Eligibility Quiz
Application Process
You do not need to formally apply for citizenship itself — your citizenship is automatic from birth if one of your parents was an Irish citizen born on the island of Ireland. However, to prove and use your citizenship, you must obtain an Irish passport. You can apply for a passport directly without any intermediate citizenship registration step.
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
Before gathering documents, verify that you meet the core requirement: one parent must have been born on the island of Ireland (Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland) and must have been an Irish citizen at the time of your birth.
Use the Department of Justice eligibility questionnaire to confirm your eligibility. This takes 5–10 minutes and will clarify whether you qualify for automatic citizenship or whether you need to pursue a different pathway (such as Foreign Birth Registration through a grandparent).
Step 2: Gather Your Parent's Irish Birth Certificate
Obtain an original civil birth certificate for your Irish-born parent, showing they were born on the island of Ireland.
Where to order:
- For births in the Republic of Ireland: Contact the General Register Office (GRO) of Ireland or the local registration office in the county where your parent was born. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks.
- For births in Northern Ireland: Contact the General Register Office of Northern Ireland. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks.
Important: If your parent's name has changed since birth (through marriage, divorce, or other legal means), you will also need to obtain the original change-of-name document (marriage certificate, divorce decree, deed poll, etc.) to link their birth name to their current name.
Step 3: Gather Your Own Birth Certificate
Obtain your original civil birth certificate (long-form, showing parental details) from the vital records office in the country or state where you were born. This certificate must clearly show your parent's name as it appears on their Irish birth certificate.
Step 4: Gather Additional Supporting Documents
Collect the following original documents:
- Your parent's marriage certificate (if applicable, to establish any name changes)
- Proof of your parent's Irish citizenship — typically their Irish passport, Irish birth certificate, or Irish national identity card
- Your current photographic identification — valid passport, driver's license, or national identity card
- Proof of your current address — utility bill, bank statement, or official correspondence dated within the last 6 months
- Passport photographs — typically 4 colour passport-sized photographs (35mm × 45mm)
Step 5: Obtain Apostille Certification (If Required)
Documents issued outside Ireland typically require apostille certification to be recognized as authentic. An apostille is an official certification that confirms the authenticity of a document's signature, seal, or stamp.
How to obtain apostille:
- Contact the issuing authority in the country where the document was issued (usually the vital records office, court, or government ministry)
- Request an "apostille" or "apostille certification" under the Hague Apostille Convention
- Processing typically takes 1–4 weeks; some jurisdictions offer expedited service for an additional fee
- Cost is typically €5–€20 per document
Note: If documents are issued in Ireland, apostille is not required.
Step 6: Arrange Translation (If Required)
If any of your documents are in a language other than English, you may need to provide a certified English translation. Contact the Department of Foreign Affairs via WebChat or phone (+353 1 568 3331) to confirm whether translation is required for your specific documents.
How to obtain certified translation:
- Use a professional translator accredited by your country's translation authority
- Cost is typically €50–€200+ depending on document length and language pair
- Processing typically takes 1–2 weeks
Step 7: Apply for an Irish Passport
Once you have gathered all documents, apply for an Irish passport. You have two options:
Option A: Apply In Person at an Irish Embassy or Consulate
- Locate your nearest Irish embassy or consulate using the Department of Foreign Affairs office finder.
- Book an appointment — most embassies and consulates require advance booking. Check the website of your local office for appointment availability and booking instructions.
- Attend your appointment with all original documents, certified copies, and passport photographs.
- Pay the passport fee — typically €100–€130 for a first-time adult passport (fees vary by age and are subject to change; check the Department of Foreign Affairs website for current rates).
- Receive your passport — processing typically takes 2–4 months from the date of application.
Option B: Apply by Post
- Download the passport application form from the Department of Foreign Affairs website.
- Complete the form in full, signing and dating where required.
- Prepare your documents — include original documents or certified copies as specified on the form, along with passport photographs.
- Prepare payment — include a cheque or money order for the passport fee (typically €100–€130), or arrange payment by credit card if your local office accepts it.
- Send by recorded post — the Department advises sending applications by recorded post so you can track delivery. They do not acknowledge receipt of post. Address your application to the address specified on the application form or to your nearest Irish embassy or consulate.
- Receive your passport — processing typically takes 2–4 months from the date the Department receives your application.
Important: Make certified copies of all original documents before submitting them. If documents are lost in transit or during processing, you will have copies to resubmit.
Step 8: Receive Your Irish Passport
Once processing is complete, your Irish passport will be issued and sent to you by post (if you applied by post) or you will be notified to collect it in person (if you applied at an embassy or consulate).
Your Irish passport is valid for 10 years (for adults) and serves as proof of your Irish citizenship and your right to live, work, and travel throughout Ireland and the European Union.
Fees
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Irish passport (first-time adult) | €100–€130 |
| Irish passport (child, under 18) | €20–€70 |
| Certified copy of birth certificate (per certificate) | €10–€30 |
| Apostille certification (per document) | €5–€20 |
| Certified English translation (per document) | €50–€200+ |
| Notarization or certification (if required) | €10–€50 |
Total estimated cost: €150–€400+ depending on how many documents require apostille, translation, or certified copies.
Does not include: Travel costs to attend an appointment at an Irish embassy or consulate (if applying in person); expedited shipping or courier services; costs of obtaining original birth certificates from vital records offices (which vary by jurisdiction and can take several weeks); or any legal assistance if you encounter complications establishing your parent's Irish birth.
Processing Time
Passport application processing: 2–4 months from the date of application, provided your application is complete and all documents are in order.
Factors that may extend processing time:
- Incomplete application — if you omit documents or fail to sign the form, the Department will return your application, adding 2–4 weeks
- Document verification — if the Department needs to verify your parent's Irish birth or other details with Irish vital records offices, this can extend processing by 2–8 weeks
- Name changes — if your parent's name has changed since birth and documentation is unclear, the Department may request additional clarification, adding 1–4 weeks
- Current application volume — the Department processes applications in order received; during peak periods, processing may take toward the upper end of the 2–4 month range
Document validity periods:
- Birth certificates: No expiration date; original civil certificates are valid indefinitely
- Passport photographs: Must be current (typically taken within 6 months of application)
- Proof of address: Must be dated within the last 6 months
- Passport validity: Once issued, your Irish passport is valid for 10 years (for adults)
Obtaining supporting documents: Before you submit your passport application, allow additional time to gather documents:
- Irish birth certificate for your parent: 2–6 weeks
- Your own birth certificate: 1–4 weeks (depending on jurisdiction)
- Apostille certification: 1–4 weeks
- Certified translation (if required): 1–2 weeks
Total timeline from start to finish: Typically 3–5 months if you begin with document collection and proceed without complications.