Citizenship Through Irish-Born Grandparent (Foreign Births Register)

Eligibility Quiz

What's Happening

Today

Irish citizenship by descent through an Irish-born grandparent remains open and straightforward via Foreign Births Register registration with a current processing time of approximately 9 months, though applications have surged 95% since 2022 and pending court rulings may affect eligibility for children born to same-sex couples.

Apr 14, 2026

Citizenship ceremonies scheduled for 14-15 April 2026 at INEC Killarney, expected to confer citizenship on approximately 5,000 people, as Ireland continues to process record numbers of naturalisation applications.

visahq.com ↗

Dec 2025

Supreme Court heard three-day appeal in joined cases X and Y concerning citizenship rights of children born abroad to same-sex couples; judgment expected in 2026 on whether the 1956 Act's definition of 'parent' is constitutional.

ihrec.ie ↗

Nov 26, 2025

Government approved legislative changes to tighten citizenship criteria, including clarifying 'good character' requirements and extending international protection applicants' residency requirement from 3 to 5 years before citizenship eligibility.

lawsociety.ie ↗

Apr 11, 2025

High Court ruled in joined cases X and Y that children born abroad to same-sex couples through donor-assisted human reproduction may be entitled to Irish citizenship by descent, identifying a 'legislative lacuna' requiring legislative amendment.

knyvet.bailii.org ↗

Apr 2, 2025

Immigration Service Delivery published official guidelines for citizenship applications based on Irish Descent or Irish Associations (Section 16), providing clarity on assessment criteria and discretionary waiver conditions for the first time.

irishimmigration.ie ↗

Jul 2024

Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 enacted, inserting new section 11(A) into the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to recognize parentage in surrogacy cases and expand the definition of 'parent' for citizenship purposes.

knyvet.bailii.org ↗