Eligibility Quiz
Documents Required
To prove your automatic Irish citizenship and obtain an Irish passport, you must gather the following original civil documents:
Identity and Relationship Documents
- Your original civil birth certificate (long-form, showing both parents' names and details)
- Your parent's original civil birth certificate (proving they were born on the island of Ireland)
- Your parent's marriage certificate (if applicable, to establish the link between their birth name and any subsequent name)
Proof of Your Parent's Irish Citizenship
- Your parent's Irish passport, or
- Your parent's birth certificate (if they have never held an Irish passport), or
- Your parent's death certificate and other evidence (if your parent is deceased)
Your Identification
- Current photographic identification — valid passport, driver's license, or national identity card
- Proof of address — utility bill, bank statement, or official correspondence dated within the last 6 months
Passport Photographs
- Four colour passport-sized photographs (specifications vary; check current requirements with the Department of Foreign Affairs)
Document Standards
All documents must be original civil certificates issued by government authorities. The Department of Foreign Affairs does not accept:
- Photocopies (unless certified as true copies by a notary or official body)
- Laminates
- Baptismal certificates (except in very limited historical circumstances where civil records do not exist)
- Church marriage certificates
- Funeral home documents or other non-official records
Apostille and Translation
Apostille certification: Documents issued outside Ireland typically require an apostille — an official certification that authenticates the document's origin. You can request apostille certification from the authority that issued the document (e.g., the civil registry office, courthouse, or government agency).
Translation: If any document is in a language other than English, you may need a certified translation. Check with the Department of Foreign Affairs about whether translation is required for your specific documents and language.