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Gather Civil Records
Secure long-form certificates for all generations.
Irish Citizenship by Descent
Overview & Complete Guide
Discover your legal right to an Irish passport. If you were born outside Ireland but have an Irish parent or grandparent, you may already be an Irish citizen or eligible through Foreign Births Registration.
Core Qualifications
- You were born to a parent who was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.
- One of your grandparents was born in Ireland and was an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.
- You are a child of someone who obtained citizenship via Foreign Births Registration before you were born.
Routes to Citizenship
The path to Irish citizenship depends heavily on where you and your ancestors were born.
Born Abroad
If you were born outside Ireland to an Irish-born parent or grandparent, you may have a claim through the Foreign Births Register.
Primary Route
Grandparent route — most common for USA, UK & Australia.
Born in Ireland
Birth in Ireland does not automatically confer citizenship for those born after 1 January 2005. Eligibility depends on parental status.
Eligibility Shift
Post-2005 births require a proven genuine link or parental residency.
Who is Eligible?
01
Anyone with a parent born on the island of Ireland.
02
Anyone with a grandparent born on the island of Ireland (via FBR).
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Children of naturalised Irish citizens (conditions apply).
Required Documentation
A complete application is built on primary civil records. Photocopies are rarely accepted. You should first review the eligibility criteria before preparing documents.
Original Documents Required
Your Documents
- Long-form birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Certified ID (passport or licence)
- Proof of address (utility bills)
Parent Route
- Irish parent’s birth certificate
- Parent’s marriage certificate
- Parent’s passport or death certificate
- Divorce decrees (if applicable)
Grandparent Route
- Grandparent’s Irish birth certificate
- Grandparent’s marriage certificate
- Grandparent’s death certificate
- Parent’s birth linkage certificate
The Application Journey
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Online Registration
Complete the official FBR application form online.
3
Fee Payment
Pay the registration and certificate fees securely.
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Document Submission
Post physical documents to the Dublin office.
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Verification
Average 24-month wait for certificate issuance.
Appeals Note
If rejected, you may appeal within 21 days of the decision notice.
Processing Times
12+ Months
Current average time from receipt of documents to registration.
Causes for Delay
- High global demand for Irish ancestry claims
- Complex genealogical verification requirements
- Incomplete document packages needing clarification
Post-Registration
The Gateway to Europe: Your Irish Passport
Once you receive your Foreign Births Registration certificate, you are legally an Irish citizen and eligible for an Irish passport.
Adult Fee€75 – €105
Timeline8–12 Weeks
Passport Requirements
- Original Foreign Births Registration certificate is mandatory.
- Digital passport photographs following strict DFA guidelines.
- Witness verification by a designated professional.
How We Can Help
Our genealogy experts specialise in the complex documentation required for Foreign Births Registration success.
Eligibility Check
In-depth assessment of your ancestry lineage and eligibility pathway.
Document Retrieval
Sourcing original civil and archival certificates across Ireland.
Review & Submit
Pre-submission compliance review to prevent delays or refusals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my parent need an Irish passport for me to apply?
No, but you must prove their citizenship. If they were born in Ireland, their long-form birth certificate is proof of citizenship. If they were born abroad, they must have been registered on the Foreign Births Register before you were born.
Can I apply through a great-grandparent?
Only if your parent was registered on the Foreign Births Register at the time of your birth. Irish citizenship works as a chain and cannot skip a registered generation.
What is a long-form birth certificate?
A long-form birth certificate is a certified copy of the original civil registry entry. It includes parental details and is required for Foreign Births Registration. Short-form or abstract certificates are not accepted.
Start Your Irish Citizenship Journey Today
Don't wait for the next policy shift. Secure your future as a citizen of Ireland and the EU.
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