Eligibility Quiz
Documents Required
The Foreign Births Register application requires official documentation relating to three generations that may have been issued by several jurisdictions. All documents must be originals; photocopies are not accepted unless specifically noted below.
For the Applicant
- Original civil birth certificate (showing parental details)
- Original civil marriage certificate (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)
- Photocopy of current state-issued photographic ID document (passport, driver's licence, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by the application form witness
- 2 separate original proofs of address
- 4 colour photographs (2 of which to be witnessed) – do not attach these to the application form
- Completed, signed and witnessed application form
For the Irish Citizen Parent (Connecting You to the Grandparent)
- Original civil birth certificate (showing parental details)
- Original civil marriage certificate (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)
- Photocopy of current state-issued photographic ID document (passport, driver's licence, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by a professional witness OR original civil death certificate (if applicable)
For the Grandparent Born in Ireland
- Original civil birth certificate (showing parental details)
- Original civil marriage certificate (if applicable) OR other change of name document (if applicable)
- Photocopy of current state-issued photographic ID document (passport, driver's licence, national identity card) certified as a true copy of the original by a professional witness OR original civil death certificate (if applicable)
Special Cases
Grandparent born before 1864: If your grandparent was born before 1864 (when Irish civil birth registration began), a baptismal certificate can be accepted instead of a birth certificate.
Adopted grandparent or parent: If you are applying through an adoptive grandparent or parent, you will require an adoption certificate issued by the central authority in the country in which the adoption took place, along with other required documents.
Apostille and Translation Requirements
Documents issued outside Ireland may require apostille certification—a certificate issued by the authority that issued the original document, confirming its authenticity. The cost typically ranges from $5–30 per document in the United States, CAD $50 in Canada, and AUD $80 in Australia.
Documents not in English or Irish must be translated by a certified translator. Translation costs typically range from €20–€50 per page.
Witness Requirements
The application form and two of the four photographs must be witnessed by an appropriate person who is personally known to you but is not a relation. Acceptable witnesses (who must be currently practicing in their profession) include:
- Garda Síochána / Police Officer
- School Principal / Vice Principal / Teacher / School Secretary / Pre-school Manager / Montessori Teacher / Lecturer
- Member of Clergy
- Medical Doctor
- Nurse
- Physiotherapist
- Speech Therapist
- Pharmacist
- Dentist
- Lawyer
- Notary Public / Commissioner for Oaths
- Peace Commissioner
- Bank Manager / Assistant Bank Manager or Credit Union Manager or Assistant Manager
- Accountant
- Elected Public Representative
- Vet
- Chartered Engineer
The witness must sign and date the form and photographs, use their official stamp (or provide a business card if they do not have a stamp), and certify a photocopy of the applicant's state-issued photographic identity document as a true copy of the original.