Eligibility quiz
Was one of your parents an Irish citizen when you were born?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Irish passport
Irish citizens can hold an Irish passport for international travel.
An adult passport lasts 10 years and must be renewed, but citizenship does not need renewal.
Live in Ireland for life
Irish citizens have a permanent right to live in Ireland without immigration permission.
Citizenship has no routine expiry date.
Work in Ireland
Irish citizens can work in Ireland without immigration permission or restrictions on their right to work.
Get help abroad
Irish citizens can ask for help abroad, including in an emergency.
Where Ireland has no embassy or consulate, they can ask another EU country's embassy or consulate for help.
Vote and run for office
Irish citizens aged 18 or over can vote in elections and referendums if they live in Ireland and are registered.
Citizens can also stand for election in Ireland and the EU if they meet the qualifications for the office.
Eligible citizens can serve on a jury.
Use public healthcare
Irish citizens can use public healthcare on the same terms as other people living in Ireland.
Eligibility generally depends on where they normally live, and a medical card also depends on income and other conditions.
A medical card covers GP care and certain other services; without one, charges can apply.
Use social supports
Irish citizens can use social supports on the same eligibility basis as other people living in Ireland, not simply because of their citizenship.
How to apply
Applying onlineApplying online
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your Foreign Birth Registration application.
See required documentsFill in the application online
Fill in the Foreign Birth Registration application online for yourself or your child.
Start your applicationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in an Ireland Foreign Birth Registration application online?”
Pay the fee online
Pay the Foreign Birth Registration fee online while completing the application. The total is €278 for an adult or €153 for a child under 18, including postage and handling.
Pay the feeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Ireland Foreign Birth Registration fee online?”
Print your application
Print the completed application form and checklist for yourself or your child.
Find printing instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I print my Ireland Foreign Birth Registration application form and checklist?”
Have the form witnessed
Sign the form for yourself or your child and ask a witness who personally knows the applicant and is not related to them to sign and date it and two photographs. The witness must also stamp the form or provide a business card and certify the applicant’s photo ID copy.
Find a witnessSearches DuckDuckGo for “Who can witness an Ireland Foreign Birth Registration application and photographs?”
Mail your application package
Mail the signed and witnessed form, checklist, supporting documents and photographs to the address printed in the top-right corner of the form.
Find the mailing addressSearches DuckDuckGo for “Where do I find the mailing address for my Ireland Foreign Birth Registration application?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the application to be processed and respond if the office asks for more information or documents. If the application is refused after you have supplied all required documents, the office will give you its reasons and an appeal route.
See how long it takesSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does an Ireland Foreign Birth Registration application take, and how do I ask about its status?”
Receive your certificate
Keep the Foreign Birth Registration certificate once it arrives. You or your child become an Irish citizen from the date of registration and can then apply for an Irish passport.
Apply for a passportSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I apply for an Irish passport after Foreign Birth Registration?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get the original civil birth certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent. Each certificate must show the parents’ details.
Marriage certificates *
Get the original civil marriage certificates for you, your parent and your Irish-born grandparent, as applicable. If a name was changed without a marriage certificate to show it, provide the original name-change document instead.
* Only if you, your parent or your Irish-born grandparent married or changed names.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Get the original civil death certificate for your parent or your Irish-born grandparent, or both if applicable. Ask the civil registration office that holds the record for the certificate.
* Only if your parent or your Irish-born grandparent has died.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationCopies of relatives’ IDs *
Provide a copy of a current government-issued photo ID for each of your parent and your Irish-born grandparent who is alive. Have a permitted professional certify each copy as a true copy.
* Only if your parent or your Irish-born grandparent is alive.
May need translationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
If you became a citizen through naturalisation and live abroad, you must register your intention to keep Irish citizenship every year, unless an exception applies.
Exceptions include some people with Irish ancestry or connections.
After seven continuous years living abroad, failure to register can put your citizenship at risk.
Jury duty
Irish citizens who are eligible and called for jury service must serve.
Some people are exempt or not eligible.
Citizenship can be lost
If you are over 18 and outside Ireland, you can give up citizenship if you already have, or are about to get, another citizenship.
Citizenship gained through naturalisation can be taken away for fraud, serious disloyalty, certain failures to register abroad, or other legal grounds.
You must be notified and can ask for an independent inquiry.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Foreign Birth Registration & Passports Ireland
English Facebook group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Request to joinr/IrishCitizenship
English Reddit group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Join on RedditEuropean citizenship by descent
English Facebook group for people interested in Irish citizenship
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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