one.

For example, consider a scenario where an Irish child is born (maybe in Ireland, one parent Irish, one parent foreign). The foreign parent of that Irish citizen child has an "Irish association" by virtue of being the parent of an Irish citizen. Does that parent have any entitlement to Irish citizenship? Not automatically.

But under Section 16 of the 1956 Act, the Minister for Justice could waive normal residency requirements and grant a certificate of naturalisation to that parent, on the basis of Irish association. This is at the Minister's absolute discretion and is not commonly done.

The rationale is that otherwise it would open floodgates. Instead, Ireland provides a more structured route for parents of Irish citizen children if they actually reside in Ireland and meet normal naturalisation criteria.

In summary, Irish association by ascent means a familial connection to someone who is Irish, in the upward or sideways direction. While the concept exists in law, using it to obtain citizenship is uncommon.

Minister's Discretion (Section 16 of the 1956 Act)

Section 16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 is an important clause that gives the Minister for Justice the discretionary power to waive some or all of the normal requirements for naturalisation in certain cases, particularly for those of "Irish descent or Irish associations."

Under this discretion, the Minister can grant citizenship to an applicant even if they don't fulfill the usual residency duration or other criteria, if the applicant can demonstrate a strong connection to Ireland by ancestry or association.

However, in practice the Minister's discretion is used sparingly. Irish authorities have provided guidance on this:

• Applicants should still generally have a reasonable period of legal residence in Ireland (around 3 years or more) to show a genuine connection, even if they ask for a waiver of the full 5 years.
• Applications based on descent more distant than a great-grandparent are usually refused.
• Applications based on Irish association such as being a parent or grandparent of an Irish citizen are generally refused as well.

Essentially, the discretion might be used in a scenario like: a person with one Irish great-grandparent moves to Ireland, lives there for, say, 3 years, integrates into the community. The Minister might waive the last 2 years of the residency requirement or other formalities and grant citizenship.

To set realistic expectations: If you do not clearly qualify by parent or grandparent, the chance of getting citizenship purely by asking the Minister to exercise discretion for Irish heritage is quite low.

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Foreign Birth Registration (FBR)

The Foreign Births Register (FBR) is the mechanism by which people born outside of Ireland, who are entitled to Irish citizenship through descent, formally register and document that citizenship. In essence, if you are eligible for Irish citizenship because of an Irish-born grandparent or because your parent is an Irish citizen not born in Ireland, you will use the FBR process.

Who Needs Foreign Birth Registration?

Not everyone with an Irish ancestor needs to use the FBR. As discussed, if you have an Irish-born parent, you do not need to register – you are already a citizen by birth. But you do need FBR if:

• Your grandparent was born in Ireland (and neither parent was born in Ireland). In this case, you are eligible for Irish citizenship, but it isn't automatic; you must apply to be entered in the FBR.
• Your parent is an Irish citizen by descent or by naturalisation, and you were born abroad. In other words, if your parent obtained Irish citizenship through the FBR or became an Irish citizen through naturalisation, and you were born outside Ireland, then you must be registered in the FBR to claim Irish citizenship.
• A parent was born abroad to an Irish-born parent but never registered.
• Adopted children born abroad to an Irish citizen often also go through FBR to confirm their citizenship.

A simple way to remember: If you're claiming through a grandparent, or through a parent who themselves is not Irish-born, use the FBR. If you're claiming through a parent who is Irish-born, you don't need FBR.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) manages the Foreign Births Register. Applications are submitted online and then supporting documents are mailed in for processing by DFA's citizenship division.

Required Documents

Documents for the Irish Ancestor

You must provide proof of the family link to Ireland through the relevant ancestor. Depending on whether you're claiming through a grandparent or a parent, the requirements differ slightly:

• If claiming through an Irish-born grandparent: You will need documents for both that grandparent and for your parent (who is the child of that grandparent).
• If claiming through an Irish citizen parent (who wasn't born in Ireland): You will need documents for that parent (and if that parent gained Irish citizenship via FBR or naturalisation themselves, proof of that as well).

In all cases, for each Irish citizen ancestor you are basing the application on (whether grandparent or parent), you should provide:

• Original civil birth certificate of that person.
• Original marriage certificate (if applicable).
• Proof of identity for that ancestor: usually a certified photocopy of their current passport or national ID. If the person is deceased, a certified copy of their death certificate will be required instead.
• If applicable, change of name documents aside from marriage if the ancestor officially changed name.

Additional documents in specific scenarios:

• If the ancestor you're claiming through obtained Irish citizenship by Foreign Births Register themselves, you need their Foreign Birth Registration Certificate.
• If they gained Irish citizenship by naturalisation, you need a copy of their Naturalisation Certificate.
• If claiming through an Irish-born grandparent, you must include the above documents for your parent as well.

The DFA is strict that all documents must be civil (government-issued) certificates, not church baptismals or hospital records.

Documents for the Applicant

For you, the applicant (or for your child, if you're applying on behalf of a minor child), the following documents are required:

• Original birth certificate (long form) showing parent(s) details.
• Marriage certificate or legal name change document if you have changed your name.
• Photo ID: A certified copy of your current state-issued identification, such as a passport, driver's license, or national ID card.
• Proofs of address: Two separate documents proving your current address, e.g., utility bills, bank statements, etc.
• Passport-sized photographs: Four (4) passport photographs of the applicant. Two of these must be signed on the back by the application witness who is verifying your identity.
• If applying on behalf of a minor and you are not the parent, you need to show proof of guardianship/legal authority for that child.

To recap: you need your own birth cert, ID, proofs of address, and photos; plus the lineage documents linking back to Ireland. All documents must be either originals or certified true copies as specified.

If siblings are applying together, they can share the supporting documents for the common parent/grandparent.

Completing the Application Form

The application for Foreign Birth Registration is done through an online portal on the Department of Foreign Affairs website. As of now (2025), you must apply online – paper application forms are generally not accepted except perhaps in very limited scenarios.

Step 1: Online application – You will fill out your personal details, details of your Irish ancestor(s), and upload some information digitally. The online system will guide you through entering your details, details of your Irish-born grandparent or Irish citizen parent, and more.

Step 2: Payment – At the end of the online application, you will be directed to pay the application fee online by card. The fees (at time of writing) are:

• €278 for an adult applicant (18 or over).
• €153 for a child applicant (under 18). These fees include postage and handling.

Step 3: Print and gather documents – After paying, print the form. The form will have a unique application number. Check that all information printed correctly. Assemble all the required supporting documents as listed in the previous section.

Step 4: Witnessing – Do not sign the form yourself yet. You need to take the printed form, your passport photos, and your identification to an authorized witness. The form includes a section for the witness to complete. You will sign the application form in the presence of the witness. The witness will also sign and stamp the form, sign and date two of your passport photos, and certify the copy of your ID as a true copy.

Step 5: Mailing the application – Once everything is signed and witnessed, you will send the entire packet to the address indicated (typically the FBR office in Dublin). Use a secure delivery method (like courier or registered post) because you are sending valuable original documents.

After mailing, the waiting begins. You should receive an email acknowledgement when the documents are received and logged, though processing times vary.

Processing Times and Avoiding Delays

Foreign Birth Registration can take a significant amount of time, so patience and careful preparation are key. As of early 2025, the estimated processing time is about 9 months from the time all your correct documents are received by the DFA. This is much improved from a couple of years ago, when there was a huge backlog.

To avoid delays, make sure:

• Your application is complete and accurate.
• All documents are official and originals.
• Names match across documents.
• Photos meet guidelines.
• You respond promptly if contacted for more information.

New Customer Service Hub

To improve communication, the Department of Foreign Affairs has set up a Customer Service Hub specifically for Foreign Birth Registration and passport queries. This is a relatively new development aimed at helping applicants get information about their application status or to answer questions.

If you have an urgent need for your FBR to be processed (for example, you're expecting a child and need to get yourself registered so your child will be born to an Irish citizen), the DFA does have a procedure for urgent requests. Qualifying urgent cases include expectant parents who need their Irish citizenship in place before the birth of their child, or situations of statelessness.

For most people, however, it's a waiting game. Nine months is the average – some applications, if complex or if additional info is needed, can take longer, while straightforward ones might be a bit quicker.

The best strategy is to apply well ahead of any planned need for an Irish passport or status. Don't book any travel on an Irish passport until you actually have it.

Once approved, the DFA will send you a Foreign Birth Registration certificate, which is an official document stating you have been entered into the register and are an Irish citizen.

Additional Pathways and Requirements

Citizenship by Naturalisation

Naturalisation is a process where a non-Irish national applies to become an Irish citizen after meeting certain legal requirements in Ireland. The standard requirements include:

• Residence: Typically 5 years of "reckonable residence" in Ireland in the last 9 years, with the final 12 months being continuous residence immediately before applying.
• Age: You must be 18 or older to apply.
• Good character: Background checks are conducted.
• Intent to continue residing in Ireland.
• Fee: €175 application fee, and if approved a certification fee of €950 for adults before the citizenship certificate is issued.
• Ceremony: Successful applicants must attend a citizenship ceremony where they take an oath of allegiance to Ireland.

Special naturalisation scenarios include spouses of Irish citizens (reduced residence requirement to 3 years), refugees (3 years after declaration), stateless persons, and minor children of naturalised parents.

Citizenship by Adoption

If a child is adopted in Ireland under an Irish adoption order by at least one Irish citizen parent, that child becomes an Irish citizen automatically from the date of the adoption order. The adoption is treated as if the child was born to the Irish parent.

If an Irish citizen adopts a child abroad, the adoption must comply with Irish law for recognition. Once the foreign adoption is recognized, the child is considered the child of the Irish parent in Irish law. At that point, if the adoptive parent was Irish at the time of the adoption, the child becomes an Irish citizen.

Citizenship by Special Declaration

The main contemporary use case of citizenship by special declaration is for individuals born in Ireland who didn't automatically get citizenship and who have no other citizenship. To obtain citizenship in that scenario, they must make a declaration of acceptance of Irish citizenship using the procedure set out in law.

For example, the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act provides that a person born in the island of Ireland who is not otherwise a citizen of Ireland and is not entitled to citizenship anywhere else, may declare themselves to be an Irish citizen.

Historically, special declarations were also the method for certain Northern Ireland-born people to assert citizenship between 1937 and 2004.

Renouncing or Reclaiming Irish Citizenship

• Reclaiming (Resuming) Irish Citizenship: If you renounced Irish citizenship and later want it back, the possibilities depend on how you originally had it:
  • If you were Irish by birth and you renounced your Irish citizenship, you have a right to resume it by making a declaration of citizenship.
  • If you acquired Irish citizenship by naturalisation or by descent (FBR) and then renounced it, you do not have an automatic right to resume it. In such cases, you would have to apply again if you wanted Irish citizenship back.

In general, relatively few people renounce Irish citizenship because dual citizenship is permitted, so it's usually not necessary even if they take on another nationality.

The government can revoke Irish citizenship in certain extreme cases, such as if someone obtained naturalisation by fraud or if a naturalised citizen is found to have acted in a way seriously contrary to the state's interest. This cannot be done to birthright citizens, only to those who were naturalised.

Statutory Conditions & Reckonable Residence

For naturalisation, not all time spent in Ireland counts toward the residency requirement. "Reckonable residence" means time on legal status that counts toward citizenship. Time on student permission, time seeking asylum, or time on certain temporary visas doesn't count. Time on work permits, general employment, spousal visas, etc., does count.

Other statutory conditions include:

• 5 years out of 9 (with last 1 year continuous): This is in Section 15 of the Act. For spouses of Irish, Section 15A reduces it to 3 out of 5 (with last 1 continuous).
• Intention to reside: Applicants often need to demonstrate future intentions to remain in Ireland.
• Good character: This may require police clearance certificates from countries of prior residence.
• Oath of Fidelity: The final condition to actually become a citizen is to take the oath at a ceremony.

For someone exploring descent vs naturalisation: If you don't qualify by descent, naturalisation requires a significant commitment to living in Ireland. But some with Irish great-grandparents choose this route – they move to Ireland, spend several years, and then apply for naturalisation.

Living Abroad and Irish Citizenship

Residents of Great Britain, USA, Canada, and Australia

These countries have large populations of Irish descendants and are common places of residence for people applying for Irish citizenship by descent. Each has some unique points to consider:

• Great Britain (UK): There has been a surge of interest from Britain in Irish citizenship, especially after Brexit. If you are a British resident or citizen with Irish ancestry, obtaining Irish citizenship gives you an EU citizenship, which restores your freedom of movement in the EU. The UK and Ireland have a Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement that already allows British and Irish citizens to move freely and reside in each other's countries.
• United States: The US has around 33 million people who claim Irish ancestry, though the vast majority are more than two generations removed. Still, hundreds of thousands of Americans qualify through a grandparent or even a parent. For Americans, an Irish passport is attractive for ease of travel and work in Europe. America allows dual citizenship, so you won't lose US citizenship by becoming Irish.
• Canada: Canada likewise has a big Irish diaspora. The process is similar to the US in terms of FBR. Canada permits dual citizenship. Having an Irish passport can help Canadians live/work in the EU more easily.
• Australia: Many Irish emigrated to Australia, and many Australians are looking at Irish citizenship for an EU passport. Australia allows dual citizenship too. For Australians, having an Irish citizenship opens doors to work in Europe which can be appealing.

For all these countries, Irish consular services are relatively accessible: Ireland has embassies and consulates in major cities like London, Edinburgh, Washington DC, NYC, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Canberra, and Sydney.

If you're abroad and become an Irish citizen, it's wise to register with the local Irish Embassy for citizens abroad, especially for travel advisories.

Travel, Passports, and Visa Considerations

One of the immediate benefits of Irish citizenship is being able to obtain an Irish passport. The Irish passport is a very powerful travel document:

• It allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180+ countries (ranking among the top globally).
• It includes, importantly, the ability to freely enter and reside in any EU/EFTA country as an EU citizen.
• If you're from the U.S. or Canada, you already have strong passports, but for an Irish citizen, you can live and work in any EU country without visas or permits.

You can apply for a passport as soon as you're an Irish citizen. If you gained citizenship by descent via FBR, wait until you have your FBR certificate number, because the passport application will ask for your citizenship evidence. You cannot apply for a passport simultaneously with your FBR application; you must complete FBR first.

If you hold dual citizenship (say Irish and American), remember the general rule: use your Irish passport to enter/exit Ireland or any EU country, and use your other passport for your home country.

As an Irish/EU citizen, you won't need visas for EU states. An Irish citizen can also travel freely to the UK without a visa or passport control (due to Common Travel Area).

Irish Embassies and Consulates Abroad

Irish embassies and consulates around the world are there to assist Irish citizens and to handle diplomatic matters. As a citizen abroad, you might interact with them for:

• Passport services: Renewing or applying for an Irish passport while abroad.
• Consular assistance: If you face emergencies (lost passport, arrest, illness, etc.), the embassy can provide support or guidance.
• Citizenship queries: While FBR is centralized, embassies can often answer questions and sometimes notarize/witness documents.
• Registration: It's a good idea for Irish citizens abroad to register with the local embassy.

It's also worth noting that embassies sometimes organize events for the Irish community, and once you're an Irish citizen you're welcome to participate in those community events.

Benefits of Irish Citizenship

EU Freedom of Movement

As an Irish citizen, you are an EU citizen. This is often the single biggest draw for people obtaining Irish citizenship by descent. EU citizenship grants you the freedom of movement, residence, and employment throughout all 27 European Union member states, as well as additional EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) and Switzerland under separate agreements.

For example, an American with Irish citizenship can move to Italy and take a job or study without going through the cumbersome visa process – they'll be treated the same as any EU citizen. In an era of Brexit, British citizens lost their automatic EU movement rights, so many have used Irish citizenship to retain those rights.

Additionally, as an EU citizen, you can enter and exit EU countries through the EU/EEA passport lines which are often faster. You also have the right to not be deported from other EU countries except in extreme circumstances of public security.

Freedom of movement extends to family members in some ways too: if you move to another EU country, your non-EU spouse or dependents can get residency rights to join you under EU law.

Access to Education, Healthcare, and Public Services

Irish citizens, by virtue of being EU citizens, often enjoy access to public services in Ireland and sometimes in other EU countries on the same basis as nationals.

In Ireland:

• Education: As an Irish citizen, you can attend Irish public schools and universities often at little to no tuition. Ireland has a "free fees" initiative for undergrad courses for citizens/EEA.
• Healthcare: Ireland's public healthcare system is available to residents. As a citizen, if you reside in Ireland you'll likely qualify for either a Medical Card or GP visit card.
• Social services: If you move to Ireland, as a citizen you have immediate rights to reside and eventually, subject to means tests, access to social benefits.
• Voting and political rights: Irish citizens can vote in all Irish elections and referendums (you need to be resident in Ireland to exercise that right).

In other EU countries:

• Education: As an EU citizen, you generally count as a "home student" in any other EU country for university tuition purposes.
• Healthcare: EU citizens can often access public healthcare systems in other member states if they become residents there.
• Work and welfare: If you work in another EU country as an EU citizen, you contribute to their social security and are generally eligible for benefits there.

Beyond the EU, Ireland has specific agreements – for instance, Irish citizens can avail of the UK's NHS when resident in the UK (due to CTA reciprocity).

Work and Business Opportunities

Irish citizenship can enhance work and business opportunities in several ways:

• Employment in Ireland and EU: You can work in Ireland or any EU country without needing any work permit or visa. This is huge for career mobility. Many multinational companies operate across Europe; as an Irish/EU citizen you can apply for jobs in any of these countries freely.
• Government jobs: Some jobs, especially in government or public sector in various countries, are reserved for citizens. As an Irish citizen, you're eligible for jobs in the Irish public service or defense forces.
• Business and investment: If you plan to start a business in Ireland or Europe, being a citizen can simplify things. You won't have to deal with investor visas or quotas. You can register a business as a local.
• Professional recognition: EU citizens have easier recognition of qualifications across member states. So if you're a qualified professional, being an EU citizen might help in getting your credentials recognized.
• Networking and community: Being an Irish citizen by descent can connect you with diaspora networks. Sometimes being able to say "I'm an Irish citizen" culturally opens doors in those communities.

Dual Citizenship Advantages

The advantages of having dual citizenship (Irish plus another) include:

• Security and Backup: Holding dual citizenship is like having a plan B. If political or economic circumstances in one country change, you have the right to reside in another.
• Consular Protection: You can seek help from both countries' embassies.
• Property Ownership: In some countries, only citizens (or EU citizens) can own property or land freely.
• Healthcare Access Globally: If you maintain dual residency, you might be able to access healthcare in both places.
• Cultural Enrichment: Being a citizen of two countries can enrich your identity and sense of belonging.
• Family: If you have children, you can pass on potentially both citizenships. Some people do this so their kids can study in Europe cheaply or have more opportunities.

One must also manage responsibilities: Dual citizenship means you must abide by obligations of both countries.

Application Procedures and Processing Times

10 Step Guide to Filling Out Forms

For Foreign Birth Registration (Citizenship by Descent) Applications:

1. Check Eligibility: Before anything, ensure you are eligible to apply via descent (parent or grandparent born in Ireland, etc.).
2. Gather Required Info: Collect information about your Irish ancestor and your family's documents.
3. Apply Online: Go to the Department of Foreign Affairs website's section for Foreign Birth Registration and start a new application. Fill out your personal details, details of your Irish ancestor, and other required information.
4. Submit Online & Print Form: Once you've reviewed and submitted the form online, print the completed application.
5. Pay the Fee: Pay the applicable fee (€278 adult, €153 child) online via card.
6. Prepare Documents: Refer to the checklist of required documents for you and your ancestor. Obtain original civil certificates, make photocopies of IDs to be certified, and get passport photos.
7. Witness the Form: Take your printed application form, your identification, and your photos to an eligible witness. Sign the form in their presence, and have them sign and stamp the form and photos.
8. Finalize the Packet: Attach the photos to the form as directed. Double-check you have all original documents required.
9. Mail the Application: Send the completed application form with all documents and photos to the FBR team at DFA in Dublin using a secure shipping method.
10. DFA Processing: The DFA will process your application. Now you wait for the result.

Witnessing and Certification Requirements

The Foreign Birth Registration form must be witnessed by an approved professional who can verify your identity. The DFA provides a list of acceptable witnesses which typically includes:

• Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths
• Lawyer/Attorney/Solicitor
• Peace Commissioner (in Ireland)
• Accountant (member of recognized accounting body)
• Medical Doctor
• Police Officer (rank of Sergeant or above)
• School Principal or University Dean
• Magistrate/Judge
• Clergy (minister of religion) – in some lists
• Bank Manager
• Elected Public Representative

When the witness signs:

• They are attesting that you signed the form in front of them and that the photos are of you.
• They must include their professional title, address, and phone number on the form.
• They then stamp it with their official stamp. If no stamp, their business card must be included.

For any documents that require certification (like your passport copy), the witness should:

• See the original document.
• Make a photocopy or use yours.
• Write on the copy: "I certify that this is a true copy of the original document" and sign and date it, adding their name, title, and stamp.

Fees and Payment Methods

Foreign Birth Registration fees:

• Adult (18 or over): €278
• Child (under 18): €153 These fees include a postage/handling charge. In the online system, you pay by credit or debit card.

Naturalisation fees:

• Application fee: €175 (payable when submitting application)
• Certification fee: €950 for adult, €200 for minor, €200 for widow/er of Irish citizen, no fee for refugee status grant. The certification fee is paid after approval, before the certificate is issued.

Passport fees (once you are a citizen):

• 10-year adult passport: Around €75 if applied for in Ireland, but if abroad, embassies have different pricing, often around $100 or local currency equivalent plus postage.
• 5-year child passport: ~€20-€30 (again varies abroad).

All fees are typically non-refundable once processing starts.

In total, an adult doing FBR and then a passport could spend around €278 + passport fee (~€80) + miscellaneous (shipping, notary) maybe €50 – so roughly €400 all-in. Naturalisation is more expensive overall (€175+€950 = €1125, plus maybe legal fees if one uses a lawyer).

Tracking Your Application

Foreign Birth Registration tracking: Currently, the FBR process does not have an online live tracking portal where you can see the status by entering a number. However, you can track in these ways:

• Email updates: The DFA might email you when your application is entered.
• Processing times updates: The DFA often posts on their website what month of applications they are currently processing.
• Customer Service Hub inquiries: If your application has exceeded the normal timeframe, you can contact the Hub.
• Urgent request: If you have a new urgent situation, you can call the FBR phone line to request expedition.
• Approval and certificate: Eventually, when approved, you will receive notification that your application was approved and your certificate is being issued.

Because of the wait, it's important to keep your contact details updated. If you move or change email, notify the DFA so they can update your file.

If applying for an Irish passport, there is a dedicated Passport Tracker on DFA's site. You enter your application number and birthdate and it shows the status.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Many Generations Back Can I Claim Irish Citizenship?

You can claim Irish citizenship by descent typically up to one generation beyond your parent, i.e., through an Irish-born grandparent. In practical terms, that means if you have at least one grandparent who was born in Ireland (or Northern Ireland), you are eligible to become an Irish citizen by registering in the Foreign Births Register.

If your great-grandparents were Irish but no parent or grandparent was born in Ireland, you cannot directly claim Irish citizenship from that alone. The chain of citizenship transmission in Irish law does not automatically extend to great-grandchildren of an Irish-born person, unless the intermediate generation had already claimed and secured Irish citizenship.

However, theoretically there's no absolute limit on "generations" if each generation takes action. In that scenario, the citizenship could be passed down indefinitely with each generation registering in the FBR.

So, simply put: you need a parent or a grandparent who was Irish at the time of your birth to claim citizenship. Beyond that, it's not automatically claimable.

Can I Become a Dual Citizen After Gaining Irish Citizenship by Descent?

Yes. Ireland allows dual citizenship, so you can absolutely retain your original citizenship while gaining Irish citizenship. If you are American, British, Canadian, Australian (or almost any other nationality), you do not have to renounce that citizenship when you become Irish. You will then hold dual citizenship (Irish plus your original).

Do check the laws of your original country: most Western countries permit dual citizenship. The United States, for instance, has no issue with a US citizen acquiring Irish citizenship – you remain a US citizen as well. The UK, Canada, Australia also permit multiple citizenships.

So becoming an Irish citizen by descent will make you a dual national (Irish plus whatever you already are). There's no special process to "become" a dual citizen – it's just a status you end up with once you have two nationalities.

Can I Apply Together with My Siblings?

Yes, siblings can apply for Foreign Birth Registration at the same time, and even share documents to streamline the process. Each sibling must complete their own online application and pay their fee, but when it comes to sending in the supporting documents, you can send the applications in one envelope to the DFA.

The DFA explicitly allows siblings to use one set of original documents for the common ancestors. For example, if you and your sister are both claiming through the same Irish-born grandparent, you don't need to send two separate originals of that grandparent's birth certificate or marriage certificate.

Each of you will have a separate application form that needs to be witnessed and signed individually, and each will have their own passport photos, etc. But you can put all those forms and one set of ancestry documents in one package.

What If I Don't Have All the Required Documents?

If you don't have all the required documents, the first step is to try to obtain official copies. Irish authorities require proper documentation to process a citizenship by descent claim, and an application will not be approved without them. Here are some tips:

• Missing Irish birth certificate: You can request an official birth certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) in Ireland for your ancestor.
• Missing marriage certificate: Get it from the civil registry in the country the marriage took place.
• Name discrepancies: If your grandmother's name on your mother's birth cert is slightly different, include a short explanatory note.
• Ancestor deceased with no ID: If an ancestor has died, provide the death certificate.
• Unobtainable records: In rare cases, records might have been destroyed. In such cases, gather secondary evidence and contact the DFA for guidance.

If you absolutely cannot get a key document, contact the DFA's Customer Service Hub to ask how to proceed. But skipping a required document without explanation will result in your application being put on hold.

Can I Claim Irish Citizenship Through DNA?

No, you cannot directly claim Irish citizenship through DNA testing. Irish citizenship law relies on documented family relationships (birth certificates, etc.), not genetic test results. A DNA test showing you have Irish ethnicity or even identifying a distant Irish relative is not accepted as proof of your right to citizenship.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that DNA evidence is not routinely accepted as proof of entitlement to Irish citizenship.

The only time DNA might come into play is in exceptional cases to support an application where conventional documents are missing and all other avenues have been tried. Even then, they have a formal process requiring specific accredited tests, and will only do so if they believe it might establish the claim in absence of documents.

So if someone says "I'm 25% Irish per a DNA test, can I get a passport?" – the answer is no. The citizenship process will require the civil records proving a parent or grandparent was Irish.

Does Irish Citizenship Allow Me to Live and Work in the EU?

Yes, absolutely. Irish citizenship grants you full rights to live and work in all EU countries. As an Irish citizen, you are an EU citizen, which means you have the right to move to, reside in, seek employment in, or establish a business in any member state of the European Union, as well as in Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein (EEA countries) and Switzerland (through a separate agreement).

Practically, this means:

• You do not need a visa or work permit to live or work in France, Germany, Spain, Italy, etc. You can just go, find a job or study course, and register as an EU resident there.
• You can stay indefinitely; the concept of "90 days in 180 days" tourist limit that applies to non-EU visitors does not apply to you.
• You can also work across multiple countries, e.g., live in Belgium and work in Luxembourg.
• If you're a student, you can study in any EU country paying EU tuition rates (which are often much lower).

Furthermore, the Common Travel Area with the UK means Irish citizens can also live and work in the UK without a visa, independent of EU membership.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Irish Citizenship by Descent?

The costs for Irish citizenship by descent can be broken down as follows:

• Foreign Birth Registration fee: €278 for an adult, or €153 for a child (under 18).
• Document procurement costs: These vary. You might need to purchase civil birth/marriage certificates (roughly €20 each from Irish GRO).
• Notarization/witnessing fees: Depends on who witnesses your form, could be free to $50+.
• Postage: Sending your application packet by trackable courier internationally might cost $20-$60.
• Passport (optional, but presumably you'll want one): A standard 10-year adult Irish passport costs about €75-100 plus shipping fees.

So, if we tally for one adult:

• FBR application: €278
• Certificates: say you needed 3 certs at €20 each = €60
• Notary/witness: maybe $50 (~€45)
• Postage: say €30
• Total for FBR part ~ €413
• Then passport ~ €80
• Grand total roughly ~ €493 (which in USD might be around $550 at current rates)

For a minor child, the FBR is €153 + similar document costs + passport ~€30. So a child could be around €200-250 total.

If multiple siblings apply, each pays the fee but can share documents to avoid duplicate purchasing.

No legal requirement to hire a lawyer or agent for FBR – most do it themselves, so no legal fees.

Conclusion

Summary of Key Points

Irish citizenship by descent offers a meaningful opportunity for those with Irish heritage to become Irish citizens. Here are the key takeaways:

• Eligibility: You are eligible if you have at least one parent who was an Irish citizen at your birth (including if they were born in Ireland) or at least one grandparent born on the island of Ireland. This generally limits claims to one generation (parent) or two generations (grandparent) back. Great-grandparent lineage alone is not sufficient without intermediate relatives having obtained citizenship.
• Irish Law: Irish citizenship is governed by the Constitution and the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts. A 2004 constitutional amendment means birth in Ireland after 2004 confers citizenship only if a parent is Irish, British, or has significant residency. The Foreign Births Register is the mechanism for those born abroad to claim descent.
• Application Process: Those eligible by descent (grandparent or parent link) must apply through the Foreign Births Register (FBR) managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The process involves an online application, assembling civil documents, paying a fee (€278 adult), and having the application form witnessed. Processing takes around 9 months currently.
• Rights and Benefits: Irish citizens can live and work freely in Ireland and across all EU countries. They can obtain an Irish passport, which is highly ranked for travel freedom. They also retain the right to dual citizenship, so most applicants keep their original citizenship too. As Irish (and EU) citizens, they gain access to education, healthcare, and social services in Ireland/EU on the same basis as native citizens.
• Additional Paths: If not eligible by descent, one can consider naturalisation, which requires residency in Ireland (5 years typical, or 3 for spouses). Adopted children of Irish citizens automatically become Irish.
• Financial and Practical Considerations: The cost for citizenship by descent is a few hundred euro including fees and documents. No need to renounce existing citizenship for most applicants. Applicants should secure all necessary documents to avoid delays, as the Irish government relies on official records, not DNA results, to establish citizenship rights.

Next Steps in Your Application

If you've determined that you qualify for Irish citizenship by descent, here's a practical roadmap for what to do next:

1. Gather Documentation: Start by collecting the birth, marriage, and death certificates for the relatives through whom you're claiming (parent, grandparent). Obtain your own long-form birth certificate if you don't have it.
2. Prepare for Application: Visit the Department of Foreign Affairs website's Citizenship section and read the guidance on Foreign Birth Registration. Make sure you have a valid photo ID (passport or driver's license) to use for the application and a way to get passport photos.
3. Fill Out the Online Form: Go to the online FBR application portal and fill in your details. Save and print the form as instructed. Double-check spelling of names and dates against your documents.
4. Find a Witness: Identify a suitable witness (e.g., local notary, doctor, lawyer). Arrange a meeting with them once you have everything ready.
5. Pay Fee and Print Receipt: Pay the FBR fee online. Print the payment confirmation.
6. Organize Your Package: Make copies of IDs for certification. Write a cover letter listing everything you're sending (optional but helpful).
7. Get Documents Certified/Witnessed: Meet your witness. Sign the form, have them sign and stamp it and your photos and ID copies.
8. Mail the Application: Send it to the address given. Use a traceable method. Keep a note of when it arrives (delivery confirmation).
9. Patience and Tracking: Mark a calendar for roughly 9 months out as a rough check-in time. Monitor the DFA's website for any changes in processing times.
10. Passport Planning: While waiting, you can prepare for passport application. However, do not apply for the passport until you are in the Foreign Births Register.

Contacting the Department of Foreign Affairs

If at any point you need help or have questions, you can contact the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for issues related to citizenship by descent and passports. Here's how:

• Customer Service Hub (Citizenship/FBR): The DFA has an online query form specifically for Foreign Birth Registration and citizenship queries. You can access it on the Ireland DFA website.
• Phone: For urgent FBR matters, they provided a phone number: +353 1 5683331. This is a Dublin-based number, so international charges may apply.
• Irish Embassies/Consulates: You can also contact your nearest Irish Embassy or Consulate for guidance.
• Citizens Information: Though not DFA, the Citizens Information Board in Ireland has extensive online information and they even have a phone service for queries.

Before reaching out, it's a good idea to read the official DFA website sections on citizenship thoroughly; many answers are provided there. When you do contact them, be clear and concise, include your application number if you have one, and any relevant personal details needed for them to find your case.

Resources and Contact Information

Department of Foreign Affairs

• Citizenship (Foreign Births Register) Information – DFA's official website provides details on citizenship by birth and descent.
• Passport Service – Since getting a passport is usually the next step, the DFA's Passport section has an online application portal and FAQs. There's also a Passport Tracker tool for status.
• Phone Numbers – For urgent queries: +353 1 5683331 (FBR specific). For general DFA queries, the DFA's switchboard in Dublin is +353 1 408 2000.
• Website – The main DFA site: dfa.ie. The new portal for many services (including citizenship and passports) is Ireland.ie.
• Email/Contact Form – Use the Customer Service Hub form for Foreign Birth Registration queries.

Irish Embassies and Consulates

If you are abroad, local Irish missions can be extremely helpful. They often have sections on their websites about citizenship and passports.

• To find your nearest embassy/consulate: see dfa.ie/embassies or the Embassies section on DFA site.
• Embassies can provide notarial services – e.g., witnessing documents (often by appointment).
• They also handle passport applications for Irish citizens in their jurisdiction.
• If you need to verify any procedure, the embassy can likely clarify that.

Professional Immigration Advisors

While many people do not need a lawyer or advisor to handle a straightforward descent application, some situations are complex. In such cases:

• Consider consulting an immigration solicitor in Ireland, especially if it's about a legal question or a Section 16 discretionary application.
• There are also specialist services and genealogy experts who help with Irish citizenship applications.
• Charitable organizations: In some countries with large Irish communities, there are Irish immigrant councils or charitable societies that might give free guidance or seminars.
• Citizens Information: The Citizens Information Board in Ireland is a state-funded body providing free info.

Always be cautious of scams – you should not pay exorbitant fees to "guarantee" a passport. The official process is the only way, third parties can only assist with paperwork.

Relevant Websites and Documentation

• Irish Statute Book: If you want to read the actual laws, see the Irish Statute Book website (irishstatutebook.ie).
• CitizensInformation.ie: Very user-friendly explanations of citizenship law.
• Irish Immigration Service (INIS/ISD): Their site (irishimmigration.ie) has tools and information.
• Gov.ie: Some info is also on the gov.ie portal.
• Embassy Websites: Many have FAQ sections.

Remember that Irish citizenship law can change (though major changes are infrequent). Always ensure you reference the latest info. The DFA and Citizens Information will update their pages if rules evolve.

Once you become an Irish citizen, you'll join a global community of people proud of their Irish heritage and citizenship, with all the accompanying rights and opportunities that entails.